Sarah was founded in 1961 by Henry Frederick “Harry” Sarah — a builder driven by ambition, integrity and a belief in doing things properly.
Born in Melbourne in 1910, Harry began his career with Hansen Yuncken before relocating his young family to Adelaide in 1939 to oversee construction of the Bank of New South Wales building on the corner of North Terrace and King William Street — a site now home to the iconic 2KW rooftop bar.
Adelaide quickly became home. For the next two decades, Harry helped establish Hansen Yuncken as a major force in the South Australian market before pursuing his lifelong ambition to build under his own name.
In 1961, H.F. Sarah & Sons was born.
The company’s first contract — the Tintara House Office Building and Champagne Cellars for Thomas Hardy & Sons — set the tone for a business built on quality, trust and long-term relationships. Harry was soon joined by his sons, Don and Neil, and together they grew the company into a respected and recognisable name across the state.
Through the 1970s and beyond, the business expanded significantly — operating cranes on the Adelaide skyline, employing skilled trades across multiple disciplines, and establishing complementary ventures including Hindmarsh Plumbing and Sarah Homes.
Leadership transitioned in the late 1990s to the third generation — James and Tim Sarah — who continued to evolve and strengthen the business while remaining grounded in its founding values.
More than 60 years on, Sarah remains proudly South Australian. Today, we are a progressive, people-focused construction company delivering complex projects across multiple sectors — continuing a legacy built on relationships, performance and trust.