What Alexander Symonds does

Alexander Symonds (legal entity Alexander & Symonds Pty Ltd) is a privately held Australian land surveying and geospatial services consultancy founded circa 1930 and headquartered in Norwood, Adelaide, with additional offices in Kent Town (Adelaide) and Mount Gambier, South Australia. The company provides a full suite of professional surveying services — land division and subdivision management, boundary, detail and contour surveys, lease and measured building surveys, construction and engineering setout, 3D laser scanning, RPAS/drone aerial mapping, GIS and spatial analysis, and underground utility location through its wholly-owned subsidiary Pinpoint Service Mapping. Underlying technology rests on licensed surveying expertise, 3D laser scanning instrumentation, CASA-accredited and BARS-certified drone operations with OONP approval, GIS platforms, and industry-standard drafting software including Liscad, AutoCAD, and 12d Model.

The firm serves residential property owners, commercial and urban developers, civil contractors, engineers and architects, rural/agricultural landowners, and government agencies across South Australia, Victoria, and the Northern Territory. Named customers include SA Water (Tea Tree Gully Sustainable Sewers Program covering 4,700+ households), the Department for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (Northern Connector $885M motorway and other major infrastructure), the South Australian Housing Trust (2,500+ homes across stimulus and renewal programs), Fairmont Homes (7-day turnaround identification surveys), and Advanced Development Group Solutions (ParkView Precinct 22-lot development). Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees on a quote-based sales-led model with 30-day quote validity; the firm holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, and AS 9120 certifications for Adelaide operations and is one of only a handful of Australian surveying firms to achieve ISO 14001.

The business is led by Managing Director Glenn Hordacre with a senior team including Directors Franco Rea (Field and Technology Services) and Beau Thorley (3D Spatial), plus General Managers covering Corporate Services and Visualisation & Technical Innovation. Alexander Symonds maintains leadership positions across 14+ professional associations including the Surveyors Board of South Australia, the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI), and the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA). The firm is privately held with no disclosed external investors, no funding rounds, and no M&A activity, and revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Alexander Symonds

Legal name

Alexander & Symonds Pty Ltd

Website

https://alexander.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Alexander Symonds is a privately held South Australian land surveying and geospatial services firm founded circa 1930, employing 100+ staff across Adelaide and Mount Gambier. It delivers boundary surveys, 3D laser scanning, drone mapping, GIS, construction setout, and subdivision services to government agencies, developers, and residential clients across South Australia, Victoria, and the Northern Territory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Surveying Services

NAICS

Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (541370), Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (54137)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM)

Keywords

• Land surveying services
• Cadastral boundary surveys
• Property subdivision services
• 3d laser scanning
• Drone aerial surveying

Headquarters

HQ city

Adelaide

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Surveying Services: Land surveying services including land division and subdivision, boundary identification surveys, construction surveys, engineering surveys, and detail surveys. Revenue generated through project-based fees for professional surveying services.
2. Specialist Survey Services: 3D laser scanning, drone/aerial surveying, GIS spatial analysis, and underground service location services provided as specialized professional services
3. Land Development Consulting: Expert advice and project management for land division processes, navigating regulations and government agencies

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alexander Symonds provides professional land surveying and geospatial services across South Australia and Victoria, including land division and subdivision, boundary identification and detail surveys, construction and engineering surveys, 3D laser scanning, drone/RPAS aerial mapping, GIS spatial analysis, lease and measured building surveys, and underground service location through its Pinpoint Service Mapping subsidiary. The firm delivers end-to-end project management from initial consultation through to titling and government liaison for residential, commercial, infrastructure, and government clients.

Product overview

Alexander Symonds provides a comprehensive suite of land surveying and geospatial services across South Australia and Victoria. The core offerings include land division and subdivision management, boundary identification surveys, construction and engineering surveys, and GIS spatial analysis. Specialised capabilities include 3D laser scanning, drone/RPAS aerial surveying, and underground service location through its subsidiary Pinpoint Service Mapping. The company operates from offices in Adelaide (Norwood) and Mount Gambier, serving residential, commercial, and government clients across sectors including property development, civil construction, engineering, and infrastructure projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pinpoint Service Mapping: Innovative and accurate underground service mapping solutions powered by Alexander Symonds, using non-invasive techniques to locate and map underground services.

Products and services

• Land Division & Subdivision

Quantifiable outcome

• Surveys delivered within 7 days of request for regular projects
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, standard, minor, regulatory, industry and community.

• SA WatermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2022SA Water (South Australian Water Corporation) partnered with Alexander Symonds on the Tea Tree Gully Sustainable Sewers Program. Alexander Symonds provided GIS services to streamline complex communication pathways, improve manual processes, and overall project management for transitioning 4,700+ households to SA Water's sewer network.
• Pinpoint Service MappingcoreOthersPinpoint Service Mapping is an innovative service mapping solution powered by Alexander Symonds. It uses non-invasive techniques to locate and map underground services at any stage of a project, reducing risk, delays, and unknowns. Franco Rea is Director of Pinpoint Service Mapping. Alexander Symonds states 'We know that knowledge, accuracy and reliability matter.'
• Advanced Development Group Solutions (ADGS)standardStrategic or Co-development PartnerADGS (Advanced Development Group Solutions) is a property developer that partnered with Alexander Symonds for the ParkView Precinct Prospect development. Alexander Symonds provided expert guidance on land title selection, government agency liaison, and project management for a 22-lot townhouse community development.
• GreenfleetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreenfleet partnership for climate action through native reforestation. In the past 12 months, Alexander Symonds' support enabled Greenfleet to plant enough native trees to absorb 280 tonnes CO2-e, demonstrating environmental commitment.
• Surveyors Board of South AustraliaregulatoryOthersProfessional regulatory body for surveyors in South Australia. Senior staff at Alexander Symonds take active roles in management and direction. Mark Williams serves as Treasurer and Glenn Hordacre is involved. The company maintains licensing compliance through this body.
• Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI)industryOthersProfessional industry organization for surveying and spatial sciences. Alexander Symonds holds memberships with senior staff in active roles. Franco Rea serves as National Board Chair SSSI-SA and Director SSSI. Beau Thorley is member of SSSI-SA Regional Committee and Past Chair of SSSI-SA Young Professionals Committee.
• Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA)industryOthersIndustry association for urban development. Glenn Hordacre serves as Treasurer of UDIA (SA), member of UDIA (SA) Executive Council, Chair of UDIA (SA) Infrastructure Committee, and member of UDIA (SA) Management Committee.
• Childhood Cancer AssociationcommunityOthersCommunity charitable organization supported by Alexander Symonds. The company and staff provide financial contributions and volunteer time and skills. Glenn Hordacre serves as Treasurer on the Childhood Cancer Association Board.
• Backpacks 4 SA KidscommunityOthersCharitable organization providing backpacks to children in need in South Australia. Supported by Alexander Symonds through financial contributions and staff volunteering.
• Greening AustraliacommunityOthersEnvironmental organization focused on native reforestation and environmental conservation. Supported by Alexander Symonds as part of their environmental commitment.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Veris Australia: Australian surveying, planning and geospatial consultancy with national offices offering land subdivision, 3D laser scanning, GIS and aerial surveying — directly comparable to Alexander Symonds across service mix and customer base, though at greater national scale.
• Fyfe Pty Ltd: Adelaide-headquartered surveying, engineering and environmental consultancy offering cadastral, engineering and construction surveying across Australia — same home market as Alexander Symonds with overlapping services and government clients.
• Beveridge Williams: Australian surveying, town planning and civil engineering firm with services in land subdivision, boundary surveys, construction set-out and laser scanning — closely matching Alexander Symonds' core surveying offering and property-developer customer segment.

Broad incumbents

• Cardno (now part of Stantec): Large Australian surveying, environmental and engineering consultancy providing land development, cadastral and infrastructure surveying — overlaps with Alexander Symonds but operates at national scale with broader engineering capability.
• WSP Australia: Global professional services firm with a large Australian surveying, geospatial and infrastructure practice — competes with Alexander Symonds on major state infrastructure projects and urban development but offers a far broader service portfolio.
• SMEC (Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation): International engineering, surveying and infrastructure consultancy active across Australia — comparable on large civil/transport projects (Alexander Symonds has history with SMEC alumni and similar infrastructure clients) but at much larger scale.
• Aurecon: Global engineering and infrastructure advisory with Australian surveying capabilities supporting major transport, water and urban-development projects — addresses the same government and developer clients as Alexander Symonds but from a much larger platform.

Regional players

• Tonkin + Taylor: Australia/NZ environmental and engineering consultancy providing surveying, geotechnical and infrastructure services — overlaps with Alexander Symonds' construction and engineering surveying capability, though its primary market is ANZ-wide with greater environmental focus.

Emerging players

• Calibre Group: Mid-sized Australian engineering and project services firm offering surveying and infrastructure support, including in resources and civil infrastructure — comparable on engineering-surveying project delivery but with a stronger resources-sector tilt than Alexander Symonds.

Others

• Pinpoint Service Mapping: Wholly-owned subsidiary brand of Alexander Symonds providing non-invasive underground utility location — listed as an ecosystem participant for context, given the company often partners with or operates alongside general surveying firms on the same projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alexander-symonds

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alexander Symonds