Celebrating 50 years

50 years of engineering excellence

Balpara’s technical knowledge and engineering expertise has been built over 50 years. We have evolved and adapted to regulatory reform, technological change, and increasing network demands. 


Our story has two halves, beginning in structural drafting before transitioning into electrical drafting and engineering as markets shifted. Balpara’s services are now much broader and electrical focused, expanding to meet the needs of the community and our customers. 


What hasn’t changed? 


  • Our commitment to technical excellence 
  • Our focus on long-term partnerships 
  • Our reputation for dependable delivery 


Five decades in business is not just an indicator of our longevity. It’s proof of resilience, capability, and trust. 

Major Achievements & Milestones 


1976 – Foundation 


  • Bayside Drafting Australia founded in Melbourne’s southern suburbs by Robert Blanche, John Wilson and Warwick Evans, operating from a backyard bungalow. 


  • Initial focus on structural drafting, supporting Australia’s construction boom. 


Late 1970s – First Landmark Projects 

  • Bayside Drafting Australia founded in Melbourne’s southern suburbs by Robert Blanche, John Wilson and Warwick Evans, operating from a backyard bungalow. 


  • Initial focus on structural drafting, supporting Australia’s construction boom. 


Late 1970s–1980s – Iconic Australian Infrastructure 

  • SECV Transmission Towers: drafted thousands of kilometres of transmission towers across Victoria, driving team growth.


  • Melbourne Arts Centre Roof: complex roof geometry calculated manually, preCAD era. 


  • Loy Yang Drive Tower: expansion into mechanical and civil drafting, prompting office relocation to St Kilda Road.


  • MCG Light Towers: structural drafting for one of Australia’s most recognisable sporting landmarks. 


  • Brisbane Airport: structural steel drawings for major aviation infrastructure.

Image source: The Age


1990s – Architectural Landmarks & Capability Growth

  • Melbourne Central “Daimaru Spire”: structural steel drafting for the crystalline tower enclosing the historic shot tower - the largest structure of its kind in the world at the time.


  • Ongoing delivery of largescale commercial and civic projects, reinforcing Balpara’s reputation for precision and reliability.


  • Southbank Pedestrian Bridge: this footbridge was designed to connect the city with the south side of the Yarra River and is a landmark of Melbourne’s Southbank.


Early 2000s – Strategic Evolution

  • Transition from predominantly structural drafting into electrical drafting and engineering services, recognising changing market needs. ๏ปฟ


August 2010 – Brand Transformation

  • Bayside Drafting Australia rebranded to “Balpara”, reflecting
  • Broader engineering capability
  • Electrical engineering growth
  • National infrastructure focus 



2011 – Quality & Systems Leadership

  • Achieved ISO 9001 Quality Management System certification. 


2012–2016 – Utilities & Network Expertise

  • Longโ€‘term delivery partner to Powercor, CitiPower, AusNet and Jemena, across design, surveying, auditing and detailing.

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  • Participation in REFCL (Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter) network upgrades, supporting Victoria’s bushfire mitigation strategy.


2017 – Power Network Upgrades

  • Beaconsfield Reconductoring Project: electrical surveying, design, drafting and detailing for AusNet’s conductor replacement program. 


2019 – Major Transport & Renewable Energy Projects

  • West Gate Tunnel Project: asset relocations and new underground 66kV circuits within the freeway precinct. 


  • Cherry Tree Wind Farm: survey and design of fibre optic cable routes supporting renewable energy infrastructure. 


2020 – Resilience, Health & Clean Energy

  • Bushfire Mitigation Powerline Replacement Program: surveying across Western Victoria with Powercor.


  • Winton Solar Farm: subโ€‘transmission line design enabling renewable energy generation.

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  • Ballarat Base Hospital Redevelopment: geotechnical classification, surveying coordination and engineering design input. 


2023–2024 – Digital & Service Expansion

  • Growth in 3D scanning, feature surveying, geotechnical and asset locating services to support utilities, councils and developers.

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  • Expanded secondment services, embedding Balpara expertise directly within client teams.


2025 – Community, Transport & Major Programs

  • Koo Wee Rup Road Public Lighting Upgrade (Healesville): project management, auditing and detailing.


  • Bald Hill Road Intersection Upgrade (Victoria’s Big Build): AusNetโ€‘accredited auditing for major overhead and underground relocations.

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  • Urban Residential Developments (Leopold, Tooradin, Pakenham): electrical, NBN design and project management. 


2026 – Quality, Safety and Environment Systems 

  • Expanded ISO certification to include Quality 9001, Safety 45001, and Environmental 14001 Management Systems.


Today – 50 Years Strong

  • Australian owned and operated by two of our original three founders, Robert Blanche and John Wilson. 

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  • Engineering consultancy delivering: 
  • Electrical engineering and design
  • Surveying, scanning, earthing & geotechnical services
  • Auditing & detailing
  • Project management
  • Secondment services 


  • Accredited with all major Victorian utilities and active across energy, transport, renewables, councils and land development nationwide. 

Contact us to discuss your project needs