Dean Atkinson and David Pontifex first met as four-year-olds playing in the sandpit at McKinnon Kindergarten.With their young friendship established amongst the bulldozers and trowels, the two grew up attending the same primary school. Each weekend, they would ride their bicycles between each other’s houses, even when David headed to another school.
The first sign of joining forces came in the early 80s. Dean was well into his carpentry apprenticeship and invited David to ‘get a real job’ by joining him. As David accepted, they began working together on various large properties in Melbourne’s east.
The second sign was realising their similar outlook to work. They both value attention to detail, doing it once and doing it right, and providing good, personal service with integrity. They also love to learn and be challenged.
The decision to set up their company in Bayside was an easy one, and Atkinson Pontifex was founded in 1985.
Since then, the business has flourished. Atkinson Pontifex has built many multi-million dollar residential houses and won numerous awards too. It is the only building company to be asked more than once by Fleming’s Nurseries to represent Australia in the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show.