The HRIA wishes to congratulate the winners of this year’s Photograph of the Year competition.
Across three categories, representing different areas of the business, the Hire and Rental Industry Association awards a $200 gift card for images that best represent the Hire Industry in all its guises.
Great, Scott!
Access
For the Access category, the judges’ favorite image was a blaze of colour, submitted by Justin Flenley—Director at Gippsland Access Services. The image amply shows the versatility of the Haulotte machine in use. “I think that clock stopped working thirty years ago after it was struck by lightning,” said one of the judges, in reference to Back to the Future.
The photo shows their 45ft Haulotte 16RTJ PRO diesel boom lift at a site in Traralgon, where the client fixed the arms on the clock of the heritage-listed courthouse.
Events
The best image from the Events category has so much going on. What the judges liked was how Salters had installed such a range of temporary structures in the heart of Hobart, making them seem as if they were a natural part of the urban landscape.
The image, submitted by Nicole Gossage, was of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival, which ran from 7–10 February 2025.
A 20×30 m Hoecker structure was built on Kings Pier for the Festival Tavern. Behind this, on the right, Salters installed market stalls used for the scullery. And to the left were installed seven 3×3 m pagodas, picket fencing, and associated elements for the tavern forecourt.
The marquee behind Mures (the permanent building) was a 15x25m Hoecker structure for the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council.
General Hire
In the General Hire category, this winning picture effectively illustrates the diverse range of equipment on hire throughout Australian industry.
Again, from the Apple Isle, this image was submitted by the managing director of Hirequip Tasmania, Jonathan Coad. This massive 49-tonne Komatsu PC490LC-11SE excavator, sporting a tier-5 engine, makes short work of shifting aggregate in a bluestone quarry.
What the judges love is how the image shows the range of equipment on offer from members. “We like to see industry leaning into HRIA members for equipment assets of this size,” noted the judges. “We give extra credit for application shots—or images of the machines in use by a customer.”
Winning photos will be featured in Hire & Rental Magazine and in our social feeds. From time to time, we will also feature some of the outstanding runner-up images, which highlight some of the fantastic work being carried out by members of the HRIA, EWPA and TSHA form the last 12 months.
Winners submissions receive a $200 Gift card.