Excavators 5–35 t
GPS-enabled machines from tight-access residential cuts to bulk and basement excavation. Buckets, rippers, hydraulic breakers and augers on request.
Plant hire · Melbourne metro
Excavator & plant hire across Melbourne — wet or dry
We own and run our own excavation fleet, which is exactly why we hire it out when it is not on our own jobs. Tell us the machine, the suburb and the dates — the hire desk confirms availability, transport and a price.
What we hire out
Machines sized from tight access to bulk cut.
Our own excavators and operators first; posi-tracks, tippers and compaction plant arranged through our hire partners when they are not in our yard — availability is confirmed before a booking is held.
Posi-track & skid-steer loaders
Spreading, loading and site clean-up where a tracked loader beats an excavator.
Tippers & truck-and-trailer
Spoil cart-away and material import to and from your site, arranged with the machine.
Rollers & compaction plant
Smooth-drum and padfoot rollers and plate compactors for fill, pads and subgrade.
Hire rates
What does plant hire cost?
Wet hire — machine with operator — starts from $125 an hour. These are from-rates, indicative, ex GST; the hire desk confirms the rate for your machine, dates and site.
| Machine | Rate per hour | Minimum hire |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5 t excavator | from $125/h | 6 hours |
| 15 t excavator | from $145/h | 6 hours |
| 33–35 t excavator | from $185–195/h | 6 hours |
| Tandem tipper | from $125/h | 6 hours |
Rates are indicative, ex GST, with a 6-hour minimum. Delivery and collection are quoted with the machine. Dry hire, other machine classes and longer-term rates are quoted on enquiry.
How hire works
Machine, dates, site — then a price.
01
Tell us the job
Machine class, wet or dry, the site and the dates. Attachments and access notes help us send the right gear.
02
We confirm availability
The hire desk checks the fleet and our partners, then comes back with a price for the machine, operator (if wet) and transport.
03
Hire Schedule issued
The booking is held on a Hire Schedule under our Hire Terms & Conditions. Then we float it in.
Hire enquiry
Check availability.
Machine, dates and site — that is all we need to come back with availability and a price.
Plant hire questions
Wet or dry — which should I choose?
Wet hire is the machine plus one of our ticketed operators, so you get the work done without supplying a driver. Dry hire is the machine only: you supply a competent, ticketed operator and hold your own public liability cover. If you are not sure, tell us the job and we will recommend.
Do you deliver the machine?
Yes. Delivery and collection are floated to your site and quoted with the machine, so the price you get back covers the transport as well.
How much does excavator hire cost in Melbourne?
Wet hire (machine with operator), indicative, ex GST: 5.5 t excavator from $125/h, 15 t excavator from $145/h, 33–35 t excavator from $185–195/h and tandem tipper from $125/h, with a 6-hour minimum. Transport to site is quoted with the machine. Dry hire and daily, weekly or monthly rates are quoted on enquiry for the exact machine, dates and site.
Is there a minimum hire period?
Yes. Wet hire carries a 6-hour minimum, and the from-rates on this page are hourly, indicative, ex GST.
What paperwork is involved?
Every hire is confirmed on a Hire Schedule under our Hire Terms & Conditions before a booking is held. Nothing on this page is an offer of instant booking — availability is confirmed by the hire desk first.
I need the job done, not a machine — can you quote it?
Yes. If you would rather hand us the works, send the plans through Request a Quote and we return a detailed Bill of Quantities, typically within 2 business days of full documentation.
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