Robert Bilato
Robert Bilato was born in Tennant Creek and raised in Darwin, where he spent school holidays working alongside his father, Dino Bilato, from Wave Hill to the Barkly or Borroloola. After Cyclone Tracy, the reconstruction of Darwin created strong demand for sand from the family’s Mt Bundy leases and Robert honed his skills operating earthmoving equipment and screening coarse river sand.
Robert commenced his Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship at Blackwood Hodge in 1980 and, in 1984 joined Gulf Transport, working with his school friend, Jamie Cooper and Jamie’s father, Jim. By twenty, Robert already held a multi-combination licence and supplemented workshop duties by driving Gulf’s Autocars and Ford Louisville from the Woodcutters Mine to the Stokes Hill Wharf concentrate sheds. After three years in Darwin, he transferred to Wyndham, regularly hauling the 1200km round trip to the Cadjebut Mine.
In 1988, Robert’s father passed away, marking a turning point for the three Bilato brothers. Driven by a shared vision, they set out to build something of their own. Robert became Gulf’s Operations Manager at the Argyle Diamond Mine between 1989 and 1991, during which time he purchased his first truck, a Western Star, and began subcontracting to Gulf Transport.
From 1991 to 1993, he returned to the NT as Gulf’s Operations Manager at the Granites Gold Mine, overseeing construction of the new haul road. He went on to become the first Manager of Bulkhaul at the site.
In 1993, Robert partnered with Greg Rhodes to purchase G&S Transport in Alice Springs. The business had three Macks and some tippers and flat tops. By 1995, Robert had invested in three new Kenworth C501s. From then on, G&S committed to the Kenworth brand, knowing the right spec was critical to surviving some of Australia’s harshest conditions. In late 1994, Robert bought out Greg Rhodes, and in 1995 his brother, John, joined the business, followed by Franco in 1996. G&S specialised in remote freight, particularly bulk materials to the Granites Gold Mine, servicing the site for over 30 years.
In 2005, Robert relocated with his family to Karratha, taking advantage of the WA mining boom. The move allowed G&S to expand its fleet and build a purpose-built depot in the Karratha LIA, with additional depots in Newman and Port Hedland. Some of Robert’s proudest achievements came from thr large-scale contracts he completed in WA, including hauling ballast for major rail projects and armour rock for port expansions where he cemented G&S’s reputation for performance and reliability in the region.
Robert has long been known for his generosity and eye for safety. One day, a driver’s girlfriend visited the yard and Robert immediately noticed the poor state of her tyres. He asked for her keys under the pretense of needing to move the car, then drove straight out and returned with brand-new tyres fitted. That same care extends to every part of his working life. His passion for equipment maintenance and unwavering commitment to safety have set the standard across every yard and contract.
Throughout his career spanning more than forty years, Robert has seen all facets of the industry, from steering road trains, managing fleets and keeping Australia’s most remote supply lines moving. These days, in the rare hours he isn’t working, Robert’s favourite role is being “Poppy” to his granddaughters and grandson.
