What's Building 109 April 2024

what’s 

ISSUE 109 - April 2024 

BUILDING 

Past, Present, Future 

Deakin University’s Hycel takes inspiration 

from the past to innovate for the future.

What’s Building APRIL 2024 | Page 2

From the CEO’s Desk 

Cover Story - Hycel Technology Hub 

Project Progression - Brighton High School 

Report - Victoria 

Breaking Ground - Notre Dame College 

Report - Northern Tasmania 

A New Life - Makers’ Workshop 

Report - Southern Tasmania 

Farewell - John Ayres and Mick Ryan 

Apprentice of the Year - Cameron Direen 

Employee of the Year - Josh Arnold 

Report - Fairbrother Community Contribution 

2024 Fairbrother Ride 

Fairbrother Health and Wellbeing Program 

4 

6 

10 

12 

14 

16 

18 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

26 

28 

Cover Image: Hycel Technology Hub 

Hycel Technology Hub 

Construction Southwest Victoria 


From the 

CEO’S DESK 

Hello and welcome to the first edition of our What’s 

Building newsletter for the year. 2024 has certainly 

picked up where 2023 left off. 

Perhaps with the exception of Southern Tasmania, 

over the past month or so the current levels of 

activity across Tasmania and Victoria are generally 

keeping our teams quite busy. Maintaining 

momentum will be our challenge as 2024 progresses. 

As we’ve begun to experience in the south, we have 

a number of projects that are either completed or 

nearing completion in most regions. Our teams are 

focused on actively targeting new projects that are 

planned to commence where we have capacity – this 

can often be a moving target. Pleasingly, we’re still 

seeing a healthy pipeline of work ahead, it mostly 

comes down to timing. 

The first few months of the year are always an 

exciting period on the recruitment front, with an 

annual highlight being our apprentice intake. We 

have commenced another 20 new apprentices with 

three of these being mature aged (two of whom 

were existing 

employees working 

as labourers); this 

takes our overall 

current apprentice 

tally to 71. 

We have also 

commenced 

our second 

formal cohort 

of Construction 

Graduates with four 

recently joining our 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 

KURT ARNOLD 

Graduate Program. We have a pleasing geographical 

spread with our new cohort with one in Hobart, 

one in Devonport, one in Bendigo, and another 

in Melbourne. We now have eight Construction 

Graduates working through the two-year program. 

Over the past few weeks, I’ve again had the privilege 

of talking with each of our 2023 Divisional Employee 

of the Year and Apprentice of the Year award winners 

2024 First Year 

Apprentices 


who were announced in the December 2023 issue of 

What’s Building. From our divisional winners I have 

had the task of selecting our overall winners for 2023, 

and I can’t express enough just how difficult it was to 

separate the great people within this group! 

But, as they say, there can only be one winner – so 

I’m pleased to announce that our 2023 Apprentice 

of the Year winner is Cameron Direen, and our 2023 

Employee of the Year winner is Josh Arnold. 

Cameron Direen is based in our Southern Tasmanian 

Construction Division where he commenced his 

apprenticeship in December 2020, and has recently 

entered his final year. In chatting to Cameron, you 

quicky identify a level of maturity beyond his years. 

He is widely known among his peers for his strong 

work ethic and no fuss attitude toward getting on 

with the job. But what struck me the most about 

Cameron was how he described his approach to 

guiding and helping his younger fellow apprentices. 

This is a credit to Cameron, and I can see some real 

leadership qualities beginning to shine. 

Josh Arnold is a Site Manager, also based in our 

Southern Tasmanian Construction Division. Josh 

commenced his career with Fairbrother in December 

2009 as an Apprentice Carpenter. He has followed 

a career path that has taken him to the role of Site 

Manager and is currently steering the $47m Brighton 

High School project. Josh’s leadership qualities are 

outstanding, and he is motivated by the development 

and progression of others around him. He has an 

excellent understanding of what it takes to build 

good culture across site among our employees and 

our subbies, which is evident as soon as you walk the 

Brighton High School site - great work Josh. 

Congratulations to both Josh and Cameron, you can 

see more about them on Pages 22 and 23. 

On the 16th and 17th February we held our 6th 

annual Fairbrother Ride in support of the Fairbrother 

Foundation. This year’s two-day route covered 350km 

and 6,000m of elevation riding from Devonport to 

Tullah, then back to Devonport. We had set our 

donations target at $100,000 and are extremely 

grateful to be reporting that the tally has landed 

at $108,275! This is an amazing result and we’re 

absolutely humbled by the generosity displayed 

from all our supporters. You can see more on the 

Fairbrother Ride and the Fairbrother Foundation on 

Page 26. If we have employees, consultants, clients, 

subcontractors or suppliers out there who would like 

to get involved in 2025, then I’d love to hear from 

you. 

We have another new wave of employees achieving 

Years of Service milestones since December – the full 

list is on page 19. From this list, we have three new 

inductees to our 25 Year Club, Scott Cole from our 

Joinery division, Adrian (Fred) Lynd from Construction 

Northwest and Tim Hurford from Central Victoria 

– looking forward to seeing you at our next 25 Year 

Club function in October. Another notable milestone 

is the 35 Years of Service achieved by our Chairman, 

Craig Edmunds. Congratulations everyone, and thank 

you for all that you’ve contributed, looking forward to 

may more good years ahead! 

Scott Cole 

25 Years of Service 

Tim Hurford 


Craig Edmunds 


Adrian ‘Fred’ Lynd 



Past, Present, Future 

HYCEL TECHNOLOGY HUB 


In the realm of construction and innovation, 

Fairbrother’s recent project, the Hycel Technology 

Hub at Deakin University’s Warrnambool Campus, 

marks a significant milestone. This state-of-the-art 

facility, dedicated to hydrogen fuel cell research, is 

the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. 

At the forefront of Australia’s transition to sustainable 

and renewable energy sources, Hycel’s primary 

goal is research and development into the use of 

hydrogen for transportation. The 2,100m² facility 

features five laboratory spaces, numerous designated 

research and training spaces and a spacious, 

enclosed research loading bay to accommodate large 

transport vehicles. 

“We’ve built the facility to enable research through 

to testing, including a fully functional truck bay,” said 

Aaron Finnigan, Project Manager for Fairbrother. 

The innovative nature of the project stands out 

across the academic and research industries, with 

Deakin leading the way in Australia in this area. 

“It’s a field that hasn’t really been tackled anywhere 

else in our region,” said Velina Genova, Project 

Manager for Deakin University. “I’m pretty proud that 

we’re the first ones to be doing it.” 

Architecturally, the Hub is noteworthy for its 

integration of sustainable design principles. 

Fairbrother incorporated Solar PV cells throughout 

the structure, supporting long-term operational 

efficiency. Air permeability testing and the use of 

energy-efficient lighting and ventilation systems 

underscore a commitment to reducing the project’s 

carbon footprint. 


Hycel Technology Hub (continued) 

Perhaps most strikingly, the building’s design pays homage 

to local indigenous culture, a key requirement from the 

client, with elements such as the eel basket-shaped, 

terracotta-clad front entry symbolising a deep respect of 

and connection to the land’s original custodians. 

Extensive consultation and collaboration with the region’s 

traditional custodians was instrumental in ensuring that 

the project not only respects, but reflects the cultural 

significance of the site and its surroundings. Indigenous 

elements are woven throughout the facility, from the 

landscaping to the building’s facade, telling a story of the 

land and its people. 

The eel-trap entryway is a significant aspect, both 

aesthetically and thematically. 

“Traditional custodians were leaders of innovation in how 

they used to trap and farm eels by altering the waterways; 

it was important to bring that connection to land and 

culture into the project,” said Aaron. 

With sustainability front and centre, the goal of net-zero 

carbon contribution permeated the project. Aiming to 

achieve certification from the International Living Future 

Institute (ILFI) meant certain conditions needed to be 

met, including 90 per cent of waste generated during 

construction being diverted away from landfill. 

“Individually on site we had a seven-bin setup,” said 

Aaron. “We had to ensure that different waste materials 

were separated on site to ensure diversion from landfill 

was being achieved. This team approach resulted in 

just over 90.5 per cent diverted from landfill, a great 

accomplishment.” 

The use of sustainable materials, including ‘green’ 

concrete and ‘green’ steel, ensuring suppliers had correct 

certifications and manufacturing techniques, not only met 

but exceeded sustainability requirements. 

Alongside this was an extensive hydraulic and stormwater 

system designed to aid water conservation measures, 

as well as the inclusion of a 202kW grid-connected solar 

system, spanning the entire usable roof area. 

Specific construction methods were required to ensure 

safety and containment relating to the presence of 

hydrogen within the building. This included the installation 

of dissipative vinyl and earthing copper strips to mitigate 

potential ignition sources. In addition, specialised 

hydrogen gas and flame detectors are deployed 

throughout the building, complemented by stringent 

requirements around lighting fixtures and ventilation. 

“It was an extensive and interesting process,” said Aaron. 

“We had a hydrogen expert on board to assist project 

consultants to implement correct safety measures.” 

What’s Building APRIL 2024 | Page 8 

Project management was a critical component of the 

build’s success. Fairbrother worked closely with Deakin 

University, architects, and subcontractors to ensure the 

project’s goals were met. This collaborative effort was 

crucial in managing long lead times for critical components 

and integrating complex systems required for the facility’s 

groundbreaking research activities. 

“The relationship between the consultants, Fairbrother, 

and Deakin has been really good,” said Velina. “It had its 

challenges but having that relationship with the team and 

being able to pick up the phone and talk to each other 

certainly made it much easier.” 

The Hycel Technology Hub stands as a model for future 

construction projects, demonstrating how innovative 

design, sustainability, and cultural engagement can be 

harmoniously integrated. The facility is a significant 

achievement for Fairbrother, Deakin University, and all 

stakeholders. It represents a forward-thinking approach 

to construction that respects and honours the land’s 

indigenous heritage, while pushing the boundaries of 

what’s possible in sustainable design and clean energy 

research. 

“It’s a credit to the team, how well the build was 

managed,” said Aaron. “It was a learning experience for 

everyone, working on something so innovative.” 

As the Hub nears operation, it is poised to become a key 

player in the global push towards sustainable energy 

solutions. The research conducted within its walls will aid 

in the development of hydrogen fuel technology, with the 

potential to transform energy systems in Australia and 

beyond. Furthermore, the project’s success showcases 

possibilities that arise from respecting and incorporating 

indigenous knowledge and values into modern 

construction practices. 

The Hycel Technology Hub is more than just a building; it’s 

a statement about the future of energy, the importance of 

sustainability, and the value of cultural heritage. Through 

this project, Fairbrother has not only cemented its 

reputation for excellence but has contributed to a legacy 

to benefit future generations. The collaboration between 

contractor, designers, the university, and traditional 

custodians sets a new standard for how projects can be 

approached in both cultural and environmental contexts. 

As the world continues to search for sustainable and clean 

energy solutions, the Hycel Technology Hub at Deakin 

University’s Warrnambool Campus stands as a testament 

to Fairbrother’s capabilities. It is a clear demonstration 

of what can be achieved when we build with respect for 

our past, commitment to our present, and vision for our 

future.

CLIENT: Deakin University 

ARCHITECT: Woods Bagot 

PROJECT MANAGER: Aaron Finnigan 

SENIOR SITE MANAGER: Peter Trezise 

PHOTOS: Ned Meldrum 


Project Progression 

BRIGHTON HIGH SCHOOL 

A little over twelve months ago, Fairbrother broke ground 

on the Brighton High School, a 12-acre site that will, 

commencing 2025, become home to up to 600 students. 

As the company marks 12 months on site, the team is 

targeting completion ahead of the initial program. It is 

a testament to Fairbrother’s construction capability and 

project management that the project is achieving this 

great outcome. 

Project Manager Andrew Burns, alongside Site Managers 

Josh Arnold and Dan Young, have been instrumental 

in steering the Brighton High School project toward a 

successful early completion. In conversation with What’s 

Building, Josh Arnold praised the quality of the team as a 

key factor in the achievements to date. 

“We’ve been able to have Andrew (Burns) on site around 

90 per cent of the time which is fantastic for Dan and I,” 

said Josh. “But then the crew, we’ve got energetic guys 

who are really good at their job, and can deliver and drive 

the standards we’re looking for. I think that’s key, you set 

yourself up with a really good team because at the end of 

the day you’re only as good as the people around you.” 

The positive team environment is something that goes 

beyond the Fairbrother employees on site, with Josh 

giving credit to the subcontractors and consultants 

involved in the project as well, and their efforts in not only 

creating an environment that is set up for success, but in 

contributing to their own roles positively. 

That aspect of stakeholder engagement and managing 

the various trades, subcontractors, and others, both 

on site and involved elsewhere, is a standout for this 

project, demonstrating Fairbrother’s adeptness in 

stakeholder engagement. Through consistent and 

transparent communication, Fairbrother has built strong 

relationships with all project stakeholders, including the 

local community, ensuring that the school’s construction 

reflects the needs and aspirations of its future users. 

The size of the site has allowed for a level of project 

management that is often unavailable in commercial 

construction projects, enabling the team greater 

opportunity to store materials and have them at hand 

for rapid deployment when necessary. This presence of 

materials and supplies also allowed the project team 

to expand their focus to construct multiple buildings 

concurrently. 

‘Building A’ - Gym 

Brighton High School 


‘Learning Street’ 

Brighton High School 

“Where we started with Building D, Building E is identical 

as well, so we were able to get the shop drawings for that 

signed off once D was done,” said Josh. “We were able to 

have two buildings almost start concurrently, and then 

Building A - the biggest building was also starting, so we 

hit the ball rolling pretty early in the piece, being able to 

run them concurrently.” 

The Brighton High School project consists of five core 

buildings - labelled A to E, with Building A housing the 

gymnasium and performing arts centre. This building 

stands out as a feature when looking across the site, 

proudly visible from Brighton’s main road and sitting 

above the remaining key buildings. It was a significant 

moment, coming toward the end of 2023, for the team to 

be able to have not only Building D, but also Buildings A 

and E at lockup stage by Christmas. 

“I think originally we were trying to have one building 

locked up by Christmas - Building D,” said Josh. “It was a 

great milestone to have three buildings locked up, and it’s 

left us in a really good position with Building A, which is 

due to be completed toward the back end of May.” 

With the project in good stead for completion in August, 

well ahead of the initial October projection, the team is 

beginning to turn their attention to the final stages; this 

includes finishing touches and landscaping. 

The landscaping is a significant remaining portion of the 

project, with the school’s ‘Learning Street’ a strong focus 

of the intent and design of the facility. Work has recently 

commenced on concrete pouring and other structural 

components. 

“It really complements the project,” said Josh. “It’s going 

to look really nice once we see some of the foliage starting 

to go into the Learning Street. That’s really going to ramp 

up over the next three months.” 

As work continues, the team involved with the Brighton 

High School is looking forward to presenting the local 

community with an exceptional facility that will provide 

young people with incredible opportunities to learn and 

grow into young adults. Nearing completion, the project 

demonstrates that a strong team, a positive culture, and 

exceptional programming and stakeholder engagement 

are all key ingredients to success. 


A positive start 

VICTORIA 

GENERAL MANAGER 

VICTORIA 

MICHAEL JOSEY 

The start to 2024 has been 

the most positive for quite 

some time, with people 

and project performances 

being positive and, dare I 

say it: returning to a level of 

normality. 

In the early stages of this 

year, we said farewell to 

Mick Ryan who has retired 

after a 23-year career with 

Fairbrother. Mick’s contributions in the Central Victorian 

division have been significant and we wish him all the best 

with the next chapter. 

In March, our eight graduates came together from across 

Victoria and Tasmania to meet in our new Melbourne 

office for their first Graduate Session. A successful day that 

was filled with interaction, contemplation, and reflection, 

the graduates all had positive feedback to offer. 

Speaking of our graduates, a number of them have been 

participating in helping to find the next intake. We’ve had 

a presence at the DeakinTALENT Career Day, Melbourne’s 

‘The Big Meet’, and in April the RMIT Careers Day. 

Events like these give us the opportunity to present the 

Fairbrother Graduate Program to prospective construction 

employees. Despite being a relatively new program, we’re 

already seeing a great reputation develop with over 800 

applications already received for the next intake! 

On the project front, we are pleased to have achieved 

practical completion on the Hycel Technology Hub at 

Deakin University in Warrnambool. The build is stunning 

and is a reflection of the collaborative partnership 

fostered throughout the project. It’s been a privilege 

to deliver this world-class facility, and we’re grateful to 

Deakin University, Root Partnership, and Woods-Bagot 

for the opportunity. Congratulations to Aaron and our 

Southwest Victoria Team on a great job! You’ll likely have 

seen that Hycel is our cover story for this issue, so turn to 

page 6 for a deeper look. 

Our Geelong Team is continuing work on the Werribee 

Open Range Zoo, achieving a significant milestone recently 

with the elephant pools being filled and undergoing the 

hydrostatic testing process to ensure a great quality result 

for its future occupants. The project has hit the ground 

running in 2024, making great progress on the 40-acre 

site, and we’re on target to achieve practical completion in 

the final quarter of this year. 

Werribee Open Range Zoo 

Geelong Region 


Maryborough Hospital 

Central Victoria 

In Central Victoria, we’ve recently been awarded a $14m 

contract to build the new Wellbeing Centre at Notre Dame 

College in Shepparton. Having previously constructed 

the Science Centre in 2017, and the award-winning Arts 

Precinct in 2018, this third project reflects the team’s 

past performance and the professional manner in which 

Rick Carson and Mark Miller have conducted themselves 

in building a great client relationship through quality 

delivery. You can also read more on this project on the 

next page. 

The Maryborough Health Redevelopment has topped out! 

This project is on program with the team investigating an 

early completion strategy. Stripping and back-propping 

are well advanced with high-level service rough-in, 

wall framing, and soffit insulation progressing well. The 

team’s focus is now turning toward the structural steel 

portal roofing and curtain wall to ensure a watertight 

environment. We currently have around 100 workers on 

site each day, and we’re looking to increase this to 150 in 

the near future. 

St Joseph’s College in Echuca is in the final throes of 

construction, and again the quality is first class. Company 

founder, Royce Fairbrother recently visited the site and 

was greeted by our client and the building surveyor, who 

were both highly complimentary of our team members for 

their forward thinking and quality project delivery. 

The a2 Milk Facility in Kyabram has presented its 

own unique challenges related to working within an 

operational facility. The $10.5m project requires complex 

staging to manage multiple inward and outward truck 

movements each day. Our team is doing a great job, with 

the build entering its final stages, and most of the major 

works looking to be complete by the end of May. 

Lastly for Central Victoria is our pro-bono project for 

Bendigo Foodshare, being delivered as a community 

engagement project. A brief introduction to this 

project was featured on page 23 of our December 2023 

newsletter. Since then, we’ve been humbled by the strong 

community contribution from others in our industry, with 

a number of local trades and suppliers making donations 

in one form or another. Of particular note is Hanson, who 

has made a $50,000 cash donation while maintaining 

reduced supply rates for materials. We are on track to 

achieve our target figure of $3.4m which is a credit to all 

involved. 

Our focus is also on new business for all our Victorian 

regions which will require work by the end of this calendar 

year. Opportunities are plentiful with significant projects 

available across the board. 


Third time’s a charm 

NOTRE DAME COLLEGE 

Fairbrother has embarked on the third stage of 

development at Notre Dame College in Shepparton, 

focusing on the construction of a new Wellbeing Centre. 

This new endeavour follows the successful completion of 

the Science Building in 2017 and the Arts Building in 2018. 

The latter receiving a 2019 Regional Building Award from 

Master Builders Victoria for Excellence in Commercial 

Construction. This third project with Notre Dame in the 

last ten years amounts to over $28m in development and 

aims to significantly enhance the college’s infrastructure. 

The project, scheduled over two years, includes 

demolitions and new constructions, starting during the 

school holidays in April 2024. A key feature of the project 

is the Saint Colman’s Building, the first erected at the 

school in the 1950s, which holds heritage significance. 

Its partial retention and restoration blend the school’s 

historic essence with its progressive outlook. 

“The red brick theme of the Saint Colman’s building is 

a significant aspect of the college’s history,” said Rick 

Carson, Project Manager for Fairbrother. “We’ll be 

bringing the windows up to modern energy efficiency 

standards, but the building’s brick facade will remain.” 

The Wellbeing Centre is poised to become a cornerstone 

of Notre Dame College, encapsulating the institution’s 

commitment to fostering a nurturing and inclusive 

environment. It will feature modern amenities such as 

new administration areas, staff offices, a school canteen, 

and eight general-purpose learning areas, all spread across 

two stories. The construction will showcase a suspended 

concrete off-form slab with post-tension reinforcement, 

precast concrete shear walls, and a lift run. Architecturally, 

the project will be distinguished by a 43-feature column 

colonnade, ensuring a grand entrance to the school. 

This new facility is not merely an addition to the campus 

but is set to be the new frontage of Notre Dame College, 

representing the first impression for visitors and the 

college community alike. The impressive nature of this 

facility underscores the school’s focus on creating an 

environment that is not only conducive to learning but 

also reflective of the school’s values and aspirations. With 

this development, the college aims to make a statement of 

boldness and grandeur, welcoming all into a space that is 

both inspiring and welcoming. 

As Fairbrother progresses with this important new face 

to the college, the project’s significance extends beyond 

its physical boundaries. The completion of the Wellbeing 

Centre will mark a new era for Notre Dame College, 

enhancing the educational experience and well-being of 

its community. Fairbrother’s commitment to quality and 

innovation, coupled with the preservation of the school’s 

heritage, is set to deliver a facility that will serve as a 

beacon of excellence in education. 



CLIENT: Catholic Education Tasmania 

ARCHITECT: MANA / Playstreet 

PROJECT MANAGER: Luke Wardlaw 

SITE MANAGER: Adrian De Jong 

PHOTOS: Josh Mitchell

Continuing the momentum 

NORTHERN TASMANIA 


NORTHERN TASMANIA 

MARCUS PERKINS 

The start of 2024 

has seen 2023’s 

momentum continue 

with all our divisions 

working at capacity. The 

construction industry in 

Northern Tasmania has 

a positive outlook, with 

several major projects 

advancing and some 

being released to the 

market. 

A major milestone was seen with Adrian “Fred” Lynd 

achieving 25 years of service in March. Fred is one of the 

people who you want in your team and has contributed 

greatly over a long period. 

March also saw the departure of long-term employee, 

Wade McCreadie. Wade successfully delivered a range of 

major projects in the role of a Site Manager. We wish him 

all the best in his next endeavour. 

Construction Northwest continues to progress well with 

our broad range of projects, across the entire coast. We 

have seen the commencement of the Marist Regional 

College – Temporary MDT building; a workshop facility in 

Latrobe for our long-term client Fieldwicks, and a major 

mechanical upgrade at the Northwest Regional Hospital. 

Work is continuing at the Mersey Community Hospital 

Outpatients Clinic and Operating Theatres. The next 

significant milestone is the scheduled handover of C Block, 

Central Core and E Block in July. E Block is the largest 

package of work in this contract and will leave minor 

packages to complete over the following 12 months. 

Wynyard Machine Centre is now complete, with 

some minor works continuing. This was an extremely 

complicated project, in particular the detailed machine 

footing that had complex geometry and tolerances less 

than 1mm. Our team has gone above and beyond to get 

this completed on a tight timeframe, for another highly 

valued long-term client Elphinstone. 

North Terrace Apartments are progressing well. Externally, 

structure, roofing and glazing are complete. Internally, 

plastering is complete on Level 1, painting commenced, 

and joinery is imminent. Overall, the project is progressing 

well and on track for a June completion. 

Construction North remains focused on the delivery of 

UTAS Willis Street, St Lukes Health, and Anne O’Byrne 

Demolition. We are now actively seeking the next 

opportunity, for our teams to transition into following the 

completion of these projects. Thankfully there are some 

good opportunities in the Launceston region. 

UTAS Willis Street has seen a high level of activity and 

solid progress across the entire site. Internal works are 

ongoing, with services and finishing trades forging ahead. 

Externally, the civil subcontractor has been conducting 

works to the car park and general site preparation for hard 

and soft landscaping. The Boland Street Pedestrian Bridge 

is progressing well, with kerbs now poured and handrail 

installation to be completed over the coming months. 

St Lukes Health has achieved a few significant milestones 

recently, completing the base build. The Newton and 

Henry fit out of Level 2 is also complete and we have seen 

the handover of a section of the ground floor to allow 

safe access to Level 2. Work continues with the fit-out 

packages on the ground floor, Level 5, Level 6 and Level 7, 

all of which are due for completion mid-year. 

The Anne O’Byrne Demolition is progressing well, the 

boiler house and supply building have been removed to 

ground level and the removal of in-ground structures 

has commenced. The Anne O’Byrne building has been 

demolished down to Level 2. This project has taken a lot 

of detailed planning, given the close proximity of Howick 

Street to the 4- level Anne O’Byrne structure. 

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Our Joinery Division has finally concluded a period that 

saw the team stretched due to a number of concurrent 

projects. The effort from team members has been 

commendable. 

Fixed joinery and wall linings are now being installed 

across all levels at UTAS Willis Street in Launceston. Levels 

1 and 2 are nearing completion and Level 3 is around 50% 

complete. 

Also in Launceston, the team are progressing well on 

St Lukes Health with large portions of scope being 

undertaken on the ground floor, as well as working on a 

feature ceiling for Level 7. 

In the northwest, installation is scheduled for North 

Terrace Apartments around mid-April. The team have also 

been continuing work on various aspects at the Mersey 

Community Hospital site. 

The primary focus for joinery in Hobart is the Brighton 

High School, which is progressing well, and the final stage 

at Sorell School. 

The Joinery team has also commenced work on the 

Maryborough Hospital Redevelopment for Central 

Victoria. Shop drawing is well advanced and prototypes 

have been built. 

Once again, thank you to all our employees for the efforts 

made over the start of this year. 

Wynyard Machine Centre 

Construction Northwest 



CLIENT: University of Tasmania 

ARCHITECT: Liminal Architecture 

PROJECT MANAGER: Ben Hawkes 

SITE MANAGER: Callum Rolls 

PHOTOS: Dave Groves

A New Life 

MAKERS WORKSHOP 

Originally constructed by Fairbrother over a decade 

ago, the Maker’s Workshop has transitioned from 

museum to a vibrant space dedicated to the Tasmanian 

Institute of Agriculture (TIA), the College of Business and 

Economics Tech Solutions Hub, a business incubator, and 

a public demonstration area. Following the University of 

Tasmania’s decision to reimagine and reopen the space, 

the northwest of Tasmania now benefits from a modern 

centre of ‘making’ that allows for hands-on learning 

experiences, the progression and development of business 

ideas, and advancement of the region’s key industries 

through specialised technology, training and research. 

“It was originally built for the Paper Making Museum,” 

said Ben Hawkes, Project Manager for Fairbrother. “But 

the recently it’s been sitting there without much use.” 

Working with a close client in the University of Tasmania, 

the project sought to revitalise the building with the 

development of high-quality learning facilities alongside 

vibrant and creative open spaces, as well as offices for 

staff, and a high-end agricultural lab. 

A crucial aspect of the renovation was the extensive 

internal demolition required to facilitate the new 

design’s open spaces and learning facilities. This redesign 

introduced a significant structural overhaul, including the 

installation of internal steel structures to accommodate 

workspaces and a mezzanine floor for the mechanical 

plant deck. The internal composition comprised metal 

stud framing, plasterboard, and internal glazed partitions, 

ensuring a modern and functional interior conducive to 

the hub’s educational and innovative activities. 

features in colours that resonate with the city’s vibrancy. 

This choice was not only stylistic but also functional, 

addressing the need for sound management in the large 

open spaces to create a conducive environment for 

learning and collaboration. Similarly, the lighting fixtures 

were selected with precision, balancing the requirements 

for energy efficiency with the need to provide adequate 

illumination for the hub’s diverse activities. 

The renovation faced several challenges, among them 

the long lead times required for essential materials such 

as flooring, wall linings, and supplies. The project team’s 

foresight in anticipating these issues allowed for early 

resolution, ensuring that delays were minimised. 

“It was a short program,” said Ben. “A lot of the items 

being supplied had long lead times, and were quite hightech, 

so a lot of it had to be procured very early on.” 

Another challenge was integrating new and existing 

Building Management Systems, which demanded 

extensive consultation and collaboration to achieve a 

seamless operational framework. 

The outcome of this transformative project is a modern, 

multifunctional facility that stands at the intersection 

of education, innovation, and community engagement. 

The Maker’s Workshop now offers the community a 

dynamic space for learning, discovery, and innovation. 

This project underscores the potential of adaptive reuse in 

contemporary architecture and education, demonstrating 

how existing structures can be reimagined to serve 

new purposes in response to evolving societal and 

technological demands. 

Notably, the project featured distinctive acoustic panelling 

and lighting fixtures, crucial elements that underscore the 

building’s functional and aesthetic transformation. The 

acoustic panelling, designed to mimic the urban landscape 

of Burnie City, incorporated detailed container-like 

Years of 

The renovation of the Maker’s Workshop is particularly 

significant for Fairbrother, representing not only a 

continuation of the long-standing relationship with the 

University of Tasmania but also a reaffirmation of their 

expertise in managing complex renovation projects. 

SERVICE 

15 years 25 years 35 years 

Chris Peter 

Abby Sims 

Scott Cole 

Adrian Lynd 

Tim Hurford 


Craig Edmunds

Completing projects 

SOUTHERN TASMANIA 

After a sustained period of being extremely busy since 

COVID, Construction South is currently seeing a decline in 

workload with several projects nearing completion in the 

run up to Easter. This impact, plus challenges in getting 

projects commenced, will result in a quieter period. 

Facility Management on the other hand is extremely busy 

across the state, with multiple projects commencing, plus 

the constant influx of reactive maintenance. 

A significant retirement took place in February when we 

said goodbye to John ‘Froggy’ Ayres after 25 years of 

service to the company. All the best for the future, Froggy! 

Facility Management has seen a significant amount 

of work completed since Christmas, including the 

Bridgewater wash bay for TasNetworks, a house 

demolition at Snug, and upgrades for the New Norfolk 

Hospital in the south of the state. Further north, we 

have also completed civil works at Smithton, a student 

accommodation house for UTAS at Latrobe, and works at 

the Visitors’ Centre and Miners’ Hut for MMG in Rosebery. 

Current projects include additional work for TasNetworks 

across the state. We also have the Launceston Remand 

Centre body scanner installation, a pool slide access 

stairway for Devonport Council, Parkside Renal Facility 

Store, building maintenance for Elphinstone, a fitout for 

Service Tasmania in Wynyard, and RACT Faraday Street 

to name a few. The wide range of these works highlights 

the diversity of skills that our Facility Management team 

possesses. 

As this issue is released, Construction South is closing 

in on completion at Castray Esplanade. We are in the 

final stages of this high-quality bespoke fitout, with the 

cantilever pool and external driveway being worked on. 

Stage 3 at Sorell School has commenced following 

completion of Stage 2 (Kindergarten to Grade 2) in 

December and the Children and Early Learning Centre 

reaching practical completion in February. Works to date 

have involved demolition and the removal of hazardous 

materials. The project is progressing well with an 

anticipated completion date in August. 

Glenson Place in 

Claremont, a supported 

independent living 

facility for those 

with mental illness, 

is also on the edge 

of completion as this 

issue goes to press. 

Internally, plastering 

is nearly done, joinery 

installation is close 

to completion and 

the external works 

and landscaping are 

transforming the site. 


SOUTHERN TASMANIA 

PAUL RANSLEY 

Brighton High School is another project that demonstrates 

how a well-managed site, and a structured program can 

pay massive dividends, with the project trending for an 

early completion. We are targeting to have the first of 

the classroom buildings (Building D) completed by the 

end of March. In the gym (Building A), plastering is nearly 

complete, which will be followed by the ply linings. All 

trades are then flowing into Building B, then E and finally 

Building C where roofing has been completed and cladding 

has commenced. Externally the learning zone through the 

centre spine between the buildings has garden beds and 

stairs ongoing and the sports oval has been seeded. This 

project has been a huge success so far and is featured on 

page 10. 

From a new project point of view, we have recently been 

successful in securing SISU Winery and also the Edwards 

Hub at Hutchins. At the winery we have engaged our civil 

sub contractor, who is currently undertaking the cut to fill 

process. Unfortunately, at Hutchins, we had commenced 

our bulk earthworks, but have had to cease works while 

we deal with some unexpected discoveries. 

Centacare Letitia Street social housing is really motoring 

along, with the aim to be completed by late May / early 

June – significantly faster than the original program. The 

sequencing of this project has been the key to its success 

with the trades flowing from unit to unit. Plastering in the 

final units is about to occur, with finishes trades to follow. 

Sullivan’s Cove Distillery cellar door refurbishment at 

Cambridge is progressing well, with completion targeted 

for early June. 

Glenson Place 

Construction South 


Thanks for the Memories 

FAREWELL JOHN AND MICK 

Commencing with Fairbrother as a carpenter in August 

1997, John “Froggy” Ayres has been an integral member 

of the Southern Construction team’s success for over 25 

years. 

Throughout this journey, Froggy has worked some of 

our most iconic projects, including the Silos Apartments, 

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Sciences (IMAS), the 

UTAS student accommodation (NRAS) project, Murray 

Street Pier, with his last project being the social housing at 

Centacare Letitia Street. 

Froggy is one of those blokes who everyone wants in their 

team – a true gentlemen who went about his job with 

minimal fuss. He was reliable (worked 18 years before 

taking his first sick day); a mentor who loved looking after 

our apprentices and took a real sense of pride in their 

development, and finally his attention to detail and highquality 

results. 

He was always proud of his work, when he finished a 

certain task, he would say “look at that, looks like it’s 

grown there”. 

We’re sure that retirement will bring more time for work 

at home and in the garden, supporting Collingwood and a 

game of golf. 

Congratulations on your outstanding career Frog, we wish 

you and Cathy every happiness in the future – stay in 

touch! 

Also retiring recently is Mick Ryan from our Central 

Victorian Division after 23 years. 

Mick commenced with Morey and Hurford in 2001, staying 

on after Fairbrother acquired the company in 2008. 

He has been a great asset to the company over the years, 

working on a wide range of projects including the Choices 

Flooring Showroom in Bendigo, McIvor Road Veterinary 

Clinic, and Kyneton Secondary College. 

Since 2019, Mick’s served as the Bendigo Yard Storeman, 

and his consistent presence led to General Manager 

Victoria, Mick Josey, describing him as “a part of the 

furniture.” 

Congratulations also to you, Mick, for your exceptional 

career, and best wishes for the future – you’ll be sorely 

missed! 

Heath Lovell with Retiree John ‘Froggy’ Ayres 

Chris Peter with Retiree Mick Ryan 


Apprentice of the Year 2023 

CAMERON DIREEN 

Cameron commenced his apprenticeship with Fairbrother 

in 2020, and across his journey, has demonstrated that 

he is an excellent example of the traits and qualities 

that Fairbrother looks to instil in our apprentices and 

employees. 

Demonstrating an ability to work well both in a team and 

alone, Cameron has shown a willingness to take on and 

apply himself to any task given to him without fuss. 

Cameron’s work ethic, combined with his excellent can-do 

attitude and willingness to go above and beyond has been 

noted throughout his apprenticeship, with a number of 

supervisors and managers making special efforts to praise 

his ability, contributions, and the positive influence that he 

has on site. 

“Cam demonstrates a level of leadership beyond his 

years,” said Kurt Arnold, Fairbrother’s Chief Executive 

Officer when announcing Cameron as Apprentice of the 

Year. “Recently he was working with one of our younger 

apprentices and was able to recognise that this person 

had the capability and skills, so guided them through a 

series of questions to help them solve an issue from their 

own knowledge rather than simply telling them how to do 

it.” 

Cameron’s leadership skills have seen him taking steps 

to oversee different aspects of projects on recent jobs, 

including components of the cantilevered structure on 

the recent Bethlehem House project, and the ceilings and 

soffit linings at Glenson Place. 

A passion for learning and developing his trade has 

followed Cameron throughout his apprenticeship, with 

supervisors noting his pride in his work and representation 

of Fairbrother at work and training. 

“It’s been great to watch his growth over the past three or 

four years,” said Matt Scrimgeour, Fairbrother’s Apprentice 

Coordinator. “The attitude and professionalism with which 

he goes about everything is an example to everyone.” 

Congratulations Cameron on the award. We look forward 

to continuing to see you grow as your career develops 

further. 


Employee of the Year 2023 

JOSH ARNOLD 

Commencing in 2009 with the Fairbrother Apprentice 

Program, Josh Arnold has spent 15 years demonstrating 

an exemplary attitude towards his work, his team, and the 

Fairbrother name. 

Having a great year in 2023, Josh found his stride in 

leading and delivering the Sorell Emergency Services Hub 

project before flowing straight into Brighton High School. 

His work on the latter, alongside the team, has seen the 

project progress smoothly and rapidly, pressing toward 

early completion. 

“His leadership qualities are as good as we’ve seen,” said 

Kurt Arnold, Fairbrother’s Chief Executive Officer. “He’s 

got a great understanding of culture, and how to create a 

positive environment which is an excellent attribute that’s 

been demonstrated across the jobs he’s worked on.” 

Josh’s leadership skills have been impacted also by his 

roles within the Tasmanian AFL system, taking on the 

senior coaching role with the Glenorchy Magpies in 2023, 

and continuing into the 2024 season ahead. 

His coaching skills are evident in his work as well, 

being motivated by the development of others, and 

demonstrating a genuine ability to bring those around 

him on the journey to successful project delivery. This is 

evident not only with Fairbrother employees, but also his 

ability to work with consultants and subcontractors. 

“Josh’s quick progression into delivering our largest 

current project in the South highlights his key strengths,” 

said Paul Ransley, Fairbrother’s General Manager - 

Southern Tasmania. “His unassuming demeanour, calm 

temperament, adherence to compliance and quality, and 

brilliant communication skills to all stakeholders are standout 

qualities. He sets a great standard and benchmark for 

our future leaders to aspire to.” 

Congratulations, Josh, on being named Employee of 

the Year for 2023, and thanks for your ongoing positive 

attitude and contributions to the Fairbrother story! 


Fairbrother Community 

CONTRIBUTION 

FAIRBROTHER 

FOUNDATION DIRECTOR 

GAYE RUTHERFORD 

It’s the beginning of 

a new year, and what 

a start it has been 

with the 6th annual 

Fairbrother Ride 

occurring in mid- 

February and raising 

over $100,000 for the 

Foundation’s work 

in the community. 

The Foundation was 

absolutely humbled and so appreciative of the support for 

the ride this year – the photos and coverage on the next 

page capture just some of the joy it was to be a part of the 

ride experience. 

van to provide food relief across the region. 

It was great to hear from some of the beneficiaries about 

the impact that support from the Foundation has had 

in their organisations. If you haven’t yet seen them on 

Fairbrother’s social media channels, look up our YouTube 

page to hear from Speak Up, Stay ChatTY, The Smith 

Family, Hobart City Mission and The Heart Foundation. 

This time of the year is also when we again look to 

our employees to reach out for nominations for the 

Fairbrother Foundation Employee Charity program. 

Each year the Foundation offers Fairbrother and Degree 

C employees the opportunity to nominate charities to 

receive a $2,500 donation. The program has been running 

since 2016, and so far we’ve been able to support 46 

different charities! You can see a selection of the most 

recent charities we have supported on the Fairbrother 

website’s Community Contribution page. 

Since the last newsletter the Foundation has focussed 

on ways we can increase our impact to our longstanding 

charity partners. This has resulted in us donating $10,000 

to Hobart City Mission’s DIY Dads Program, plus a new 

donation of $15,000 to HCM’s Growing Together program. 

$40,000 has been provided to Speak Up Stay ChatTY as 

year two of our support for their Sports Program. 

We have provided $19,250 to The Smith Family’s Digital 

Learnings Essentials Program, which supported 25 

Tasmanian students with the digital equipment and 

resources needed to make the most of their education 

and ensure they are not falling behind. 

Finally, we have provided $20,000 to Gran’s Van, who work 

alongside Action Against Homelessness on the Northwest 

Coast. The donation will go toward a ‘mobile supermarket’ 

Rounding out the Foundation celebrations for this 

quarter, we congratulate our three latest recipients of 

Fairbrother Foundation Scholarships. Taylor Jones from St 

Marys has been awarded the Royal Flying Doctor Service 

(RFDS)-Fairbrother Foundation Scholarship and will get to 

experience a unique placement at the RFDS as part of her 

Bachelor of Nursing Studies. Bianca Russell (commencing 

a Bachelor of Social Work) and Anisah Yates (commencing 

a Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine), 

daughters of long-standing Fairbrother employees Todd 

Russell and Colin Yates, have each been awarded a 

Fairbrother Foundation UTAS Scholarship. We wish all 

three the very best for their studies ahead. 

It is with great pleasure the Foundation can announce that 

in 2024 we are supporting a new scholarship. Opening 

in May this year, applicants to Deakin University will 

also be eligible to apply for the Fairbrother Foundation 

Construction Management Scholarship. This scholarship is 

designed to support a tertiary education-based pathway 

into the construction industry. We are very pleased to 

offer this Victorian-based scholarship, focused on our 

construction industry. 


Employee Charity 

Program 

Is there a charity in your community that you would like to support? 

The Fairbrother Foundation Employee Charity Program has been in operation 

since 2016, allowing Fairbrother and Degree C Employees to nominate 

eligible local charities to recieve a $2,500 donation. 

Nominated charities must be registered with the 

Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission as a 

Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). 

Nominated charities must also be Australia-based, and 

conduct activities in Australia. 

To nominate a charity: 

Email your nomination to the Foundation Chaire, Gaye 

Rutherford: grutherford@fairbrother.com.au. 

Your nomination must include the name of the charity, 

and the reason you would like to nominate them. 

By nominating a charity, you agree to have details of your 

nomination mentioned in announcements made by the 

Fairbrother Foundation, including on the Fairbrother 

website’s ‘Community Contribution’ page and in a future 

issue of What’s Building. 

How do I know if my charity is 

registered as a DGR? 

Visit the ACNC Website and search for your charity, and 

then click the ‘Will my donation be tax deductible?’ button 

(circled in the image above). 

On the page you are taken to, under the heading 

“Deductible Gift Recipient Status” it will tell you if your 

charity is endorsed, which means it can be nominated. 

For fairness purposes, if the number of eligible nominations exceeds the funds available (6 donations 

of $2,500 each), a random draw will take place to determine the charities to be supported in 2024. 



Another Successful Adventure 

FAIRBROTHER RIDE 2024 

On February 16th a number of our Fairbrother employees, 

subcontractors, clients and consultants joined together 

to embark on a 350 km, two-day cycling challenge in 

Northwest Tasmania. Starting at our Head Office in 

Devonport, the group rode through the rugged west coast 

of Tasmania to the township of Tullah where they were 

greeted with fantastic hospitality from the Tullah Lakeside 

Lodge. Day two then saw the group ride from Tullah, 

through the rolling hills and farmland towards Gunns 

Plains before finishing back in Devonport after covering 

some 6,000 vertical meters of climbing over the journey. 

They were treated to some fantastic weather, and we are 

of course grateful that all participants made through the 

event without incident. 

The purpose of this challenge is to act on our guiding 

principle of promoting health and wellbeing along with 

strengthening our business connections and relationships. 

In doing so, we aim to create a platform where donations 

can be made to support the Fairbrother Foundation’s 

activities. 

This event has generated an amazing level of support 

with an overall fundraising tally which has surpassed 

our $100,000 target to land at an incredible $108,275! 

The Fairbrother Foundation is extremely grateful for all 

donations, the kind and giving nature in our community is 

something we can all be proud of. 

This was our 6th annual event and has now accumulated a 

combined total of over $448,000 in donations supporting 

the Fairbrother Foundation’s charitable activities. These 

funds allow the Foundation to continue to build on its 

important community work, as well as its key partnerships 

with Hobart City Mission, SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY, The 

Heart Foundation, New Horizons, Royal Flying Doctor 

Service, Action Against Homelessness (aah), The Smith 

Family and the UTAS Foundation. 

Since the Fairbrother Foundation’s establishment in 2007, 

we have now contributed more than $854,000 to worthy 

charitable causes that has helped enrich the lives of many 

people among the communities in which we serve. 


Summer Fun Runs 

HEALTH AND WELLBEING 

Summer’s come to an end and with it, fun run season. 

Congratulations to everyone who participated in events 

across the summer – Warrnambool’s Surf ‘T’ Surf, Hobart’s 

Run the Bridge, Bendigo’s Ford Fun Run, Devonport’s Bluff 

2 Boat Ramp, and our newest addition to the Fairbrother 

Fun Run Calendar, Melbourne’s Run 4 Kids. 

The winter doesn’t cancel everything out, though. The 

Launceston Running Festival is on June 1-2, and features 

events for everyone, from the 21.1km half marathon 

down to a 1-mile event. There’s even a virtual race for 

those who maybe can’t make it in person! 

A reminder, too, that Fairbrother employees and their 

families are eligible for free entry to participate at these 

events in person. You will also receive a Fairbrother t-shirt 

and water bottle to support you on the day as well. 

Email Rachel (rclemens@fairbrother.com.au) for more 

details. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE FAIRBROTHER PROJECTS 

What’s Building, Issue 109 APRIL 2024 

Fairbrother newsletter 

Head Office 

12 Stony Rise Road 

Devonport Tasmania 7310 

P: (03) 6420 7000 

E: info@fairbrother.com.au 

W: www.fairbrother.com.au 

Editor: 

Ph: (03) 6420 7000 

E: communications@fairbrother.com.au 

Contact the Editor if you have an article or 

project to share in the newsletter 

Next issue: AUGUST 2024 

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What's Building 109 April 2024

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