From Major Projects to New Opportunities: How Portbury Renewed Its Fleet Through Ritchie Bros.

After more than 90 years in earthmoving and civil contracting, the Portbury family business is moving on surplus equipment following the completion of two major rural projects.

When major projects come to an end, equipment requirements can change quickly. For Portbury, the completion of two large rural projects created an opportunity to reassess its 200-strong fleet and move equipment that was no longer needed to new owners.

The result is a consignment of more than 100 lots of earthmoving, civil, transport and site equipment in Ritchie Bros.’ Australia Unreserved Auction, running August 19–20.

For a business with more than nine decades of experience — and a relationship with Ritchie Bros. stretching back to the company’s first Australian auction — the decision is less about downsizing and more about making sure its fleet continues to work efficiently for what comes next.

When projects finish, fleets need to evolve

Portbury’s roots stretch back more than 90 years, when the family business was founded by Robert Portbury’s father, Milton. Over the decades, the company has built extensive experience delivering earthmoving and civil projects, often in remote locations where crews and equipment spend extended periods away from home.

Its latest fleet review followed the completion of two major rural projects.

Equipment for saleSponsored2026 VICSEC VCA-8 Misc. Excavator AttachmentAustralia, Australia 11 daysView listing

“With those projects finished, this equipment isn’t needed on our books right now,” said Robert Portbury. “It’s the right time to move it on to someone who can put it to work.”

Rather than holding onto equipment that was no longer required, Portbury decided to sell roughly half of its fleet. For buyers, this has created an opportunity to access a substantial selection of equipment from an established operating business.

A fleet ready for its next project

The 100+ lots cover a broad range of machinery used across demanding earthmoving and civil applications, from dozers and motor graders to elevating scrapers, excavators, rollers and articulated dump trucks.

Among the highlights:

• 2022 Cat 150 AWD Motor Grader
• 2019 Cat 623K Elevating Motor Scraper
• 2017 Cat 730C2 and 2018 Cat 725C2 water wagons
• 2020 Cat 740EJ Articulated Dump Truck
• 2022 Kenworth T909 sleeper-cab prime mover
• 2024 Buffalo portable concrete batching plant.

The breadth and age of the equipment reflect a fleet maintained to meet the demands of major rural projects.

“Robert has been a valued customer of ours for a long time, and this consignment reflects that relationship,” said Dom McGlinchey, Sales Director at Ritchie Bros. “It’s a genuinely strong package of well-maintained, late-model equipment, and we’re expecting plenty of interest from buyers both locally and overseas.”

Equipment for saleSponsored2026 AGT 12EX-ATA Misc. Excavator AttachmentAustralia, Australia 11 daysView listing

24 years of partnership — and a new chapter for the fleet

The Portbury and Ritchie Bros. relationship dates back to 2002, when Robert and his father attended Ritchie Bros.’ first Australian auction in Laverton North. The business has continued to sell equipment through Ritchie Bros. over the years, making the company a natural partner for this latest fleet transition.

That longstanding relationship combines Portbury’s equipment with Ritchie Bros.’ broad domestic and international buyer network, helping connect the machines with contractors, owner-operators and equipment buyers looking for proven assets.

“Robert and the team have always run a tight fleet — the gear coming through this sale speaks for itself,” said Tim Shaw, Senior Territory Manager at Ritchie Bros. “We’re looking forward to seeing it go to work for its next owners.”

For Portbury, the sale marks the close of one project chapter. For buyers, it is an opportunity to put well-maintained equipment from a long-established Australian contractor straight back to work.

Explore the Portbury fleet and find equipment ready for your next project in our upcoming Australia’s Unreserved Auction.

Equipment for saleSponsored2018 Hyundai Robex 235LCR-9 Tracked ExcavatorAustralia, Australia 11 daysView listing