It's unclear where the name comes from, but what is clear is how cost-effective and durable these portable, modular buildings are. Originally dongas were basic temporary structures that provided simple shelter, but these days you’ll find a wide range of configurations with plenty of amenities, versatile designs, and durable construction.
In industries that are frequently on the move, having accommodation that can be quickly set up and dismantled without huge costs is key to sheltering a large number of workers from harsh environments. SCF’s range of portable buildings can be custom-built to your specifications, and provide all the amenities your team needs to live comfortably in any conditions.
The word donga itself gets thrown around a lot in mining and construction, but the actual meaning of the word has an interesting and unclear history dating back to 1900 when it first saw use in Australia. At first, it just referred to gullies that are left behind after a heavy rain - quite a stretch from its current use. As language tends to morph and change over time, a couple of decades later the word was starting to be used to describe housing; possibly borrowing from Papua New Guinea during World War II, where the word donga with a hard ‘g’ means house.
Whether it came from South Africa or PNG may be hard to discover, but a century later the meaning is clear to people all around the country; when you need portable buildings that don’t sacrifice build quality or durability, a donga is the best option.
Coming from modest beginnings, the first dongas were popular in mining and agriculture where you need mobile shelters for workers, and so the ‘traditional’ buildings tended to be simple wood and steel structures little more than lean-tos. As these industries expanded and became more complex, so did the mine sites. SCF’s dongas are now sophisticated modular buildings that are a home away from home, but still able to be quickly set up or relocated.
A modern donga is far more than just a temporary shelter; long gone are the days of simple wood and steel hot boxes that offer as much shelter from the conditions as a tree would. SCF’s range of portable buildings are modular, modifiable, and more than meets the eye. A fully kitted-out donga gives you as many amenities as you require for your work site and will keep your workers happy and comfortable, ensuring better output of work across the site.
A lot of work goes into SCF’s dongas so that they are cost-effective without being cheap, can withstand the harshest conditions, and minimise safety issues that can arise from extreme temperatures or weather events such as cyclones.
Portability: The key feature of dongas is the ability to easily and quickly set up a camp, or relocate them when needed. In industries that need to quickly mobilise workers, like mining and construction, a donga is unbeatable.
Customizability: SCF’s depots can design you a work camp to suit any requirements, with easily modifiable designs and a wide range of amenities. You can pick everything from insulation and air-conditioning to ventilation, shelving, windows, even the colour scheme.
Durability: Built from steel - including steel doors - with high-quality fixtures, SCF’s cyclone-rated portable buildings are construction compliant with all Australian standards and the National Construction Code 2013, so that they are as durable as possible.
Sustainability: By setting up work camps with recyclable materials and relocatable buildings, less waste is created during set up and tear down. The dongas are energy efficient with insulation and air-conditioning available to sustainably keep things comfortable for workers.
Flexibility: Because dongas are modular, it means you can expand or relocate your buildings as needed, giving you the flexibility to house your workers right where you need them most, for any industry.
There are any number of ways you can use a donga, from granny flats to transportable offices, but the real strength of these modular buildings is speed and efficiency when it comes to setting up and relocating them. Dozens of industries are now taking advantage of SCF dongas for their accommodation, not just because of how cost-effective they are, but how diverse the options are. SCF has an impressive range of mobile accommodation that can provide all the facilities you’d need to look after your workers; ablution blocks, ensuites, kitchen and dining facilities, and recreation rooms. Dongas can also be configured for use as medical huts, classrooms, fitness rooms, or even to address the housing shortage. With quick manufacturing and assembly, SCF’s dongas are built tough to withstand the harshest conditions, yet are light enough to be easily transported for rapid deployment.
A rested employee is an effective employee, so comfort is king at SCF. We ensure your portable accommodation comes fitted with features like split system reverse-cycle air conditioning, furniture options like king single beds, lockable doors and storage, and Australian-certified 3-phase power to run everything smoothly. SCF offers work site configurations to suit 12 to 48 people with single or shared ensuites, across multiple configurations in either 20’ or 40’ sizes. Options include 3000mm wide heavy-duty trailer camps that are road train compliant, 2500mm wide skid-mounted mobile camps with fold-down walkways, designed for frequent relocations, or fully enclosed breezeway camp accommodation ideal for semi-permanent projects in remote and harsh locations - breezeways are fully lockable when camps are empty, for when security is vital.
If you’re looking to upgrade your work sites, set up a new location, or have a project that needs rapid deployment and demobilisation, SCF has the range of dongas to suit. Whether it’s a backyard office or a mine village, our team of engineers and designers will specifically design a solution to minimise mobilisation costs and maximise transportability. We have depots in Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Perth, Darwin, Townsville, and Alice Springs, and can deliver across Australia - so get in contact with the team today.
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