From humble beginnings to industry leaders has built a legacy of trust, reliability, and expertise. See where we’ve come from and where we’re going.
With his wife, Bev, and their 1 year old son, Bob, at home, John Mackay worked hard to make ends meet. He worked as a fire fighter 4 days a week and 2 days as a part-time garbage collector in Brisbane.
Looking for ways to provide more for his small family, John noticed that many older homes in the area were in need of re-stumping. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he began offering his services to a local re-stumper, picking up re-stumping work on his days off.
During his work, John experienced vision problems. A visit to a local doctor revealed the devastating news: he was diagnosed with melanoma in his right eye. Though the diagnosis was crushing, John and his family pushed forward. They welcomed a new daughter Debbie and found a new sense of hope and determination.
John Mackay’s life took a dramatic turn when melanoma in his eye became malignant and faced the difficult decision to have his eye removed. Following this, he was honorably discharged from the Queensland Fire Brigade, leaving him with little money and a growing family to support.
Teaming up with fellow firefighter Tommy Conellan, John founded Metropolitan Restumping Service. They set up a small office at John’s family home, with his wife Bev manning the phones and playing the role of “silent partner,” handling all the behind-the-scenes activities.
Business cards were printed, and advertisements appeared in the local phone book. Slowly but surely, the business grew. As the business gained traction Tommy Conellan decided to take a step back. He chose to stay with firefighting and sold his share of the company to John, making him the sole owner.
With full ownership, John expanded the business into new areas, including house raising and sliding. He devoted all his time to the business, even handwriting his own contracts and spending weekends quoting work!
He learnt all he could bout better and safer work methods, gaining valuable trade secrets that allowed him to complete jobs more efficiently, safely, and at a lower cost.
Looking to diversify and expand, John Mackay came across an advertisement in the local paper for a house removal business for sale. The company, Cyril Hoff House Removals, had been in operation for over 30 years, and the owner, Cyril Hoff, was retiring.
Seeing an opportunity, John inspected the equipment and decided to make an offer. In exchange for restumping Cyril’s house, John offered $2,000 for a collection of tools and equipment, including a 2-axle wooden trailer made from power poles and aeroplane wheels, a KB9 International truck, a Plymouth sedan, timber skids, jacks, and an assortment of other tools.
Along with the equipment, John also received a 12-month crash course in house removal. And with that, John Mackay House Removals was born.
The very first house moved was in Ascot, Brisbane. While they took things slowly, it did not go as smoothly as planned. the house and truck became bogged down on the road and had to be winched to its destination. It took a total of 20 hours to move the house just 1 kilometre. (Today, this job would take just 5 minutes!)
Despite the challenges, word spread quickly, and in just a few short months, the demand for John Mackay House Removals removals grew.
To accommodate the expanding business, the family and the business relocated to a larger space at 20 Somerset Street, Windsor, Brisbane.
John’s newfound passion led him to dedicate more and more of his energy to house removals. Nights were spent researching new and innovative methods from Australia and New Zealand, all in the hope of making house removals more affordable for the average family.
By the end of 1971, John Mackay House Removals was advertising in all major papers and phone books.
In a time where most equipment was either homemade or outdated by decades, the business invested in a number of industry-leading equipment, like a 2-year-old B61 Mack truck, to make jobs smoother, safer, and faster than ever before.
As business grew, John expand further by purchasing Ken Dell House Removals, a competitor based in Redcliffe, for $6,500. This acquisition included a state-of-the-art 2-axle dual-wheel steel trailer, more styles and jacks, and a motivated crew of young workers—including a man named Peter Waldock, who would later become Foreman for the third generation of Mackays!
By 1972 John Mackay House Removals had grown into one of the largest house removal businesses in the country.
With over 14 men employed—far from the small crew of two or three men he started with—John’s always made sure to look after his staff and expected nothing but the best from them. In turn, his team respected him deeply, helping to fuel the company’s success.
In the midst of growing success, Brisbane is struck by horrendous floods that destroyed many suburbs.
John Mackay House Removals was contracted to move hundreds of homes out of the lowest-lying areas to prevent future flood damage and found himself solidly booked out for more than two years. Many of these homes were in suburbs like Windsor, Wilston, Bowen Hills, Chelmer, and Rocklea.
The scale of the devastation meant John could no longer work out of the residential premises in Windsor, prompting a big move. The family relocated back to their former home in Kelvin Grove, while John found new business location. Affectionately known as “The Depot,” it would serve as the business’s base for the next 22 years.
In the same year, John Mackay House Removals officially formed a company, Hunstall Pty Ltd, trading as John Mackay House Removals.
With the business well-established, John was thrilled to see his eldest son, Bob Mackay, join the family business. Bob brought with him a strong sense of teamwork and an eagerness to learn and under John’s guidance, Bob quickly adapted to the trade.
With Bob by his side, the business thrived, and the demand for more space grew. To accommodate the expansion, John purchased several adjoining properties!
Now, the business had grown so large that it not only moved houses for itself but also handled house relocations for three other removal companies. On average, the team was moving four houses a week all over Queensland.
As road and government permits became more complicated and time-consuming, John decided to make Bob the Foreman, which allowed him to spend less time on-site. The business invested in a new machine, the bobcat, further improving work efficiency and capability.
Embracing new technology, John also purchased a mobile phone! It was the size of a cinderblock and teased for using the bulky device by his family.
In 1980, John bought three residential properties on Ryans Road, Northgate, providing housing for his workers.
At the same time, there was rising cost of timber and the increasing production of steel beams. This made it safer and more feasible to use steel under slings and carrying beams. He lived by a firm saying: “Nothing stays the same forever.” John understood that to be successful, change was not just necessary; it was inevitable. Embracing the shift, they replaced all timber beams with steel—an investment that was costly but ultimately safer for moving homes.
In 1981, John purchased yet another house removal company—Allen Lorie House Removals. This included two B-model Mack trucks and two state-of-the-art hydraulic 2-axle dual-wheel boomerang trailers.
These trailers, capable of being raised from 1m to 1.7m, were the first of their kind in Queensland. They dramatically reduced the time it took to move houses, allowing for easier clearance over guardrails, bridges, and other obstacles (Before these trailers, blocks had to be laid on the ground, with the truck and house driving on top to gain the required height to clear such obstacles.)
With the only hydraulic trailer in use in the house-removal industry, John now offered his services to six other removal companies. Not many nights went by without a move, and “night moves” became a regular occurrence, with the exception of Saturday night.
In 1984, John purchased the first house removal trailer from Modern Transport in New Zealand. This three-axle dual-wheel trailer could lift up to 2m.
John’s youngest son, John Mackay Jnr, left school and joined the family business for 12 months, before pursing a mechanic apprenticeship with Paul’s Dairy. After completing his apprenticeship, he returned to the family company and worked as a mechanic until 1996.
Combining their dedication to excellence and the most modern and extensive equipment in the industry, work was booming. They were the preferred removalist for clients across Queensland.
John invested in even more advanced equipment to keep up with the expanding workload. This included a state-of-the-art 3-axle trailer from Modern Transport, featuring the capability to raise up to 2.4m and lift it wheels individually so it could clear obstacles with ease.
John’s daughter, Debbie, joined the business, and with all three of his children—Bob, Debbie, and John Jnr—now working alongside him, it truly was a family business!
They made the shift from hand-written quotes and contracts with a dictating machine. Debbie took on the task of typing the quotes, which were sent out weekly to clients.
John made history with the purchase of the first steerable trailer in Queensland. It was capable of lifting up to 2.8m, making what were once considered “impossible jobs” possible.
After 30 years of leading the business with great success, John decided it was time to retire, passing the torch to his son Bob and daughter-in-law Debbie.
With the next generation at the helm, the company name was officially changed to Mackay House Removals. While it was the beginning of a new chapter, they continued the legacy of excellence that John had built.
With a fresh start, their first move was to purchase a second steerable trailer. This expanded business operations, when Peter Waldock was brought on as the new foreman to oversee the growing crew.
After relocating to Banyo to be closer to the highway, the business welcomed Bob’s son’s Ben and Robbie to the team.
By 1999, the business is so big, that it moves (again!) to an acreage property on the Warrego Highway at Walloonso that it can better store houses for resale.
With both sons now working alongside him in the family business, the name is officially changed to Mackay and Sons House Removals.
With sights on a bigger, better future, Bob purchases a property at Narangba, located next to the Bruce Highway. This property would become the new base of operations for the business, serving as the “Depot” and the family home for the next 15+ years.
Bob’s youngest son, Matt, joined the family team – another proud moment for Mackay & Sons!
As Brisbane expanded, the need for tunnels and busways increased. Mackay & Sons were contracted to remove entire streets for the East/West Busway tunnel in Brisbane’s CBD.
This was a major contract and having worked closely with Brisbane City Council made them the preferred choice to remove homes for the first stage of the Clem7 tunnel project.
After a remarkable 37+ years in the house removal industry, Peter Waldock retires, stepping aside to let the boys run the show.
John Mackay passed away after a short battle with cancer at Holy Spirit Northside, Chermside.
During his time at the helm of the business he built over 40 years, John transformed it from a one-man operation, with only a shovel, ute, and water level, into a multimillion-dollar company.
He was a role model to all who knew him. He was a role model to all who knew him. Starting as a shearer turned wool classer, garbage collector and firefighter, John’s journey was one of resilience and hard work.
His perseverance, business acumen, and relentless devotion to his family and dreams not only brought him happiness and success but also inspired everyone around him.
John will forever be remembered for his unwavering dedication and the legacy he leaves behind.
12/7/1936 – 27/3/2006.
Bob’s daughter Ashleigh also joins the family business, completing a full circle with all of Bob’s children working together!
With his entire family by his side, Bob continues to honour his father’s legacy and marked the beginning of a wonderful family tradition, with each of John and Bob’s children contributing to the growth and success of the family business.
Mackay & Sons are contracted to move the remaining houses for the Clem 7 tunnel project. A major undertaking that solidified Mackay and Sons’ reputation as the go-to removalist for large-scale projects in Brisbane.
After 13 successful years at the helm and 34 years in the industry, Bob decides to retire and embark to travel across Australia. He passes the family business on to his three sons, Ben, Robbie, and Matt.
With the three brothers at the helm, the business moves forward with new, faster, and safer methods for house removals. Staying true to John’s motto, “Nothing stays the same forever,” they are constantly updating or replacing equipment. And, despite a challenging economy, the brothers manage to maintain top-quality service while offering more competitive rates.
To meet growing demand, the company invests in more steerable, remote-control house removal trailers and trucks. They also acquire a Redcliffe-based demolition and asbestos removal company, marking the start of Mackay and Sons Demolition.
After 18 successful years, Ben Mackay makes the decision to step away from the family business, leaving behind a legacy of growth and success.
Robbie and Ben had the opportunity to film episodes for the hit TV show Outback Truckers. The show allowed us to introduce our niche industry to the everyday watcher.
In a bid to redefine industry standard (and continue the family legacy!) Robbie imported Australia’s very first hydraulic, remote-controlled, quad-axle house removal trailer, complete with a detachable fourth axle.
Mackay and Sons made an industry-first leap by launching a new website -www.houseremovals.com.au.
Packed with case studies, helpful resources, and virtual tour walkthroughs of nearly every home listed, the website allows customers to inspect each property from the comfort of their own home.
Mackay and Sons imported Australia’s first 4-axle ESS (Electronic Steering System) Remote Controlled Hydraulic Trailer.
This state-of-the-art trailer boasts the ability to attach a 5th axle and features an innovative electronic steering system with all axles steerable, controlled by an onboard computer. This allows for a remarkable 37-degree steer angle – double that of previous models! Coupled with a computer-controlled lifting system, it ensures that each house is raised and lowered safely and level
After 13 years of dedication and hard work, Ashleigh decides to pursue a new career in North Queensland.
Having out grown our main depot at Narangba, we expanded our operations to a new depot in Gin Gin. This allowed us to better support the increasing need in the region.
The worldwide pandemic caused by COVID-19 is a year that will forever be remembered. Despite the challenges, our company was fortunate enough to remain operational, keeping all our staff employed and continuing to serve our customers.
SERVICES
QLD QBCC Builders Licence No. 1172387
NSW Reg. House Builder No. 258204C
QLD Demolition Licence No. 2314062
NSW Demolition Licence No. AD213187
Asbestos Removal Licence No. 2320690
2025 Mackay and Sons House Removals
