Our History

Looking at Ronstan’s impressive facilities and global success today, it’s amazing to think that the company’s origins began 50 years ago in the back yards of its two founders; Ron Allatt and Stan Lenepveu. The pair had been hand-building boats for a few years, and word was spreading around yachting circles about the quality of their workmanship.

Ronstan was born in 1953 when they decided to set up a manufacturing facility, producing both wooden-hulled boats and the stainless steel deck hardware they required.

Its reputation growing throughout Australia, Ronstan made its first export sales in the late 1960s when a Canadian airline pilot who had become familiar with the brand took a trial consignment home with him in the cockpit. The stock sold well, and Ronstan’s first international distribution deal was set up.

During the 1970s, Ronstan broadened its product range and stepped up its profile within Australia. Ron and Stan began to actively pursue export opportunities, and an American operation was incorporated. In 1977, the two founders sold the business.

In 1990, Ronstan first branched out into what has today become a highly successful market, when it began to market its stainless steel rigging components to the architectural and construction industries. The company’s early involvement in this sector saw it grab and maintain its dominant position in the local market and set the scene for continued international expansion. The characteristics of strength, corrosion resistance, integrity and performance, coupled with over forty years experience mastering marine rigging technology was welcomed by architects, engineers and contractors alike.

The results speak for themselves. Ronstan rigging products have received international acclaim, recently featuring prominently in high-profile projects in such diverse locations as Kuala Lumpur’s International Airport, Beijing’s Bank of China building and the Baltimore Footbridge, as well as Sydney’s Star City casino and on the banks of the Dead Sea.

Today, Ronstan has a name synonymous with prominent architectural rigging projects worldwide. It is a company with a proud past and an exciting future!

1953

Ron and Stan go into business together

Ronstan is born when Ron Allatt and Stan Lenepveu decide to set up a manufacturing facility, producing both wooden-hulled boats and the stainless steel deck fittings they required.
With the help of a few friends they started to construct the boat-building factory in Advantage Road, Highett, laying out and digging the foundations themselves. The factory was completed in 1953 and the name Ronstan Marine Equipment Pty Ltd was registered on 21 December that year.

1990

Branching outside the marine industry

In 1990 Ronstan branched out into markets outside the marine industry, marketing stainless steel rigging components to the architectural and construction industries. The non-marine charter was to find new markets, applications and opportunities for marine products that marine distributors were not prepared to chase. A dedicated Non-Marine Sales Manager was appointed in that year and in 1992 Rowan Murray was employed as Non-Marine Sales Representative.

1995

Architectural lectures

The first architect-specific literature was produced in 1995. Tim Melville joined as Non-Marine Rep for Vic/SA/Tas in 1994 and became renowned as the champion of the architectural lecture – enhanced by the beautiful red velvet placemat made by Anna Melville on which a code 32 sat magnificently on many an architect’s boardroom table. Major successes in the non-marine area in the mid 1990s included Monash University carpark, Optus retail stores, the Homebush Olympic stadium, Star City Casino, Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Couran Cove in Queensland. The high-profile Darling Harbour project drew architects’ attention to wire balustrading and the possibilities of using products that had previously been confined to boats.

2003

Ronstan's Senior Management team in 2003

At the 50th anniversary in 2003, the five directors of Ronstan are Michael Hanlon (chairman), Graham Cunningham, Alistair Murray, Laine McCooke and Louis Sander. The senior management team comprises Alistair Murray, Louis Sander, Laine McCooke, Tim Maishman, Rowan Murray, Tim Melville, Bryn Wellington and Peter Dowdney (living in the US with his family, running the US company). Other managers and partners in the company include Tony Tanner, Mick Wade, Vince Jayaratne, John Davis, KC Fullmer, Alan Prussia and Neil Taylor.