About Us

2008

• At 29, Leon Bowes founded Apollo with a $4,000 credit card, tape measure, level, ladder, pair of boots and a home-made box trailer.
• With no plan and no subcontractor relationships, Leon secures and completes a pharmacy fitout project at 0% margin. The Global Financial Crisis is in full effect.

2010

• Leon hires Apollo’s first Site Manager, Barry Eddington.
• Christmas night, 307 Queen Street in Brisbane City flooded. Leon drives from Noosa to inspect the site and commence works immediately, establishing the Apollo value of urgency and Apollo’s first large client relationship with Peter Fahey.
• Leon and the Apollo team had to self-perform as much of the contract works as possible. All demolition and rubbish removal works were completed in-house

2011

• Apollo secures a major flood rectification project to refurbish the Limestone Street building owned by Trident, a 7,000 sqm insurance works project.
• Apollo gains a reputation as a responsive and attentive builder, acting with urgency and building a number of long-term client relationships.
• This was the first year Leon could afford a carpark in the city. In the previous couple of years Leon and Barry managed by moving around loading zones, trying to avoid parking inspectors. While a carpark might seem like a small milestone for Apollo, at the time this was a big step in the evolution of what was becoming a sustainable business.

2013

• Apollo moves into its first leased office at Level 13, 307 Queen Street. This 55 sqm office space was Apollo’s first real home and created a platform for the business to thrive.
• It was at this time Apollo learned to stand on its own two feet. Leon used this central city position to network and drive hard in the office fitout market. Apollo had about six staff this year and was transitioning from a business for which Leon did everything himself into a small company.

2014

• Apollo successfully completes its first Hospitality project — Jimmy’s on the Mall. Apollo staff worked double shifts, 24 hours per day to deliver the high-end venue in 13 weeks. Apollo’s reputation to deliver the impossible is galvanized.
• Shannon O’Brien, Apollo’s first board advisor is appointed and the Apollo team grows to 15 staff.
• Apollo achieves ISO accreditation for its Safety, Quality and Environmental Systems, paving the way for growth in State Government works. Given the size of the business at the time, this was another huge accomplishment for the Apollo team.

2015

• In 2015, Leon reflects on Apollo’s journey and growth to date. Soon realizing that the business didn’t align with his core values and had missed the mark in several areas, Leon slows down and Apollo downsizes to six staff overnight.
• Leon works hard to find someone that could share his vision and values. Ash Dawson, General Manager joins Apollo. Ash is introduced to Leon by one of Apollo’s first subcontractors — 240 Electrical. This was the start of Chapter Two.
• Apollo’s One-on-One System is established, creating a focus on developing future leaders with close mentorship and training. A plan to diversify, whilst upholding a strong connection to culture and values and putting good people at our core is established.

2017

• Annette Ringuet, now Apollo’s Systems and Compliance Manager joins the team working part time in Accounts. In the subsequent five years, Annette grows to be a pillar of the business.
• Apollo completes its first Childcare project at King Street in Bowen Hills for client Guardian Childcare & Education. Entering the Childcare sector signified Apollo’s growth into a fourth sector beyond Fitout & Refurbishment, Insurance and Hospitality.
• Apollo quickly grows, landing back to 2014 staff numbers with 16 employees. Apollo delivers $17 million in turnover across 51 projects, all located in South East Queensland.

2018

• The Apollo Way – Apollo’s Culture & Values system is established, highlighting the importance of growing the company with team members who fit the Apollo core values and working with like-minded clients.
• Apollo establishes a client relationship with Metro North Health with its first major project for Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital. The team also delivers a major refurbishment of the Master Builders head office in Spring Hill.

2019

• Apollo wins its first Queensland Master Builders award for the Eagleby Service Centre. This was Apollo’s first greenfield commercial construction project, a milestone that had been chased for a long time.
• Apollo has a strong workbook turning over $27 million in projects for the year with a team of 19 staff. The Apollo Leadership Team is created.

2020

• COVID-19 arrives in Australia. Apollo doubles down on its strong client and subcontractor relationships to continue the delivery of projects and secure further works during this period. Communication and transparency for all stakeholders was critical, and the Apollo team continues its growth during the pandemic.
• The team uses this time to double down on its systems and processes whilst investing in good people. The team moves into the Fortitude Valley Head Office on Robertson Street.
• Apollo delivers its first full building fitout and largest project to date for the Mater at Stratton Street in Newstead.

2021

• Apollo delivers its first education and university projects and its first major commercial project in New South Wales, all whilst navigating frequent state border closures.
• Apollo receives Federal accreditation, paving the way for growth in the government sector of Defence. The team grows to 30 staff, and the Apollo Defence Team is established by Reece Beutel & Mitch King.
• Apollo relocated its Head Office to Brunswick Street in Fortitude Valley to support its continued growth and increasing staff numbers.

2022

• Financial year 2021–2022 brought $71 million in turnover and two new offices opening in the Gold Coast and Townsville, with the team growing to 42 staff.
• The Apollo team delivers projects in ten different sectors – Defence, Health, Hospitality, Fitout & Refurbishment, Commercial, Retail, Insurance, Childcare, Education and Tourism.
• These projects span across six different regions in Queensland and two islands (Stradbroke and Bribie). The first Apollo Annual event kicks off.

2024

Apollo experiences significant growth, generating over $100 million in revenue and expanding its operations to 13 regions. The business increases its workforce to 80 employees, including the growth of the Far North Queensland team to eight members.

The Apollo Board of Directors is appointed, consisting of Ash Dawson, Jodi Carroll, Mitch King and Reece Beutel, each bringing valuable expertise and leadership to drive Apollo’s ambitious growth plans.

The business launches its first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan, marking our commitment to reconciliation and fostering respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Apollo achieves ISO 27001 accreditation, a globally recognised standard for information security management systems. The company secures DISP accreditation, underscoring its compliance with Defence security requirements and further solidifying its position in the Defence sector.