Celebrating 50 years

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 

• Safeway stores: structural steel documentation via Stanley Steel. 

• First interstate project: Hammersley Iron Ore Processing Plant (WA), drawing conveyors and heavy industrial facilities. This was our largest project at the time.
  

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. 

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

• Long‑term delivery partner to Powercor, CitiPower, AusNet and Jemena, across design, surveying, auditing and detailing.



• 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: sub‑transmission line design enabling renewable energy generation.



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

2021 – Rail & Grid Integration

• Sunbury Train Line Upgrade: powerline clearance reviews supporting rail electrification works. 



• Glenrowan West Solar Farm Substation: design of 66kV and 33kV feeders connecting solar generation to the grid. 
  

2023–2024 – Digital & Service Expansion

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

• 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): AusNet‑accredited auditing for major overhead and underground relocations.

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

• Victorian Level Crossing Removal Program: project management, auditing and detailing.
  

2026 – Quality, Safety and Environment Systems 

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

Today – 50 Years Strong

• With over 20,000 projects delivered, we combine technical expertise with innovative technology.

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

• 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.