Our story
Over 60 years of reliability and technical expertise
The story of Douglas Partners begins in the early 1960s, with Don Douglas who worked for a construction company called Frankipile Australia Ltd.
Don was a well-loved and respected figure in the industry, known for his friendly demeanor, approachability, and knack for establishing enduring relationships.
With the company on the verge of bankruptcy, Don bought out the geotechnical engineering part of the business under the name Ground Test to save the jobs of his many colleagues.
In 1983 D.J. Douglas & Partners (now Douglas Partners) was formed as a consultancy, along side Ground Test.
Don’s philosophy of “Keep it simple, get it right, do it well” remains a guiding principle that still influences our every action today. His integrity, technical prowess, and practical
solution-oriented approach continue to form the bedrock of our operations.
As we’ve grown and evolved, we never lost sight of the importance of our people. By focusing on our team and these guiding principles, we have grown into a company of more than 600 dedicated individuals spread across 20 locations nationwide, reinforcing our position as the country’s leading ground experts.
Douglas Partners' evolution
1
1954
Frankipile Aust starts geotech drilling
2
1960
First full-time staff (Don Douglas) & Sydney laboratory built
3
1963
Ground Test Australia starts as trading division of Frankipile
4
1964
Brisbane Office opens
6
1971
Ground Test Pty Ltd incorporated as separate company
7
1976
Townsville office commences
8
1980
Newcastle office starts initially as part time only
9
1983
D.J. Douglas Partners Pty Ltd formed to buy Ground Test
10
1983
Douglas Partners acquires Soil Mechanics Ltd’s Newcastle operation
10
1989
Douglas Partners acquires SoilMech P/L in Melbourne
11
1990
Douglas Partners opens an office on the Central Coast
12
1990
Cairns office commences operations
13
1994
Perth office opens its doors to Western Australia
14
1994
Douglas Partners opens Campbelltown office, now relocated to Macarthur
15
1995
Darwin Office commences
16
1995
Wollongong office opens its doors
17
1998
Gold Coast office is opened
18
2006
Douglas Partners expands to the Sunshine Coast
19
2015
Douglas Partners acquires Chandler Morrison Geotechnical in Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie, forming Douglas CMG
20
2018
North West Sydney office is opened
21
2019
Douglas Partners expands into Ballina, NSW
Our purpose
Grounded solutions for the built environment.
Our values
People
People
- Safety comes first in all we do.
- We foster an inclusive and collaborative culture, enabling all to thrive.
- We build trusted relationships and are defined by how well we take care of them.
- We strengthen connections and make a positive difference where we work and live
Integrity
Integrity
- We do what’s right for the environment, client and community.
- Customers choose us because they trust our name, and people. We earn that trust by always acting honestly and with the highest level of integrity.
Improvement
Improvement
- We’re proud of our industry-leading processes and are always looking for ways to improve.
- We make improvement a daily habit as continuous improvements lead to sustainable innovation.
Excellence
Excellence
- We pride ourselves on our high level of technical expertise.
- We recognise quality is important in every step of the process.
- We work together, utilising our collective knowledge and experience to provide grounded solutions.
Sustainability
Committed to sustainability, we align with UN Sustainable Development Goals, promoting water management, clean energy, resilient infrastructure, reduced environmental impact, and responsible purchasing. Our expertise supports environmentally responsible practices in projects such as ‘Star of the South’ solar farm.
Our Key People
At Douglas Partners, our key figures collaborate as a unified team, working together to drive our success.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Driving Positive Change for Communities and the Environment
Douglas Partners recognises that with a footprint which extends across a wide range of clients, industry sectors and geography we can make a real difference to our communities and the environment, for now and for future generations.
Read more about how we make a difference here.
Health & Safety
We owe it to our clients to deliver on our services, but more importantly, we owe it to our employees and subcontractors to deliver on a healthy and safe work place.
At Douglas Partners our goal is that all people involved in our work go home safe and sound every day. We believe that the best way to achieve this outcome is to foster a positive safety culture. A culture where everyone in the business considers themselves a safety leader, where health and safety considerations permeate all that we do and where we work together as a team with everyone looking out for each other.
OUR AWARDS
Our outstanding client service make
us a consistent choice for clients.
We strive to provide outstanding client service on each and every project. Our commitment to consistency is evident through our continuous recognition as finalists in the prestigious Financial Review Client Choice Awards, organized by Beaton Consulting, since 2008, with twenty two awards won over the last sixteen years.
We’re honoured to have been shortlisted and won numerous awards over the years. Thanks to the judging panels for recognising our commitment to excellence. These accolades inspire us to keep pushing boundaries and setting new industry standards. Cheers to the journey ahead!
2024
Best Provider to Construction and Infrastructure (revenue >$30m)
Client Choice Awards
Douglas Partners are proud winners in the 2024 Client Choice Awards, in the category of Best Provider to Construction & Infrastructure. This great result demonstrates the contribution from the staff at Douglas Partners to deliver both consistent and customer-focused service to our clients. It is very pleasing, once again, to see all of our hard work being recognised in this way by our clients.
2024
Finalist Best Built & Natural Environment
Client Choice Awards
Best Built & Natural Environment – Consulting Firm (revenue $100-$200m)
To be rated higher than thousands of other firms by our clients is incredibly rewarding and a testament to all of our hard work & accomplishments.
2024
Finalist Best Client Experience from Built and Natural Environment Firm
Client Choice Awards
Best Client Experience from Built & Natural Environment Consulting (revenue >$30m)
To be rated higher than thousands of other firms by our clients is incredibly rewarding and a testament to all of our hard work & accomplishments.
2024
Finalist Best Property
Client Choice Awards
Best Provider to Property (revenue >$30m)
It’s immensely rewarding to be rated higher than thousands of other firms by our clients, underscoring the hard work and achievements that define our success.
2023
Finalist Best Property
Client Choice Awards
Best Provider to Property (revenue > $30m)
It’s immensely rewarding to be rated higher than thousands of other firms by our clients, underscoring the hard work and achievements that define our success.
2023
Finalist Best Built & Natural Environment
Client Choice Awards
Best Built & Natural Environment – Consulting Firm (revenue $100-$200m)
To be rated higher than thousands of other firms by our clients is incredibly rewarding and a testament to all of our hard work & accomplishments.
2023
Finalist Best Built & Natural Environment
Client Choice Awards
Best Built & Natural Environment – Consulting Firm (revenue $100-$200m)
To be rated higher than thousands of other firms by our clients is incredibly rewarding and a testament to all of our hard work & accomplishments.
2022
Best Provider to Construction & Infrastructure
Client Choice Awards
Douglas Partners are proud winners in the 2022 Client Choice Awards, in the category of Best Provider to Construction & Infrastructure. This great result demonstrates the contribution from the staff at Douglas Partners to deliver both consistent and customer-focused service to our clients. It is very pleasing, once again, to see all of our hard work being recognised in this way by our clients.
2021
Best Provider to Government & Community
Client Choice Awards
Douglas Partners are proud winners in the 2021 Client Choice Awards, in the category of Best Provider to Government & Community. This great result demonstrates the contribution from the staff at Douglas Partners to deliver both consistent and customer-focused service to our clients. It is very pleasing, once again, to see all of our hard work being recognised in this way by our clients
2020
Best Built Environment Firm ($50-$200M)
Client Choice Awards
Douglas Partners are proud winners in the Client Choice Awards 2020 in the category for Best Built Environment Firm ($50-$200M). Such great results require consistency in client service right across the company over an extended period and are due to the contribution of staff right across Douglas Partners. It’s very pleasing to see all of our hard work being recognised in this way by our clients.
2019
Best Provider to Construction & Infrastructure
Client Choice Awards
Douglas Partners are proud winners in the Financial Review Client Choice Awards 2019 in the category for Best Provider to Construction & Infrastructure. This award is recognition of the efforts and dedication from all our staff and our commitment to outstanding client service.
2019
Hunter Diversity Awards
Winner Diversity Champion (DP Managing Director)
DP’s Managing Director, Will Wright, was awarded 2019 Diversity Champion in the Hunter Diversity Awards.
Will did not know he had been nominated until he was named a finalist.
2019
Supportive Employer Award
Defence Reserves Support Council
The Defence Reserves Support Council has, for another year, recognised Douglas Partners for a Supportive Employer award in recognition of the support and encouragement provided to Jack Snowden, an Environmental Scientist in Douglas Partners’ Sydney office.
2018
Best Consulting Engineering Firm ($50-$200M)
Client Choice Awards
2018
Best Provider to Construction & Infrastructure
Client Choice Awards
2018
Best Provider to Property
Client Choice Awards
2018
Most Improved Net Promoter Score
Client Choice Awards
2017
Best Consulting Engineering Firm ($50-$200M)
Client Choice Awards
2017
Best Provider to Property
Client Choice Awards
2014
Best Client Service
Client Choice Awards
2014
Best Consulting Engineering Firm ($50-$200M)
Client Choice Awards
2014
Best Provider as rated by the ASX Top 100
Client Choice Awards
2014
Best Provider to Construction & Infrastructure Sector
Client Choice Awards
2014
Best Provider to Property Sector
Client Choice Awards
2014
Best Victorian Firm
Client Choice Awards
In 2014, our Melbourne branch took out the prestigious client choice award for Best Victorian Firm. This was a proud accomplishment due to the expertise, commitment and dedication of our Melbourne team.
2013
Best Consulting Engineering Firm ($50-$200M)
Client Choice Awards
2013
Best Professional Services Firm ($50-$200M)
Client Choice Awards
2013
Best Provider to Property
Client Choice Awards
2009
Best Consulting Engineering Firm (less than $50M)
Client Choice Awards
2008
Best Consulting Engineering Firm (less than $50M)
Client Choice Awards
In 2008, Douglas Partners took out the Client Choice Award for Best Consulting Engineering Firm (less than $50M). This was the first of many client choice awards we would go on to win as the years moved forward and cemented our consistent dedication to outstanding client service.