Half a century of civil know-how goes under the hammer in East Gippsland retirement auction
Pickles has been appointed to manage the retirement auction of long-standing East Gippsland business, Cranes Civil and Surfacing, marking the closure of a 50-year family-run operation and a major opportunity for contractors across the country.
The Cranes Civil and Surfacing Retirement Auction will run as a national online campaign 9–11 December 2025, featuring a series of dedicated sales covering asphalt assets, road and civil construction equipment, trucks and trailers, motor vehicles, earthmoving attachments and workshop and ancillary gear.
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“After five decades building roads and infrastructure across East Gippsland and beyond, making the decision to retire was not taken lightly,” Cranes Civil and Surfacing MD Michael Crane says.
“We’re proud of what our family and team have achieved, and we wanted to partner with a remarketing specialist that could treat our assets – and our legacy – with the respect they deserve. Pickles gives us national reach, while still understanding the realities of regional contracting.”
Founded in 1975, Cranes Civil and Surfacing undertook road, civil and surfacing projects across East Gippsland. The retirement campaign will see a broad range of specialised late-model and well-maintained plant and equipment released to the market, appealing to contractors, councils and private operators looking to expand or upgrade their fleets.
Specialised gear on offer
The campaign is expected to feature:
- Asphalt and surfacing assets – including pavers, sprayers, rollers and related equipment
- Road and civil construction plant – graders, loaders and compaction gear
- Trucks and trailers – suited to both civil and transport applications
- Motor vehicles – including site and support vehicles
- Earthmoving attachments – buckets, rippers, blades and more
- Workshop and ancillary equipment – to support day-to-day operations.
Each auction stream will be supported with detailed imagery, including drone footage of the fleet on-site in East Gippsland, giving buyers confidence in asset condition and suitability.
“This is a rare chance to access a complete fleet from a reputable, long-standing regional contractor,” Pickles national sales manager – industrial James Chauncy says.
“Cranes Civil and Surfacing built its reputation on reliability and quality workmanship, and that shows in the way they’ve acquired, maintained and operated their gear. In the current environment, many contractors are looking for proven equipment that’s ready to go straight to work. A retirement sale like this provides exactly that – specialised assets with a known history, available via a transparent, national auction platform.”
Chauncy says interest is expected from buyers across Victoria and interstate, particularly those working in road and infrastructure programs, as well as local operators seeking to scale up.
“These types of sales are particularly attractive to regional operators who need dependable machinery without long lead times or delivery delays. When you buy from a single, well-run fleet like this one, you’re getting equipment that’s been operated by the same people, maintained to the same standard, and used in the same conditions. It makes integration into an existing operation far smoother,” Chauncy says.
How to Participate
The Cranes Civil and Surfacing Retirement Auction will be delivered via the Pickles online auction platform, with bidding open to registered buyers Australia-wide.
- Auction format: Online retirement auction campaign
- Auction dates: Tuesday 9 December 2025 to Thursday 11 December 2025
- Location of assets: East Gippsland, Victoria
- Inspection: Monday 10 December, by appointment only
More information
Auction details and bidder registration: www.pickles.com.au/campaigns/crane-retirement-auction
Company background: www.cranescivilandsurfacing.com.au
Buyers are encouraged to register early, review catalogues as they are released, and arrange inspections where possible.