Wagners (Queensland business)

The Wagner family have been in business in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, since 1896 when John Henry Wagner first established the stone masonry business JH Wagner & Sons which continues to this day. In 2018 the Wagners were inducted in the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.[1]

History

Henry Wagner, a grandson of John Henry Wagner, eventually acquired control, expanded to include concreting, and in 1989 formed a partnership with three of his sons John, Denis, and Neill. Later, a fourth son Joe, joined and became an equal partner in the business which has achieved regional, national and international distinction.[1] One of their early projects with the stonework of the third stage of St John's Anglican Cathedral in Brisbane.[2][3]

From 1989, the business expanded rapidly from one concrete plant to 19 within 20 years and a work force of 1,100. Diversification led the business into pre-cast concrete, re-enforcing steel, ground-breaking building products and major construction and infrastructure projects both at home and abroad, including in sub-zero temperatures in Sakhalin, Russia.[1]

In Australia, the business thrived in a range of diverse construction and infrastructure related activities. Wagners developed fibre technology products and their "earth friendly" concrete. In 2017, Wagers successfully listed its building materials and mining services operations on the Australian Stock Exchange.[1]

Approach to the passenger terminal, Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport, 2016

The Wagner family established Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, the first public airport to be constructed in Australia in 50 years, built with a $40 million dollar contribution to an incorporated entertainment precinct from Queensland Government delivering on a election promise, otherwise funded with family money and to be completed in less than 20 months. The airport is currently only for domestic and freight use, and does not have capacity to accept international travellers due to lack of customs and border control infrastructure. Built, owned and operated by the Wagner family, the airport is a regional and interstate passenger facility with major airlines and is a hub for the export of regional produce to China via a weekly 747 service.[1]

Defamation case against Alan Jones

Following the 2010–11 Queensland floods, radio host Alan Jones made a series of on-air allegations against the Wagners accusing them of being responsible for the deaths of 12 people during the floods following the collapse of a wall in a quarry they owned.[4] The Wagners commenced a defamation action, which resulted in a 2018 judgment that Jones and the radio stations that broadcast him were ordered to pay $3.7 million in damages to the Wagner family.[5][6]

Wellcamp Entertainment Precinct

In October 2020, Wagners announced they were planning to build an entertainment precinct at Wellcamp at a cost of $175 million project. The precinct will have motorsport facilities and performing arts venue capable of seating 40,000 people. The Queensland Government has committed $40 million towards the project.[7]

References
  1. "Wagners". Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame. State Library of Queensland. 2018. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  2. "St. John's Cathedral". J.H. Wagner & Sons. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  3. "St. John's Cathedral Page 2". J.H. Wagner & Sons. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  4. "Alan Jones defamation case: radio host accused of baseless attacks on Wagner family". the Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 30 April 2018. Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  5. Masters, Chris (14 September 2018). "Alan Jones, the 'reverse index of certainty' and the $3.7 million payout". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  6. Swanston, Tim; and staff (12 September 2018). "Alan Jones defamed Wagner family in broadcasts over Grantham flood deaths". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  7. Cartwright, Darren (2 October 2020). "Major new motorsport venue to be built in Toowoomba". The Australian. Retrieved 5 October 2020.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article incorporates text from Wagners published by the State Library of Queensland under CC BY licence, accessed on 23 October 2018.

Further reading
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