90 Year Milestone for Hastings Deering

From humble beginnings in 1932, today Hastings Deering is now one of the top Cat® dealers in the world.

This year, Hastings Deering marks 90 years since it was founded by Harold Hastings Deering, a pioneer in the mechanisation of Australia. Foreseeing the development needs of the growing nation, and securing the machinery to do the work in 1932, he formed Hastings Deering Engineering Company Pty Ltd. Initially, the business was focused on being the sole metropolitan distributor for the Ford Motor Company within Australia.

This focus lasted until 1947, when Deering went on to obtain the Caterpillar agency in the heart and soul of the Australian Outback, Alice Springs. This acquisition built a legacy that continues today following expansions into Darwin in 1948, to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in 1949 and to Queensland in 1952. Mark Scott, Managing Director and CEO at Hastings Deering said that Hastings Deering is proud to have served three generations of customers. “We’re proud to have contributed to the prosperity of our people, our customers, and the economies in which we operate.” Hastings Deering will spend 2022 celebrating their rich history and significance to the territories, states, and countries in which they operate. “I think our heritage is important for a couple of reasons, our heritage, is our heart, it's about our identity. I very much think that our future is built on our past, and for us as a business, part of our success has been delivered as a result of legacy that's been left from those before us.” “If we understand our history, it puts us in good stead to determine how best we honour this in in the decisions we make going forward,” said Mr Scott. Over the decades, Hastings Deering has supported its customers and communities through World War II, a global pandemic, and other upheavals across their territories. Always innovating and providing solutions for our customers, Hastings Deering has delivered many exciting Cat products and innovations which have been vital for Australia’s booming resources and construction industries.

Headquartered in Brisbane, Queensland, today, Hastings Deering has over 3,500 employees across 23 business service centres throughout Queensland, Northern Territory, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia. Hastings Deering sell, rent, and offer support and parts distribution services for Cat products across a range of industries, including resources, general construction, civil transport and commercial construction, power systems, government, primary industries and marine. In 1992, the Hastings Deering Group was purchased by Sime Darby Berhad, a multinational organisation and one of the world’s oldest and largest Cat dealer networks. Today, Hastings Deering is more than bulldozers, excavators, and trucks. It’s the combination of their rich history, the expertise of their people, and integrated technology enabled solutions that continues to sustain Hastings Deering as a market leader, committed to delivering the best outcomes for their customers.