Jules Fulton and Bob Hogan formed a partnership and began trading as J.H. Fulton & Co in 1933. However it wasn’t until December 30, 1935 that Fulton Hogan Ltd was officially created with the registration of the company.

Until the early 1950s, Fulton Hogan had no central depot but stored equipment and supplies in widely scattered yards, quarries or gravel pits. From 1950 onwards Fulton Hogan and Fairfield Asphalt established themselves at Fairfield just south of Dunedin.

During the period from 1935-1939, Fulton Hogan experienced road tendering success in coastal and Central Otago, South Canterbury, and the West Coast, which resulted in construction and sealing gangs operating in each of those regions.

The Second World War of 1939-1945 resulted in a critical manpower shortage. Also, from 1942, bitumen became hard to procure, except for essential purposes. These factors brought road work to a virtual halt for the duration of the war.

The company survived by initial diversification into lime production for agricultural needs.