Toowoomba-based Hyland Civil & Earthmoving helped build the world-class RDO facility in the city: and now, coming full circle, buys machinery from the dealer.
When Barry Hyland decided to swap mobs of sheep for mobs of machines 33 years ago, it was a leap of faith.
But here we are, more than three decades down the track, and the company he founded in Toowoomba is still going strong, with his strong local ties and deep knowledge of regional terrain key to his success.
It’s fair to say Barry has never looked back in regret, after leaving his former job as a shearer. The business which originally bore his name has now rebranded to Hyland Civil & Earthmoving, run by both Barry and son Luke as directors.
“Based in Kingsthorpe just outside Toowoomba, we are a locally owned and operated subcontractor with major experience in site works, excavation, land clearing, civil construction and more,” he said.
“We are known for our quality workmanship, reliability, and ability to handle complex terrain, and have become a go-to provider across the Toowoomba region.”
Hyland delivers a wide suite of services suited to diverse projects:
- Site preparation from bulk earthworks to fine grading
- Detailed excavation, including trenching, boring, footings, drainage
- Land clearing, tree removal, stump grinding
- Rock-breaking for challenging media
- Roadworks, civil works and bulk infrastructure
- Domestic, commercial, industrial project capabilities
“We particularly highlight our capability on difficult terrain, which is a common challenge in the Toowoomba region,” Barry said.
“This is because we have been here for three decades and are intimately familiar with soil types, slope stability, drainage patterns, and environmental conditions.
“We specialise in sites others may shy from – rocky, steep, or densely vegetated properties.”
Barry said Hyland also easily shifted between residential blocks and larger civil contracts, offering tailored solutions with the same care and attention.
“With a staff of eight, Luke and our family remain hands-on – a reassuring signal to prospective clients, with our mix of generational experience and youthful energy ensuring continuity and fresh capabilities.”
Making the grade
With all his experience, Barry has seen it all, and used a fair share of machines in his time, including excavators, Bobcats and graders.
One particular machine has impressed him more than any other: a John Deere 672G/GP motor grader. The 6WD unit has been specifically designed for various applications, including construction, road building, and land levelling.
Part of John Deere’s G-Series graders, it is known for power, performance, and features like SmartGrade™ technology for precision grading.
Earthmoving Equipment Magazine recently visited a project site at Wandoan, where Hyland were tasked with grading the land for a solar farm in Queensland’s Western Downs region.
The Wandoan South Solar 2 project will have a capacity of 320MW, which will generate up to 700GWh of clean energy each year – enough to power 120,000 average Queensland households. This facility is expected to be operational in mid-2027.
And hard at work levelling the terrain was the JD 672 grader, which Hyland acquired about 18 months ago.
“The grader is so much better than the one we used previously,” Barry said.
“There are so many features of it that make it a perfect grader.
“One of the strongest selling points is how technician-friendly the machine is. John Deere has built this grader with ease of maintenance at the forefront, helping reduce both downtime and service costs.”
The serviceability advantages include:
- Swing-out cooling package: The modular, swing-out design allows fast access to coolers and radiators, enabling efficient cleaning and inspections without disassembly.
- Grouped, ground-level service points: Daily checks such as fluid levels, filters, and grease points are all easily accessible from the ground, making it quicker and safer to maintain the machine.
- Electronic diagnostics: The onboard diagnostics system and JDLink telematics help identify issues early, reduce guesswork, and streamline technician response — whether on-site or in the workshop.
- Extended service intervals: John Deere has engineered the machine with fewer required maintenance intervals. That includes 500-hour engine oil changes and long-life hydraulic filters.
“This design philosophy translates into less time in the shop and more time working — which is critical for operations relying on tight schedules,” Barry said.
“Time is money. We need to maintain uptime, it keeps everyone happy.”
Barry was also rapt with the model’s advanced radiator and cooling design.
The radiator and overall cooling package of the 672G/GP are engineered for optimal performance and longevity, especially in harsh Australian environments where dust, heat, and debris can be relentless.
Key features include:
- Large, efficient cooling capacity: The radiator is designed with ample surface area to effectively dissipate heat even under heavy load or in high-temperature climates.
- Reversing hydraulic fan: A standout feature, the hydraulically driven reversing fan automatically (or manually) purges debris from the radiator and coolers. This dramatically improves airflow and keeps the system running at peak efficiency, even in dusty or vegetative conditions.
- Easy-to-clean core: The radiator core is designed for simplified cleaning with minimal obstruction. This reduces the time and tools needed to ensure the system stays clear and functional.
- Isolated cooling compartment: Separating the cooling system from the engine compartment reduces heat transfer and keeps intake air cleaner.
“The result is reduced risk of overheating, longer component life, and consistent performance, even in the most demanding environments,” Barry said.
And of course, there is John Deere’s vaunted Premium Circle option, which sets the manufacturer apart from many competitors when it comes to blade control, reduced maintenance, and overall machine uptime.
The enhanced circle drive system has been designed to handle the most demanding grading tasks with less maintenance and more durability than traditional systems, incorporating greaseless technology, a fully-sealed bearing system, and heavy-duty components to significantly extend the life of critical parts.
“By eliminating the need for daily greasing, reducing wear-prone components, and delivering exceptional blade control, it boosts productivity while slashing maintenance costs,” Barry said.
But let’s hear it from the mouth of the operator himself.
Driving the machine at the site, operator Tom Hope said the machine was comfortable and quiet.
“The 672 has the six-wheel drive. It’s so quiet in the actual cab, that you can’t hear anything in the cab,” he said.
“You can hear it ticking away when you get out of the cab, but that’s perfect. When you’re driving it and it’s humming along, there’s no noise.
“And then the Premium Circle just provides so much more power than any other brands out there.
“You can have more pull: as you’re grading along, and you’re pulling into an edge or something, you can just pull it around harder.”
Tom also liked the use of two hydraulic rams in the ripper box for ripper operation, compared to the single-ram setup commonly seen on other brands.
The dual-ram configuration brings several practical benefits in terms of power, control, and long-term durability — especially in demanding grading and ripping conditions.
With two hydraulic cylinders — one on each side of the ripper box — John Deere ensures that the downforce and lifting motion are evenly distributed across the entire width of the attachment. This means:
- Less stress on the ripper frame, shanks, and mounting points
- Reduced twisting or binding, which can be common with single-ram systems under uneven load
- Smoother operation, especially when encountering hard or inconsistent ground conditions on one side of the ripper
“So when you’re ripping along, it doesn’t pull itself up. It stays in the ground longer and a lot harder, so you don’t have to keep fighting it all the time,” Tom said.
“As an example, when you’re doing roads and you’re pretty under the pump, you get maximum performance and power from the combination of the Premium Circle, the six-wheel drive, and with all the weight down low.
“The power this thing gives you compared to other brands is just second and none. It’s just way better. You’re not wheel-spinning. You don’t have to be flat out on the throttle to get any power out of it.”
Smarter all the time
Tom also loved the mastless SmartGrade system for the 672.
By eliminating the need for physical masts and cables, and fully integrating 3D grade control into the machine itself, John Deere has created a cleaner, smarter, and more productive solution that boosts precision and reduces setup time — especially in complex roadwork and fine grading environments.
SmartGrade is John Deere’s factory-integrated 3D machine control system, and on the 672 grader, there are no grade control masts mounted to the moldboard and no external cables running across the machine. Instead, everything is built into the grader from the start.
This means unobstructed visibility, less downtime and faster setup, and ultimately, more productive grading.
“I’ve driven many, many different brands and lots of other different graders before, and out of all of them, I’d rather pick the John Deere any time,” Tom said.
RDO Equipment the go-to
Barry said he bought the grader from RDO Equipment ’s state-of-the-art showroom, parts and service centre in Toowoomba, which is in fact the world’s largest RDO facility.
And the kicker is that Hyland Civil itself did much of the grading work for the site when it was being built.
“The person I deal with there is sales professional Zachary Cox, who has proven to be an excellent person to liaise with,” Barry said.
“Everything from RDO, from communication, service, maintenance, repairs and the like has been very good.
“We won’t hesitate to come back.”
Zachary said Barry and Luke had been exploring grader options to upgrade their fleet and improve operational efficiency when RDO approached them.
“While they were considering a few brands, we approached them with a tailored solution based on their specific application and site needs,” he said.
“Our proactive engagement, combined with their familiarity with RDO and our strong local presence, led to further discussions that ultimately resulted in the sale.”
Zachary said the Hylands purchased the 672GP because it was a high-performance mid-size grader well-suited to their needs.
“Hyland was looking for a grader that delivered precision, operator comfort, and low total cost of ownership. The 672GP offered the power and grading accuracy they required, especially for infrastructure and subdivision work. Its ease of use for operators, number of features, and proven reliability sealed the deal,” he said.
Zachary said the Hylands need not worry about after-sales backup because of the end-to-end support that RDO offered, which included:
- Dedicated product support reps
- Onsite servicing and field technicians
- JDLink remote diagnostics and machine monitoring
- Extended warranty options
- Operator training and machine handover
- Priority parts availability through the Toowoomba facility
Zachary reflected on the key role that Hyland played during the construction phase of the Toowoomba branch.
“They were engaged for site preparation, bulk earthworks, and civil components of the project,” he said.
“Their involvement helped ensure the facility was built to spec and delivered on time — it’s a great example of how local partnerships strengthen our presence in the region.”
Zachary said that off the back of the grader purchase and the strength of the ongoing relationship, RDO was in discussions with Hyland about additional equipment, including compact and mid-size earthmoving machinery.
“Hyland sees value in the JD product line and our support model, so we expect the relationship to grow,” he said.
“This deal showcases how RDO Equipment and John Deere support contractors not just with premium machinery, but with genuine collaboration — from project support to fleet development. The connection with Hyland underscores how local businesses are growing together through trust, performance, and shared success.”