Whittens
Whittens is a family-owned Australian civil construction contractor that self-performs earthworks, concrete works, roadworks, and water management for mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, infrastructure, and defence projects, primarily in remote regions across Australia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersPerth, Australia
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Whittens does
Whittens is a family-owned Australian civil construction contractor founded in 2001 by the Whitten family, originally as Whitten Brothers Concrete Constructions and rebranded to Whittens in 2012. The company self-performs four integrated service lines — bulk and detailed earthworks, civil concrete construction, roadworks, and water management and piping — delivering large, complex projects for mining, oil and gas (including LNG), renewable energy, defence, and government infrastructure clients. Notable projects include Roy Hill, Pilgangoora, Gorgon, Ichthys, Pluto, Snowy 2.0, Perdaman, the Sydney Water Lower South Creek program, and BHP and Rio Tinto infrastructure works, with high-profile engagements on BHP and Rio Tinto preferred-supplier panels.
The company's operating model relies on direct enterprise tendering and preferred-supplier panel positions rather than third-party intermediation, with revenue earned through fixed-price civil construction project contracts. Self-performance is enabled by significant owned plant and equipment housed across two plant depots (Pine Valley, NSW and Bullsbrook, WA) and ISO 9001/14001/45001 certifications support tender qualification on safety- and quality-sensitive resource and government projects. The company has eight offices across key Australian resource corridors (Maroochydore HQ, Perth, Cooma, Newman, Port Hedland, Mackay, plus two plant depots) and 1,000+ employees.
Whittens has grown organically to more than $200M AUD in annual turnover with cumulative project delivery exceeding A$1B by 2020, under continuous family ownership and control by Louise Whitten (CEO since 2009) and Clayton Whitten (Executive Director, a founder). No private equity, venture capital, or institutional investor involvement is evident, and the company has not pursued acquisitions, public listing, or external funding rounds. Its forward strategy, as evidenced by 2024 contract wins, points toward diversification into pumped hydro, urea/chemical processing, and continued penetration of the lithium and iron-ore capex pipeline in the Pilbara and Bowen Basin.
Whittens firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Whittens
- Legal name
- Whittens Group
- Website
- https://whittensgroup.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Whittens is a family-owned Australian civil construction contractor that self-performs earthworks, concrete works, roadworks, and water management for mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, infrastructure, and defence projects, primarily in remote regions across Australia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Whittens industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Civil Construction Services
- NAICS
- Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237990), Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (237110), Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors (23811), Site Preparation Contractors (23891)
- SIC
- Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction (WWTP) (IMAFAGAB)
Keywords
Where Whittens is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Perth
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices8 records
Markets served
Whittens business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Civil Construction Project Contracts: Revenue is generated through direct project contracts with mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, infrastructure and defence clients. Projects are awarded through competitive tendering and preferred supplier arrangements. Work includes earthworks, concrete construction, roadworks, and water management services delivered to large-scale projects.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Whittens product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Whittens Group is a self-performing Australian civil construction contractor delivering earthworks, in-situ civil concrete construction, roadworks, and water management and piping services. The company serves clients in the mining, oil & gas, renewable energy, defence, and infrastructure sectors across Western Australia and other Australian regions.
Product overview
Whittens is a civil construction company offering an integrated suite of services across four core areas: Earthworks, Civil Concrete Construction, Roadworks, and Water Management & Piping. These complementary services enable fully integrated, cost-effective, low-risk solutions for mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, defence, and infrastructure projects across Australia, with particular expertise in regional and remote environments. The company specializes in self-performing large-scale projects including bulk earthworks, high-volume concrete construction, road infrastructure, and comprehensive water management systems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Earthworks Civil earthworks service delivered by Whittens Group for mining, oil & gas, renewable energy, defence, and infrastructure clients across Australia, executed with owned plant and equipment.
- Civil Concrete Construction In-situ civil concrete construction service delivered by Whittens Group for resource, energy, defence, and infrastructure projects, integrated with the company's earthworks delivery.
- Roadworks Road construction service delivered by Whittens Group for mining, oil & gas, renewable energy, defence, and infrastructure projects across Australian regions.
- Water Management and Piping Water management and piping service delivered by Whittens Group as part of its civil construction offering for resource, energy, and infrastructure projects across Australia.
Companies that use Whittens
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Whittens technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Whittens partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Saipem Clough JVcoreWhittens was engaged by the Saipem Clough JV as a subcontractor for Package 3 and 4 concrete construction works on the Perdaman Urea Plant project valued at $70M. This represents a significant strategic engagement on one of the world's largest urea plants.
- Future Generation Joint VenturecoreWhittens was engaged by Future Generation JV (principal contractor for Snowy 2.0) to construct the reinforced concrete diffuser structure within the Tantangara Reservoir water intake/outlet, with additional variation for transition tunnel works. A flagship pumped hydro project valued at $75M.
- Pilgangoora Operations Pty LtdcoreWhittens successfully delivered the Pilgangoora Processing Facility Expansion Project across 11 separable portions for this lithium mining operation, valued at $38M.
- Sedgman CPB JVmajorJoint venture between Sedgman and CPB Contractors (CIMIC Group) engaged Whittens for concrete works at the Olive Downs Coal Handling and Preparation Plant for Pembroke Resources.
- SecureEnergy Joint VenturemajorWhittens was engaged as part of the early works phase for Project EnergyConnect, delivering camp and laydown earthworks and sub-station concrete works for the 700km transmission line project connecting NSW to South Australia.
- Sydney WatermajorWhittens was engaged for upgrade works on Sydney Water's Lower South Creek Treatment Program at multiple treatment plants, representing infrastructure-scale water sector projects.
- Ausenco Downer JVmajorWhittens was engaged by Ausenco Downer JV to carry out detailed earthworks and concrete works for the Carrapateena Minerals Processing Plant in South Australia.
- MMGcoreMMG engaged Whittens for the Dugald River Project - bulk and detailed earthworks and structural concrete construction for one of the world's top 10 zinc operations, valued at $48M.
- Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO)majorGEMCO engaged Whittens for the civil component of their expansion project including bulk earthworks, structural concrete, and HDPE pipeline installation on Groote Eylandt.
- NRWcoreNRW awarded the civil construction contract to Whittens for Roy Hill Package 1 Mine Civil Works. This partnership has grown to include multiple Roy Hill projects including Package 3 and ongoing works.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Whittens competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NRW Holdings: Australian diversified civil and mining contractor delivering earthworks, concrete, roadworks and remote-area infrastructure. Directly comparable to Whittens across mining services, Pilbara exposure and self-perform capability, though larger and publicly listed.
- Macmahon Holdings: Leading Australian mining and civil contractor with surface mining, civil construction and infrastructure services. Closely comparable to Whittens' mining and remote infrastructure delivery model with overlapping blue-chip client base in Australian resources.
- Monadelphous Group: Australian engineering and construction services provider to resources, energy and infrastructure sectors. Comparable to Whittens in serving mining, oil and gas, and renewables clients with civil and structural concrete work, though typically larger and broader in scope.
- Decmil Group: Australian civil engineering and construction contractor serving resources, infrastructure and government clients. Closely comparable to Whittens in remote-area civil delivery, similar size range and exposure to Australian mining and infrastructure cycles.
- CPB Contractors: Major Australian civil contractor (CIMIC Group subsidiary) delivering large infrastructure, resources and energy projects. Comparable to Whittens on large concrete and earthworks scopes for transport, water and resources clients; significantly larger and broader incumbent.
- Thiess: Global mining services and civil contractor (CIMIC Group subsidiary) with major Australian mining and infrastructure operations. Comparable to Whittens in mining earthworks and infrastructure delivery though operating at much larger scale.
- Sedgman: Mineral processing and infrastructure specialist (CIMIC Group subsidiary) delivering processing plant construction. Directly comparable on the concrete and earthworks scope for processing plant facilities that Whittens delivers, e.g., Olive Downs CHPP and Pilgangoora.
- Clough (Saipem Clough JV): Australian engineering and construction contractor specializing in oil and gas, mining and infrastructure projects, now operating as Saipem Clough. Comparable to Whittens as a direct principal/JV partner on LNG, resources and infrastructure projects (e.g., Perdaman urea plant).
- BGC (Australia): Western Australian-based civil and building contractor with significant mining, infrastructure and residential operations. Comparable to Whittens in WA-based civil and concrete delivery for resources clients, including Pilbara exposure.
Broad incumbents
- Downer Group: Large Australian infrastructure, mining and energy services provider with broad civil construction capabilities. Comparable to Whittens in delivering non-residential civil, mining and utilities work, though much larger and diversified across transport, utilities and rail.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Whittens social profiles
Digital presenceWhittens compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Whittens financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Whittens leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Whittens funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Whittens M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Whittens
What does Whittens do?
Whittens Group is a self-performing Australian civil construction contractor delivering earthworks, in-situ civil concrete construction, roadworks, and water management and piping services. The company serves clients in the mining, oil & gas, renewable energy, defence, and infrastructure sectors across Western Australia and other Australian regions.
Is Whittens a public or private company?
Whittens is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Whittens founded?
Whittens was founded in 2001. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Whittens based?
Whittens is headquartered in Perth, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Whittens make money?
One revenue line is on record: civil Construction Project Contracts.
Who are Whittens's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NRW Holdings, Macmahon Holdings, Monadelphous Group, Decmil Group, CPB Contractors, Thiess, Sedgman, Clough (Saipem Clough JV) and BGC (Australia). Downer Group is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Whittens have an API?
No public API is recorded for Whittens.
What industry is Whittens in?
Whittens's product category is Civil Construction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAGAB, Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction (WWTP). Its NAICS code is 237990 and its SIC code is 1600.