From a little Ford truck to a multi-million-dollar fleet of Kenworths and high-tech earthwork equipment, Naracoorte’s Bull Bros Pty Ltd this year celebrates 75 years in business.

Driving further enthusiasm and longevity into the esteemed company which employs around 30 people, a fourth generation is stepping up.

As now part owners, Bull brothers Louis and Josh, supported by their wives and families, will help operate the company – under the guiding eye of father, David Bull.

This follows Robert Bull selling his shares and stepping aside after more than three successful decades of diligent, skilled and distinguished service.

“At the end of last year, Robert sold his shares,” David said.

“Initially he will be having a very well earned and deserved break.

“Robert is my brother. We purchased (the company) from mum and dad in 2006.

“Robert’s been still working (with Bull Bros). He’s finishing up at Easter.

“So effectively, with Louis and Josh coming in, that’s the start of the fourth generation (to run the company).

“My grandfather started the business in 1950.”

Back then David’s grandfather William “Bill” Harris Bull and his wife Alice nee Magor had moved to Naracoorte from Ardrossan.

Settling into the district, the vibrant young family with a strong community spirit eventually included three boys and a girl – Ivan, Trevor, Glen and Heather.

Alice and Bill’s carting business traded as WH Bull & Co. Their son Glen still works driving trucks for the company today.

When second son, Trevor, left school, he first worked for 18 months in a spare parts division for International Trucks.

Then Trevor joined his parents, WH Bull & Co, helping to expand the business further – which by then included general earthmoving and bitumen spraying.

Within a few years, Trevor married his soulmate from Lucindale, Marlene nee Tregoweth.

By 1982, the busy couple had purchased the company, and were soon trading as TF & MJ Bull.

Their hard work and dedication to customer service coupled with a community spirit won them much trust and respect, underpinning further business growth.

Their family also grew to include four children – David, Robert, Judith and Andrew.

“I remember traveling with (grandfather Bill) and in school holidays, going with him in the trucks,” David said.

“Then during school holidays, when I got a little bit older, I started helping mum and dad out – we did a lot of bitumen back then.”

The business continued to expand with Marlene doing the office work and Trevor engaged in the day-to-day operation of their growing fleet of trucks and heavy earthwork vehicles.

As the years flicked by, the fleet of trucks, plant and equipment outgrew the yard next to their family home.

In 1989, they purchased a block on Kingston Avenue, parallel to the Lucindale Road at Naracoorte’s western entrance.

The extra space enabled their business to spread out into a “well presented, well organised and practical depot”.

Eager to help his parents full time, in 1990 David aged 16 years finished school and went to work for them.

Also passionate to help grow the company, Robert joined the burgeoning business in 1994.

It was a year after another company expansion. In 1993 a new enterprise included the supply of CSR Readymix – which transferred to Holcim and now Hallet.

Becoming an agent for CSR Readymix was beneficial because of the extensive laboratory backup and support it provided as a requirement for the building industry.

Around a year after Robert joined the team, in 1995, Trevor’s painful and debilitating “bad back” required surgery and took both he and Marlene away from the business.

“Mum used to do all the office work,” David said.

“Dad had his first back operation and he and mum were away for three months. That’s when I started in the office. At the time my sister, Judith, would have been here (helping in the office) as well.”

With Trevor out of action and Marlene away caring for him, David had to learn the ropes the old-fashioned way – “it was sink or swim”.

With David and Robert working in the business successfully together, it eventually paved the way for Trevor and Marlene to have more time out, along with another back operation.

It also paved the way for a third generation to eventually take the reins.

Rapid vineyard development, the introduction of bluegums to the area along with a series of residential and industrial land divisions in and around Naracoorte led to further expansions during the mid 1990s to early 2000s.

Another major milestone for the family occurred in 2008.

David and Robert, supported by wives Donna and Michelle, purchased the business from their parents, creating their own new company, Bull Bros Pty Ltd.

But the brothers opted to keep trading as the trusted and highly respected TF & MJ Bull until 2012.

In 2012, Bull Bros Earthmoving started to appear as the new company logo. It was a period of further expansion.

Not only was the latest machinery bought or upgraded, but a major purchase included their own quarry along with a crushing plant and associated equipment and vehicles.

This enabled the supply of high-quality rubble products for both private enterprise and various state and local government jobs.

Another highlight for the business happened in 2017. David’s sons, Louis and Joshua started working for Bull Bros.

Louis had completed a heavy diesel apprenticeship. Joshua was undergoing a plant operations traineeship through a school-based program two days a week while completing his SACE.

“They brought in a younger perspective and new ideas,” David said.

In 2019, Bull Bros teamed up with Hallett Concrete, enabling the use of their “extensive knowledge, laboratory designs and technical assistance”.

As the state’s largest privately owned concrete suppliers, David said it seemed a perfect fit for the family-oriented Bull Bros business.

A commitment to staff and family wellbeing is gouged deep into the success of Bull Bros.

David and Robert have preferred to take on jobs locally with no further than 100 km or so radius.

“We’ve got four trucks working down the road with the Robe council at the moment. They’ve been down there for a week or so now,” David said (at the time of interview).

“Around 100 kms is normally a good range. We’re very family orientated, so we try not to work away too far too much. I like everyone to be home each night with their family.”

Supporting the community is equally important for Bull Bros. David remembers the community spirit of his grandparents, particularly his grandfather’s involvement in the former Naracoorte Community Club.

Similarly, he recalls the importance of community to his parents, as well as his own family of Go-Kart champions.

“We sponsor a lot of things,” he said, reeling off a list from Go-Karts, soccer and football clubs to a variety of agricultural shows, horse events and numerous sporting groups.

A large sandpit for children to play in has become a feature of Bull Bros exhibits as well.

“We attended the South East Field Days at Lucindale this year for the first time, and will probably go again – the sand pit was pretty popular there too,” David said.

David believed other keys to the organisation’s success over 75 years included being trusted to be good at what they do, well organised and reliable, with a strong commitment to customer service.

Another contributing factor was the use of state-of-the-art equipment “to minimise downtime and increase efficiencies”.

For example, an $800,000 grader included a cabin with computerised screens for everything including GPS and TPS systems.

“Inside the cabins are flasher than a car – yes, everything but a pie warmer,” David said.

“All the electronic plans can be loaded straight into the system in the grader, and we don’t need any pegs or anything on site.

“The whole design, line level elevation is all on the screen in the cabin of the grader.

“So you can just follow the lines and levels and heights of the machine without having to work around pegs or get out and constantly check.

“Our graders are now all joystick controlled – it’s just like sitting in a seat with two joysticks. Everything is operated from joysticks.

“They are all fingertip controlled to the millimetre.

“They are a lot quieter, air-conditioned, bluetooth, phone kits… all of that.”

But to drive one to its peak level required experience.

“You can do training and be taught the basics on how to operate it and learn what to do and what not to do,” David said.

“But to get down to the final trimming and the fine art of it – that’s experience.”

An ongoing commitment to Occupational Health and Safety is equally critical to the company’s success, and David is proud “many of our employees have been here a long time”.

David speaks highly of the skilled and committed group of employees who together with himself, Louis and Josh now make up the Bull Bros respected earthworks team and leading company.

At any time, Bull Bros are involved in planning, costing and quoting for site preparation for residential or industrial premises including sub-divisions, general bulk cartage, road construction, house driveways, farm access roads, vineyard and forestry roadways.

Additionally, they are doing jobs like, bitumen preparation and laying for car parks, driveways, tennis courts and roadways.

Other jobs big and small include demolitions, concrete supplies, and delivery as well as trenching and reinstatement work.

David said Bull Bros would continue all those activities for both private enterprise as well as local and state government.

“We pride ourselves on our reputation for safety, operational excellence, the quality of our work, the trust in the way we do business, and the smart solutions and options we bring to our projects,” he said.

“We have also built long-term relationships by working with quality clients who trust us to deliver to their projects and services.

“The value and performance of Bull Bros Earthmoving is assured, through the continuity of the Bull Family ownership and (an) excellent committed team.”

Celebrating 75 years in business, David said the future of Bull Bros “is to continue providing quality works for clients, a sustainable income for employees and continue supporting our community.”

Robert said after 75 years of service to Naracoorte and the surrounding area, Bull Bros Earthmoving was entering another exciting chapter in its history “with Michelle and I selling our half of the business to David and Donna and their family”.

“Michelle and I would like to wish David, Donna, Louis, Emma, Josh, Amelia and their families the very best for the future and we are positive Bull Bros Earthmoving will continue to provide quality service for many more years to come,” Robert said.

“I’m very proud of my involvement and achievements with Bull Bros and the earthmoving industry over the last 31 years, and would like to thank our many customers for their patronage and support during this time.

“I wish you all continued success and prosperity.”

This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 16 April 2025.