Crafting excellence in civil construction

Our founding vision

The story of Manhole Form Hire begins with our Founder/Chairman, Cliff Rae-Smith, a master concreter whose expertise and ingenuity transformed the construction of underground access chambers.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Cliff was renowned for his exceptional craftsmanship and engineering, actually building his own manhole forms in his backyard. These custom forms enabled the casting of chambers in-situ with unmatched precision and efficiency. His dedication to quality and dependability earned him a reputation as a trusted leader in the civil construction community, consistently delivering projects on time and within budget.

A pivotal moment came in 1993 when a fellow contractor, impressed by the superior quality of Cliff’s forms, asked to borrow them for payment. This request illuminated an opportunity to share his groundbreaking designs with the broader industry.

By October 1994, Cliff transformed this vision into reality, founding Manhole Form Hire. His commitment to precision, reliability, and innovation laid the foundation for a company that continues to set benchmarks in the civil construction sector, ensuring his legacy endures in every perfectly formed chamber.

Innovation and excellence

Cliff’s entrepreneurial spirit and meticulous attention to detail led him to patent his designs, including a groundbreaking universal ‘corner planing plate’ that revolutionised the efficiency and precision of square and rectangular pit construction. His dedication to improvement and excellence laid the foundation for Manhole Form Hire’s reputation as a trusted partner in the civil construction industry.

Growth and expansion

The business slowly but steadily grew, moving from Cliff’s backyard to a factory/warehouse on Chetwynd Street, Loganholme, in 2003. Thirteen years later, the need for more space drove the company to its own current premises in Yatala. Today, Manhole Form Hire operates nationwide, with branches in Sydney, Melbourne, and the Sunshine Coast, enabling us to better serve our customers across Australia.

Our people

At the heart of Manhole Form Hire’s success is the wisdom and drive of our founder, Cliff Rae-Smith, whose leadership and life experiences have shaped the company’s values. His sharp eye for detail, ingenious thinking, and relentless pursuit of excellence continue to inspire the team. Integral to our journey has also been the leadership of Barry Kuster, who joined us in 2002 and became our Managing Director and National Manager. Barry’s unparalleled ability to take on any challenge and deliver results has been invaluable, along with his own inventiveness and subsequent patents, whilst at the same time, driving the company’s quality controls, growth and also ensuring that every aspect of our operations runs seamlessly.

Our legacy

From its humble beginnings to becoming a leader in the industry for casting chambers in-situ, Manhole Form Hire remains steadfast in its commitment to the principles that sparked its success: precision, reliability, and innovation. We are proud to carry forward Cliff’s legacy, delivering solutions that continually push boundaries and exceed expectations.

Manhole Form Hire has the forms you need, when you need them

Built around the needs of civil construction

Manhole Form Hire provides specialist in-situ formwork and access solutions for civil construction and infrastructure projects across Australia’s east coast. Our equipment is trusted by major civil contractors, councils and specialist subcontractors working across drainage, sewer, stormwater and utility projects.

From subdivision works to major infrastructure projects, our extensive range of formwork, equipment and configurations gives contractors the flexibility to tackle different project requirements. Backed by industry experience and responsive service, we make it easier for crews to get the right equipment when they need it

Other benefits include:

Next-day delivery, no delays

Equipment storage and maintenance included

Wide range of sizes for flexible quoting

Specialist equipment to handle unique projects

Pour multiple jobs at once with our varied sizes

Stack them for taller structures effortlessly

We track the equipment, condition, or relocation

Safety-focused work at height solutions

Dust-free form cleaning with off-site options

Certified equipment, easily accessible documents

Expanding product range for a one-stop shop

Our available products

Contact us

The helpful team at Manhole Form Hire are committed to providing you with the best service and form equipment possible, so you can focus on completing your project on time and on budget. Contact us today to learn more about our services across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria – all you have to do is fill in our enquiry form or give us a call.