Rockhampton’s Moloney and Sons Engineering celebrates two milestones

Six months ago they were devastated by fire, now Rockhampton’s Moloney and Sons Engineering is celebrating two huge milestones.

Moloney and Sons Engineering manufacturing manager David Moloney, chief financial officer Gerri Moloney, director, Lloyd Moloney and (sitting) HR administrator Jodie Backshall.

From ashes things can grow anew.

That is how Moloney and Sons Engineering director Lloyd Moloney is looking at things as the family-owned company celebrates its 10 year anniversary and the grand opening of its new workshop.

Though the company are now celebrating, six months ago, it was a very different story.

On Wednesday November 6, 2024, a fire broke out at the company’s workshop on Stuart St, Rockhampton, and destroyed the company’s entire office and workshop equipment.

The company has bounced back after a fire destroyed the company’s previous facilities.

Now, the company, which opened in 2014, is very much back on it feet at its new premises on Bush Crescent.

It is a turn-around that Mr Moloney attributes to both God and the people who supported the company.

After the fire, the engineering company set up a makeshift office in a house that the company had and were able to share workshop yards and facilities with other companies.

Mr Moloney credits community support, including from rival companies who pitched in to help, for keeping things going.

“It allowed our business to really keep going ahead and keep delivering for all our clients and all our projects we had underhand,” Mr Moloney said.

“We kept going right through.”

Moloney and Sons Engineering Leading Hand Zac Smith and Manufacturing Manager David Moloney.

“Thursday (November 7) it was the news of the fire and we were looking at a burnt down facility,” Mr Moloney said.

“As of Friday (November 8) morning we had an entire office of six to eight staff back up and operating.

“That was because an absolute sheer number of people and businesses donated computers, desks, work stations, keyboards, monitors, the whole thing for an office to operate, the community came and supported us for that entire thing, because we had lost everything.

Mr Moloney and his colleagues moved to the new facility, which the director has described as “brilliant”, in early April.

Moloney and Sons Engineering manufacturing manager David, director Lloyd and chief financial officer Gerri Moloney.

“This facility is twice the size from where we were,” he said.

“This facility really allows us to grow.”

Mr Moloney said the company has invited everyone who has played a part in Moloney and Sons Engineering’s journey to celebrate the anniversary and grand opening on Friday, May 16, including the businesses who supported them after the November fire.

Despite the success of having a new facility, Mr Moloney stressed that the celebrations wasn’t about giving themselves a pat on the back but it was an opportunity to thank those who made it possible, including team members, suppliers and fellow family members.

Moloney and Sons Engineering employer Mario Guevara at his desk.

“It’s really quite humbling… you certainly don’t get to achieve anything significant without notable team and family around you,” Mr Moloney said.

“You also don’t grow significant companies without the community behind you and without other business partnerships.

“It’s about relationships, if we are not going to be for people and not going to value relationships with others then I think success in business is short lived.

“In Rockhampton, in country towns, everyone is very good at working hard and sometimes the celebrations fall to the wayside and actually you don’t get the chance to look back and see what you have accomplished and thank those who have been involved in it so people can have that satisfaction of what they have been a part of.”

As for the future of Moloney and Sons Engineering, Mr Moloney said it was just to continue growing and building.

“We want to serve and build our community,” he said.