HISTORY
G B Oldfield's was founded in 1937 by Gilbert Brinsley Oldfield, who was at the forefront of the development of sprayed seals, using tar as a binder. The company first began in Hastings, and the majority of its business was bitumen sealing of driveways and such smaller projects. The company started off with two trucks and a hand-spray truck for sealing roads. At that time all bitumen was in drums and heated with a wood fire at the side of the road. All the metal was loaded and spread by hand shovel.
1949 saw Gilbert move his family to Masterton.
The company was set up on a block of land in
South Belt leased from the Borough Council. It was here that Oldfields set up their first asphalt plant. At that time Oldfield's employed approximately 6-8 staff.
G B Oldfield's was incorporated as Oldfield Asphalts Ltd in 1954.
In 1956, with the advent of bulk bitumen, Oldfields shifted to premises in Herewini Street, Masterton. The company now employed 10 men. Until then, Oldfields had generally bought aggregate products from other suppliers. With the acquisition of portable rock crushers, Oldfields was able to produce its own aggregates for roading and construction from locally sourced river metal. At the same time they continued working on road construction but started to branch out into earthmoving, metal crushing and log cartage.
By the late 1970's, Oldfield Asphalts was employing about 60 staff.
Masterton Ready Mix Ltd was purchased in June 1988 and was renamed, Oldfield Ready Mix Ltd, with the batching plant relocated to the Waingawa depot in 1997.
In 1989, the present Waingawa depot was opened just south of the Waingawa Bridge, on State Highway 2, Masterton, New Zealand.
When a large timber processing plant was established
close by in the early 1990's, the opportunity arose to become involved in the bark product business.
A company restructure in 1996 saw Oldfield Asphalts Ltd
split in to 5 separate companies; Oldfield Asphalts, Oldfield Aggregates, Oldfield Ready Mix, Oldfield Truck & Machinery   and Oldfield Group Holdings.
2003 has seen the acquisition of existing companies in Wellington and Nelson, giving Oldfields a broader regional presence. In 2006 a further restructure saw the Masterton Companies merge to form one Company—Oldfields Ltd.
On 31 August 2008 Oldfield Group Ltd was bought by Palmerston North based, Higgins Contractors Ltd. Both companies are family owned businesses with similar values and processes. The Nelson Branch of Oldfields will be the first foray for Higgins into the South Island during their 50th year of operation.
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