Our History

Northern Transport Co (NTC) has a rich history that dates back to the early 1900s. The business was initially formed by Neil Clark around 1916 in Onslow, a remote town in Western Australia.  The Clark’s were a pioneering family that moved to Onslow in the early 1900’s back when Onslow was based at the site of “Old Onslow”. Neil Clark, a prominent figure in the community, owned several businesses, including the Beadon Bay Hotel and was actively involved in various local organisations including the Ashburton Race Club and local tennis club.

The first company Neil was part of in Onslow was in partnership with his brother in law Elgood Wright. It was called “Wright & Clark” and the earliest record is 1916. The business was located in the Old Onslow township. The business was general merchants but even then the Mail Runs and newspaper agency required the use of vehicles to make the required deliveries and transport services.

Old Onslow and port facilities suffered from many cyclones that hit the area and by 1923 the decision was made to relocate the town some 18 kilometres up the coast. On January 10, 1924 the town of Beadon was gazetted and shortly thereafter renamed to Onslow, which is the town we know today. In 1925 the old town, it’s buildings and all of the inhabitants were moved via camel and donkey drawn wagons to the location where it is today.

In 1926 after the move from Old Onslow to the new Onslow Location at Beadon Point Elgood Wright left Onslow. Neil continued business with the Wright and Clark name.

Through out this time the Clark & Wright business grew and expanded. By 1927 it had expanded its services to include such things as:

• Haulage Contractors
• Agents for Reo Trucks
• Shipping
• Fuel and Oil Supplies
• Tyres
• Mail Runs and Services
• Newspaper Distribution

By this time the business had owned several trucks using the registration AS 3 and AS 4

Registered as Wright and Clark Onslow

AS ● 4 - Ford - Ashburton Road Board 1923-24

AS ● 4 - Ford - Ashburton Road Board 1924-25

AS ● 3 - Reo Wagon - Ashburton Road Board - 1925-26

AS ● 4 - Ford - Ashburton Road Board - 1925-26

AS ● 3 - Reo Wagon - Ashburton Road Board - 1926-27

AS ● 4 - Ford Utility - Ashburton Road Board - 1926-27

AS ● 3 - Reo Wagon - Ashburton Road Board - 1927-28

AS ● 4 - Ford - Ashburton Road Board - 1927-28

It was at this time that the business rebranded with the absence of Elgood Wright and then become “Neil Clarks Supply Stores” to promote the increase of general goods sales in Onslow. New premises were established and the business further continued to grow and expand its offerings.

Neil had a son William Henry Clark (Billy) who went to school in Perth around 1935. After completing school Billy then served in the army. After being discharged from the Army Billy returned to Onslow in 1945 at which point he took over the transport portion of the business which at this point was called  Northern Transport Co.

In 1947 Northern Transport Co successfully won the contract to be the core fuel distributers for the Vaccum Oil Company. The agency also involves the re-fuelling of all planes arriving and departing from Onslow.

n 1950, Northern Transport Co was bought by Bill and Nell Shanks. The business was initially this was set up in a Garage at 53 Second Avenue. This is directly across from the Good Shed. 

Wool carting season was from the end of April through to November, they were collected from Minderoo, Peedamulla, Red Hill, Yarraloola, Mardie, Warramboo, Glenroy and Kooline.  Taken to Onslow Wool Shed to be transported to the Onslow Jetty.

Mail runs to the stations were also an important part of the company, they would deliver up Mardie on the North Run, Emu Creek on the South Run and Ashburton Downs on the River Run.  They delivered to all other stations along the way.

The early 1960’s was a bad period for Cyclones. In 1961 a record 997.9 millimetres (39.29 in) was recorded, most of which fell between late January and early March, a result of three cyclone impacts within five weeks. These cyclones brought heavy rain and destructive winds to Onslow, resulting in flooding and damage to buildings, which destroyed the Garage. The Jetty also received extensive damage during this time and continued to serve Onslow until March 1961 when another cyclone demolished more than 300 metres. State Ships were thus prevented from calling at the jetty and were forced to anchor offshore where they loaded and unloaded via a lighter.

A new garage was built at 41/43 Second Avenue along with a fuel station was next door at 39 Second Avenue.  This location was the home of Northern Transport Co for several years onwards.

Darby and Dawn McAullay took over the business from Dawns Parents Bill and Nell in 1975.

During this time earthworks was very busy as the new Hospital was being built and Barrow Island was being constructed. The materials came from the Cane River where shingle was collected from and sand from Barradale.

In 1989, they moved to Beadon Creek Road site, where NTC still are today, by the time they sold the business in 1998, they had around 40 pieces of machinery and over 20 employees.  They were a very a close-knit family business and held their Christmas Parties and get togethers on site in the shed.

In 1998, Northern Transport Co was sold to Chris Evans, Richard Evans and Tina Smith.

The company commenced a regular freight run from Perth to Onslow to provide the supermarket along with other general freight to the township.

During this time the new Onslow Salt mine was under construction. Once completed Northern Transport Co established a long term contract with Onslow Salt to haul salt from their crystallisers to the washing and processing plant, for shipment overseas.  The project required Northern Transport Co to acquire a haulage fleet of seven road trains, using double side-tippers to haul raw salt on a 24/7 basis which provided in excess of a million tonnes of salt per year for export. The salt project ran well over a number of years until its conclusion;

The decision was taken by to move more towards earthmoving and construction and to rebrand from Northern Transport Co to NTC Contracting.

On 30 March 2006, severe tropical cyclone Glenda, hit Onslow as a Category 3 storm. Glenda did extensive damage to the Onslow Salt condensers and crystalliser levee walls.

NTC was awarded the contract with Onslow Salt to undertake these repairs as one of its first major head contracts.

NTC was heavily involved throughout the full life cycle of one of Australia’s largest resource projects, the Chevron-operated Wheatstone Project at Ashburton North, 12 kilometres west of Onslow.  The works commenced as an early works package clearing the path for the project but grew to an 8 year project peaking at over 150 staff completing a multitude of disciplines from our core earthworks & roadworks to marine buoy installation and warehouse management.

The relationship continued into Operations where a contract has been held since the plant was commissioned for Civil Maintenance works.

In June 2024 after being part of the business since 2010 and running it as Managing Director since 2013 Jason and his wife Leigh purchased NTC to become the 6^th owner of the business since its inception.

Their vision is to continue its history and ensure its deep roots in Onslow.