Australia’s largest heritage management and archaeological company, Extent Heritage, has been acquired by the RSK Group, a global leader in the delivery of sustainable solutions.
The acquisition continues the momentum that is driving RSK Australia’s rapid expansion programme. Extent Heritage joins a growing number of RSK Australia businesses, which include Pensar, SJA, Projence, WPS, EDP, Binnies Australia, RSK Labs and, the most recent addition, Adenco.
With teams of archaeologists and heritage specialists based in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart and Perth, Extent Heritage and its merged predecessor companies have worked across Australia and the Asia Pacific region for the past 25 years.
The company has completed more than 1000 projects for clients including Commonwealth, state and territory governments, government agencies such as Parks Victoria, Development Victoria, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and TAFE NSW, a number of Aboriginal organisations and private corporations including Santos, Lendlease, YourLand Developments, Arup, Armitage Jones, AECOM, GHD, Mirvac and Arrow Energy.
Recent projects, which demonstrate the diverse range of Extent Heritage’s specialist knowledge, include the Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal programme. As part of this project, Extent Heritage has provided the City of Melbourne with Aboriginal heritage, archaeological, built heritage and interpretation services over a seven-year and ongoing relationship across the complex nationally listed heritage site. A wide range of energy and resources projects across the country have included hydroelectric facilities, rare earth exploration, mining and wind and solar energy initiatives. Extent Heritage increasingly supports major transport and utilities infrastructure, and it leads the sector in the provision of heritage services to Australia’s booming offshore renewables industry, with more than 10 offshore wind and gas projects currently in progress.
Extent Heritage Chief Executive Officer Ian Travers, who will continue to lead the business, said: “Extent Heritage has grown to become Australia’s largest and most capable archaeological and heritage management business, and joining RSK will enable us to grow and strengthen our presence further on both a national and an international scale. Our companies share an ethos, values and vision, and we are hugely excited by the boost that being part of the RSK Group will give us as we drive best practice heritage management and collectively pursue a more sustainable society.”
RSK Australia Managing Director Mark Haydock said: “The acquisition of Extent Heritage adds a further dimension to the group’s expertise in Australia and our commitment to helping our clients progress towards a resilient future-ready Australia. The company has an exceptional reputation and an impressive depth of experience across the infrastructure and renewable sectors. This reputation is one that has been earned by a highly experienced team of 80 specialists, including some of the sector’s most respected professionals. This experience of working across Australia is an important consideration, as this contributes greatly to our ability to serve clients in every Australian state and territory.
“Notably, it is one of very few businesses of its kind with the scale, processes and project management capability to undertake major, multi-year projects. Extent Heritage has built an extensive public and private sector client base. These clients have valued and drawn on its people-centre approach and considerable experience across built and urban heritage, archaeology, cultural and historic landscapes, Aboriginal cultural heritage and storytelling through heritage interpretation.”
Mark added that Extent Heritage’s values of conserving, understanding and interpreting heritage were aligned with those of the RSK Group and reflect its commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“One of the areas we would like to explore further with Extent Heritage is our contribution to the development of Australia’s offshore wind sector. Globally, RSK has considerable experience across all renewable energy technologies from planning and consent through to implementation, driving innovation in this sector to create greater energy security. Archaeology and heritage are key components of any major infrastructure project, and this is something that is understood and valued at RSK.
“Extent Heritage brings sector-leading capability in maritime archaeology and marine geophysics and an understanding of Aboriginal heritage and the values associated with ‘Sea Country’.”
As RSK continues to deliver its ambitious growth strategy, it now comprises more than 200 companies, employing 12,000 people. The group’s annual turnover at the end of FY23 is expected to be in excess of £1.2 billion (accounts to be filed in due course).
As part of its 2030 growth strategy, RSK Australia is expected to increase its turnover from $310 million this year to $1.4 billion, with its Australian workforce growing from 450 currently to 5000 over that period. The acquisition adviser was Eaton Square.