About Sawtell Contracting
Dave Sawtell was born in Alice Springs and has worked on Territory electrical since 1988. That is thirty-eight years of local switchboards, local conditions and local buildings, including plenty that were wired before the current rules existed, and are still out there.
Sawtell Contracting NT is owned and run right here in Alice Springs. We look after your electrical, solar, security and maintenance work, and we keep your home, business or site running safely, day and night.
We're a Silver Member of Master Electricians Australia, so every job meets national safety and quality standards. But what sets us apart is simpler: we turn up, we give you honest advice, and we do the job right.
Our founder built Sawtell Contracting NT on the belief that good service speaks for itself. That means turning up when we say we will, communicating clearly, and taking pride in every job, big or small.
Three Generations of Alice Springs Electricians
Electrical work has been in this family in Alice Springs for three generations.
Dave's father, Glendon Sawtell, was an electrical inspector in Alice Springs and taught at the Alice Springs Community College, where he became head of trades. He later went out on his own building sheds and doing the electrical work that went with them. He passed away in 1991.
He built a lot of what is still standing around town. The grandstand at Blatherskite Park. The Independent Grocers shed on Coulthard Court. The industrial sheds on Elder Street. The Murray Neck complex on the Kmart site, the Stott Terrace building that trades as Westpoint today. He worked outside the Territory too, building the Kununurra Shopping Centre in the Kimberley.
Dave was on those jobs as a kid. Painting the grandstand handrails, up on the roof laying out purlins at Independent Grocers, and whatever else needed doing over the school holidays. The trade started for him years before the apprenticeship did.
None of it is listed anywhere with his name on it. That is simply how building worked then. You put the shed up and moved on to the next one.
When the Sawtell Pty Ltd name came free again, Dave's brother Daniel took it back into the family. Daniel is a glazier and runs Central Glazing under it. Dave is the sparkie and runs Sawtell Contracting NT. Two businesses, two trades, two brothers, and their father's name back where it started.
Dave was born in Alice Springs and has worked in the trade here ever since. Licensed A-grade since 1992, on the tools in town, out through the regional communities, and on remote sites across Central Australia. A building background behind him and better than thirty years of electrical work in front of it. Not a contractor who flew in for a project and left, this is home, and it has been for three generations.
Dave started his apprenticeship in November 1988 and finished in November 1992 as a fully licensed A-grade electrician. He started his time working alongside his father and completed it with F.R. Mayfield here in Alice Springs.
Dave's eldest son is now completing his own electrical apprenticeship, preparing for his capstone. The third generation of the family in the trade in this town.
None of that is a sales line. It is the reason we know what a 1970s board looks like behind the cover, why a switchboard in Alice Springs ages the way it does, and which parts of town were wired when. You cannot read that out of a manual.
Our Mission, Vision & Values
Mission
To provide dependable, expert, and transparent electrical and security solutions that help businesses stay operational 24/7.
Vision
To be recognised as one of Alice Springs' most trusted electrical and systems contractors, valued for integrity, safety, and innovation.
Values
- Reliability: we take calls day and night; if we’re out of mobile range on a remote job, text and we’ll ring straight back
- Integrity: no shortcuts, ever. We fix things properly the first time
- Expertise: licensed across electrical, HVAC, solar, and security
- Innovation: thermography and predictive maintenance to prevent failures
- Community: supporting local councils, remote communities, and regional industries
Our Team & Expertise
Licensed electricians, fully insured. We handle everything from new installs and complex upgrades to urgent repairs and compliance checks, so whatever your job is, you're covered.
With Level 1 Infrared Thermography certification and Cert II in split-system air conditioning, Sawtell Contracting NT offers something few others can. A one-stop electrical and systems partnership. We are also a proud Gallagher SMB Solution Partner, trusted to install, maintain, and integrate advanced access control, intrusion detection and perimeter security systems for councils, commercial sites, and industrial facilities.
What Makes Sawtell Contracting NT Different
Built for Central Australia
Remote distances, harsh conditions, and demanding compliance standards. Our team is based right here in Alice Springs, ready to respond fast when it matters most.
One Roof, All Systems
Electrical, solar, HVAC, and security all under one roof. No need to manage multiple contractors.
Prevention, Not Just Repair
Thermographic inspections and vibration sensors help prevent costly failures and downtime for motels, industrial clients, and council facilities. We go above and beyond, often at our own cost. To ensure every system is safe, functional, and built to last.
Our Experience in Action
- Thermographic inspections identified overheating switchboards before failure. Saving a remote operator over $20,000 in potential equipment damage.
- Designed and installed a full Gallagher system, providing secure access and complete site visibility.
- Responded to a late-night outage, restored power within hours, and scheduled preventive upgrades to stop future failures.
- Rewired and upgraded faulty electrical panels in an Aboriginal community, improving safety and compliance standards.
Certifications & Memberships
- Silver Member, Master Electricians Australia
- Level 1 Certified Infrared Thermographer
- SAA accredited Grid Connect Design & Install, David Sawtell
- Gallagher SMB Solution Partner, security & access control
- Cert II in Split Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Systems (UEE20120)
- NT Electrical Contractor Licence C 4385
- MacDonnell Regional Council Trade Contractor Panel
We also partner with leading suppliers including Hanwha CCTV Systems, SAL Lighting, Lighting Automation (Pixie Plus Systems) and Voltex. Every installation uses trusted, standards-compliant components.
Who We Work With
- Industrial & commercial clients
- Motels & hotels (3-month periodic maintenance contracts)
- Oil and gas operations across Central Australia
- Large national contractors working in the Territory
Sawtell Contracting NT is a named contractor on MacDonnell Regional Council's Trade Contractor & Supplier Panel (MRC 23.24 000-001), awarded December 2023, and a Gallagher SMB Solution Partner for security installation and maintenance.
The Sawtell Promise
We stand behind our work. If you're not happy with the workmanship on a job we've completed, tell us within a reasonable time and we'll come back and put it right, at no extra cost to you.
This covers our workmanship. It doesn't cover materials or equipment faults covered by the manufacturer's own warranty, and it doesn't cover damage caused after we leave by something outside our control. Nothing here limits any guarantee or right you already have under Australian Consumer Law.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Sawtell Contracting NT different from other electricians?
Unlike most electrical companies, we're licensed across multiple trades. Electrical, solar, HVAC, and security. Meaning you deal with one qualified team from start to finish. We also hold Level 1 Thermography and Gallagher SMB Solution Partner certifications, allowing us to deliver advanced, integrated systems few others can.
Are you locally owned?
Yes. We're proudly locally owned and operated, based right here in Alice Springs. Our team understands the region's unique challenges. From remote travel to extreme weather, and we're committed to supporting local councils, communities, and regional industries.
Do you only do commercial work?
While our focus is on commercial, industrial, and government work, we also assist smaller businesses and regional clients who need reliable, licensed electrical or security support. Every project, no matter the size, receives the same quality workmanship and attention to detail.
Who do you regularly work with?
We regularly work with motels, oil and gas companies, councils, large national contractors and NT infrastructure projects across Central Australia. We do not publish client names.
What does Master Electricians membership mean?
As a Silver Member, we adhere to national standards of safety, reliability, and technical excellence. It reflects our commitment to ethical practices and professional development. Ensuring every installation meets or exceeds industry benchmarks.
Get started
Tell Us What You Need
Two ways in, because a burst-pipe emergency and a planned rewire need different questions. Pick whichever fits. For anything urgent, calling is faster than typing.
Good to know
Let's Work Together
Need a sparkie day or night? We take emergency calls 24/7. We're local, licensed and insured. Emergency call-outs, LED lighting, CCTV, switchboards and power points, across Alice Springs and the NT. You get upfront pricing and a tidy job, every time.
Emergency calls day and night • No call-out fee for on-site quotes in town • Upfront pricing