The Man Who Started It All

Max Lamb Snr

Before the fleet, the large-scale projects and the well-known name across Central Queensland, there was a rented shed, a thousand dollars, and a Mackay man with a work ethic as solid as steel.

In May 1986, Max Lamb Sr. laid the first foundations of what would become M&P Services, establishing M&P Auto’s in a modest workshop on Archibald Street in Mackay.

The early days were humble. The workshop near the Harbour was not only a workplace but home as well, with Max Snr and his young son living upstairs while the business slowly found its footing below. It was a simple operation built around mechanical repairs, panel beating and roadworthy certificates in the panel repair industry.

Alongside mate Peter Brayshaw (dec), Max Snr rolled up his sleeves and got to work.

Long before the trucks and transport projects, he was simply a Mackay bloke who loved fishing and skiing with friends. What set him apart, however, was the way he approached work. If something didn’t quite function the way it should, he would stop, study it, and work out a better way.

Efficiency, safety and practicality became his trademarks.

With a background in transport, Max Snr invested in a Dodge tow truck, a decision that would unexpectedly reshape the direction of the business. One truck soon became more, and before long the operation had grown into a fleet of twelve tilt-tray trucks transporting portable buildings across Central Queensland.

What made the business stand out was its evolving capability. Transporting structures was one thing, but Max Snr began refining the process so clients could rely on a full-service solution.

Transporting and installing. The whole package.

It was a classic case of Australian ingenuity meeting old fashioned determination, and if something wasn’t working, he would simply figure it out, and make it better.

“My father and grandfather were very hard working, so that’s carried through to five generations,” Max Snr said.

That legacy has shaped the culture of the company from day one. Jobs were completed whether it meant working weekends, late nights, or loading trucks long after others had clocked off.

“I started this 40 years ago, and I’m still here waiting for my gold watch,” he joked.

Today, the business stands as a testament to those early years of grit and determination.

According to his son, Max Lamb Jr., the secret was never complicated.

He simply made things work.

“He’d find a way to make it happen, and he’d do the job right,” Max Jnr said.

While Max Snr is no longer labouring on the workshop floor, his presence and influence certainly remains embedded in the company’s DNA. The business is now led by Max Jnr, with the third generation, grandson Max, also part of the team, ensuring the legacy of their forefathers continues.

What began with a rented shed and relentless effort has grown into a respected regional operation.

And at the heart of it all remains the same principle that started the journey nearly four decades ago.

Roll up your sleeves, get the job done, and do it properly!

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