About Marr Contracting
Marr Contracting (Marr) are world leaders in the design and delivery of heavy lift luffing tower cranes and heavy lifting solutions.
Marr Contracting (Marr) is an Australian company with offices in London and Leeds in the United Kingdom, specialising in the design and delivery of heavy lift luffing tower cranes and heavy lifting solutions.
With almost 100 years’ experience working on large-scale construction projects in Australia and around the world, Marr has worked on projects in large-scale construction, major transport infrastructure, technology, power generation and renewable energy, mining, oil and gas, high-rise and stadia construction sectors.
Marr’s unique heavy lift fleet includes the world’s largest capacity luffing tower crane, the 330-tonne capacity Favelle Favco M2480D Heavy Lift Luffing (HLL) crane, and the world’s smallest tower crane, the Marr M40R.
[edit] Philosophy
Marr designs innovative cranage solutions and works with contractors to address complex construction and engineering challenges.
By working closely with contractors, Marr aims to find the most efficient, productive and safe cranage solution for the project. The best results are delivered when Marr is consulted early in the front-end engineering design stage of the process.
[edit] Heritage
Marr is a third-generation family-owned and run business.
Founded in 1926, Gordon Robert Marr designed one of Sydney’s first cranes to make it easier for his father’s iron foundry business, E.A. Marr & Son, to transport the heavy parts required to recondition boilers for their client, Colonial Sugar Refinery (CSR).
During the ‘space race’ of the 1950s and 1960s, the company was nicknamed by industry peers as ‘The Men From Marr’s’.
Gordon Ernest Marr took over the company in the early 1970s, instilling a culture of ‘doing things differently’. This was during the same period as Australia’s resources boom, the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and many of the city-shaping projects that Australia is known for.
Gordon Ernest Marr also established Marr’s partnership with crane manufacturer, Favelle Favco.
The third generation started when the current managing director, Simon Marr, took over in 2000. Since he started working in the business at the age of 17, he had worked his way up through the business. Simon has overseen Marr’s expansion into new sectors and international markets, including Southeast Asia, Turkey, the UAE, Latin America and the UK.
Simon’s brother, Gordon John Marr, is technical & product development director.
In 2021, Marr Contracting International opened an office in London and a regional office in Leeds, United Kingdom, in 2024.
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
Gasholders: a history in pictures. Book review.
Recognition, influence and growth
SocEnv identifies three strategic pillars in new strategy to 2045.
Discover the future of roofing, cladding and insulation.
New guidance for professional practice, cultural change and regulation in social housing.
The heritage of nuclear and conventional power stations.
New measures to stop people being ripped off
Government to protect families from cowboy builders and aggressive bailiffs.
New Futurebuild showcase brings an innovation-first approach.
National Planning Policy Framework
Understanding the 2026 changes.
ECA's public affairs priorities
Member consultation opens to shape priorities for 2027 to 2030.
Dutyholder responsibilities from 1 July 2026.
Where performance meets practice
The Building Envelope Stage at UKCW Birmingham.
CIAT publishes briefing on planning reforms.

















