About us
Our History
From humble beginnings, Raw Hire started with just one Landcruiser out in the Pilbara and grew from there.
Where it all began
Sean and Lisa Clarke first opened the doors in the Pilbara as McLaren Hire in 1998 with one 4WD Toyota Landcruiser, providing local vehicle hire. With dedication professionalism and a focus on building lasting relationships with their satisfied loyal clients over more than 25 years, the fleet expanded to peak at over 1,600 mine spec vehicles including; 4WDs, utes, wagons, utility trucks, small and large buses, tipper trucks, crane trucks, water carts, trailers and cars. All professionally equipped to suit mining and resource requirements.
In 2012, after 15 years in operation McLaren Hire rebranded to Raw Hire, demonstrating a new level of business maturity and to complement a strategic move into supplying heavier vehicles such as water carts, large tipper trucks and crane trucks to meet the growing demand of the Pilbara and Western Australian mining boom. Today, our Raw Hire vehicles can be seen across Australia.
Find Your Perfect Vehicle Today
Browse our wide selection of mine spec equipped vehicles and get a quote today.
Timeline
25 years of raw hire history
Our journey from the very beginning until now.
1998
- Commence McLaren Hire Karratha 1st May
- 1 vehicle, 1 staff member
- Operating from Balmoral Caravan park – offering free vehicle delivery
- McLaren Hire was one of the first companies to introduce mine spec to vehicles
- Supported Cape Lambert Jetty Project
2000
- McLaren Hire commences hiring at Telfer Project
- First truck and bus are added to fleet
- McLaren Hire moves to home office in Karratha
2001
- Iron ore price: $30.03 US per tonneÂ
2002
- 14 vehicles on fleet, 1 staff member
- Karratha branch opens at 3779 Mooligunn Road
2004
- 40 vehicles on fleet, 4 staff members
- McLaren Hire introduced tourism options including camper hire
2005
- Introduced Torque equipment to our hire offering
- Sean joins McLaren Hire full-time
- Cyclone season over 2005 / 2006 included 7 cyclones, Bertie, Clare, Darryl, Emma, Floyd, Glenda, Hubert
2006
- McLaren Hire commences hiring to the Woodside Pluto Project in Karratha
2008
- McLaren Hire commences hiring to the Roy Hill Project
- McLaren Hire wins Karratha Best Business Award (6-10 employees
- Port Hedland Branch opens with 50 vehicles
- 350 vehicles on fleet, 8 staff members
- Celebrating 10 years of McLaren Hire
2009
- The Barrow Island project begins, and McLaren Hire is the first to begin vehicle hire operations on the island.
- McLaren Hire wins KDCCI best business award 6-10 employees
- 500 vehicles on fleet milestone is reached
- McLaren Hire opens Karratha Service Centre at 51 Coolawanyah Road
2010
- McLaren Hire commences hire at the Mesa A Project
- 600 vehicles on fleet, 18 staff
- Karratha airport booth opens
- Winner KDCCI best business 11-20 Employees
- Winner KDCCI Overall Best business
- Inducted into the KDCCI hall of fame
- GWN WA best regional business
- Directors Sean and Lisa both win a 40 under 40 award
- Construction of Management housing begins in Karratha
- McLaren Hire commences hire at the Boddington Project
2011
- McLaren Hire wins supply agreement as a local provider to WHEATSTONE & GORGON to support construction of Chevron’s $70 billion Gorgon project, the first of it’s kind on an A class reserve.
- Belmont Corporate Head Office opens
- McLaren Hire appoints a General Manager
- McLaren Hire has the largest range of hire vehicles in WA
- The Japan earthquake and Tsunami creates major shortage in Toyota supply
- McLaren Hire commences hires to the Cape Lambert Jetty Expansion Project
2012
- McLaren Hire rebrands to Raw Hire
- Raw Hire celebrates 1000th vehicle purchased from PMG
- Awarded WA Rising Stars award
- Winner Port Hedland best business 20+ employees
- Winner Port Hedland best overall business
- September 2012 iron ore prices crash marking the commencement of the mining downturn
- FMG lay off 300 staff
- Lisa is named as in Top 50 Business Women in WA, by The West Australian
- Raw Hire joins West Coast Eagles as a Coaches Premium Partner, with John Worsfold as the coach
2013
- Newman branch opens
- Onslow location opens
- 1600 vehicles on fleet
2014
- Iron ore continues to plummet: February 2011 $187.18 per tonne, September 2012 $99.47 per tonne, December 2015 $40.50 per tonne
2015
- West Coast Eagles makes the Grand Final - with Raw Hire as the Shorts sponsor
2016
- Raw Hire supports movies Red Dog and Red Dog True Blue
2017
- Raw Hire moves to Carney Road Welshpool (vehicle hire and sales)
- Raw Hire commences hiring at Bald Hill Project
2018
- 20 Years - Resource Ready
- West Coast Eagles win AFL Grand Final
- South Flank BHP project commences, fleet supplied by Raw Hire
2020
- COVID-19 hits Australia in March
- Western Australia locked down for most of March and throughout the year
- Raw Hire commences hire at the FMG Eliwana Project
2021
- Iron ore hits $230 US per tonne
2022
- Added 300 Series Landcruiser to fleet
- 16T flatbed truck added to fleet
- Raw Hire becomes major supplier at Clough Waitsia Project
2023
- Celebrating 25 years of Raw Hire
- Iron ore price March $109 US
- Raw Hire Supports the making of the movie Before Dawn
2024
- Raw Hire supports MACA ride for cancer
- $4.6 Billion Perdaman project commences in Karratha