What's Building 112 April 2025

what’s
WHAT’S
BUILDING
A New Home
Take a look through the new 20-
acre elephant habitat at Werribee
Open Range Zoo in Victoria.
Issue 112
April 2025

In this issue:
CEO Report
Cover Story - Werribee Open Range Zoo
Deakin Health
Report - Victoria
Breaking Ground
Report - Northern Tasmania
Launceston Tennis Centre
Report - Southern Tasmania
International Women’s Day
Employee of the Year
Apprentice of the Year
Report - Fairbrother Community Contribution
Fairbrother Ride 2025
Health and Wellbeing
4
6
10
12
14
16
18
20
21
22
23
24
26
28
Cover Image: Werribee Open Range Zoo
Deakin Health
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CEO
REPORT
apprenticeship in 2024 and is now undertaking his
Certificate III in Workplace Health and Safety. Sam is
currently continuing to grow his leadership skills by
providing support to Braidyn Dawe on the Ashley Youth
Detention Centre project.
Congratulations to both Steve and Sam, you can see more
about them on Pages 22 and 23.
Back on 21st and 22nd February, we held the 7th
annual Fairbrother Ride in support of the Fairbrother
Foundation. This year’s two-day route covered 400km
and 4,500m of elevation riding from Burnie to Smithton,
then back to Devonport. We again set our donations
target at $100,000, and we’re extremely grateful to
surpass this target to land at $104,260! This is an amazing
result and we’re absolutely humbled by the generosity
of our community. You can see more on the Fairbrother
Ride and the Fairbrother Foundation on Pages 24-26. If
we have employees, consultants, clients, subcontractors,
or suppliers out there who would like to get involved in
2026, then it would be great to hear from you.
On the Years of Service front, we have a number of
employees achieving milestones since December.
Notably, Brett Pearce from our Northern Construction
division has racked up 30 years of service. Peter Elliott,
a key member of the IT team, has become the newest
inductee to our 25 Year Club. Achieving 20 Years of
Service are Nat Bell from North West Construction, Bob
Nielsen from our Joinery Division, Mark Baker from
Southern Construction, and Ricky Ellis from Central
Victoria.
Kurt Arnold
Chief Executive Officer
Hello and welcome to the first edition of our What’s
Building newsletter for 2025. The first three months of
the year have already passed, and suddenly the end of
another financial year is on the radar!
To start with, we have a couple of notable project
achievements to highlight: the successful completion
of the $73 million Werribee Open Range Zoo Elephant
Habitat, along with stage 1 of the $78 million
Maryborough Hospital redevelopment being on the
cusp of practical completion. These projects have
been delivered to an incredibly high standard, and the
dedication and commitment of the teams across both has
been exceptional. Congratulations to all involved in the
delivery of these two excellent projects.
The beginning of the year is historically busy on the
recruitment front, and these first three months have
been no exception with 49 new employees joining the
Fairbrother team. This includes 21 Apprentices who
have been introduced into our Apprenticeship Program,
along with seven Construction Graduates who have
commenced our Graduate Program. Welcome on board
everyone, we look forward to helping you learn and grow
to your highest potential.
Our April newsletter is where we take the opportunity
to announce the overall Employee of the Year and
Apprentice of the Year awards for the previous year. The
overall winners are selected from the 2024 Divisional
Employee of the Year and Apprentice of the Year award
winners who were announced in the December 2024
newsletter edition.
I’m pleased to announce that our 2024 Employee of the
Year winner is Steve Rushton and our 2024 Apprentice of
the Year winner is Sam Walley.
Steve Rushton is a Site Manager, based in our Northern
Tasmanian construction division. Steve commenced his
time with Fairbrother in July of 2021 after relocating
from Queensland, with his first task being delivery of the
$100 million UTAS Willis Street project! Steve’s approach
to this project, and to all those who work with him, is
highly commendable. His measured and methodical
leadership style was instrumental in steering our team of
employees, subcontractors, and consultants in delivering
a high-quality, first-class facility for UTAS and its students.
Sam Walley, also based in our Northern Tasmanian
construction division, picked up his apprenticeship with
us in March 2023 after spending two years in residential
construction. Sam’s desire to move into the more exciting
and challenging area of commercial construction has
proved successful - he played an important role on the St
Lukes project where he stepped in to provide support to
the project team with all things SQE and HammerTechrelated.
He successfully completed his Carpentry
Years of Service Milestones
Since our last newsletter, we’ve celebrated several impressive service milestones, recognising years of
dedication and outstanding contributions:
15 Years of Service
• Robert Blair (Northern Tasmania)
• Scott Massie (Facility Manager, Southern Tasmania)
• Jason Waldron (Joinery Division)
• Matthew Legro (Regional Manager, Facility Management - Southern Tasmania)
20 Years of Service
• Ricky Ellis (Leading Hand, Central Victoria)
• Mark Baker (Southern Tasmania)
• Natalie Bell (Receptionist / Secretary - Construction, North West Tasmania)
• Robert Nielsen (Joinery Division)
25 Years of Service
• Peter Elliott (IT Business Analyst / Project Manager) is the latest inductee to our illustrious 25-year club!
30 Years of Service
• Kurt Arnold (Chief Executive Officer)
Find us on social media
• Brett Pearce (Northern Tasmania)
Congratulations all on these fantastic milestones! Your loyalty and commitment continues to drive our success.
Click!
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WERRIBEE
OPEN
RANGE
ZOO
For more than three years, Fairbrother’s Geelong team
has been at the helm of a unique and transformative
project for Werribee Open Range Zoo. The project turned
what was once flat farmland into an intricately designed,
carefully engineered environment for some of the world’s
most extraordinary creatures, Zoos Victoria’s herd of nine
Asian elephants.
Fairbrother’s long-standing reputation for excellence
in commercial construction was on full display across
the unique challenges that came alongside this project.
Constructed in two sections to provide separate habitats
for the bulls and the main herd, the 21-hectare habitat
allows for a high standard of care and more natural
environment for the elephants.
“It was quite complex compared to a more standard
build,” said Rohan Eves, Fairbrother’s Manager – Geelong
Region. “Most of the time you’re designing for people,
but here, the end user was an elephant. You have to think
about what keeps both them and the visitors safe, while
still giving them the freedom to behave naturally.”
Transforming the site into a functional elephant habitat
required careful consideration around how these animals
interact with their environment.
6
What’s Building - April 2025

Werribee Open Range Zoo (continued)
Every element of the design had to consider the sheer
size, strength, and behaviour of the habitat’s new
residents. The result being an environment that allows
the elephants to thrive in a setting that mimics their
natural habitat.
Commencing with a largely undeveloped site, the team
reshaped the landscape to better suit the elephants’
natural behaviours. The flat expanse was sculpted
into a more dynamic terrain, incorporating gentle
slopes, shaded areas, and strategically placed water
sources to encourage both exploration and play. A full
upgrade of underground services was also undertaken
to support the habitat’s infrastructure, including water
filtration, irrigation, and drainage systems, ensuring the
environment remained functional and sustainable for
both the elephants and their caretakers.
A crucial element of the habitat was fencing, with
significant work undertaken to ensure that the
boundaries of the habitat can withstand the weight of an
elephant both horizontally and from being stood on. The
heavy-duty fencing is built using recycled elevator cables
and a donation of railway steel from VicTrack.
Alongside this was the engineering challenge to construct
the habitat’s two pools. Each around the size of an
Olympic swimming pool, they are designed to emulate
the experience of wading into a river, allowing the
elephants to fully submerge and swim. Complex water
circulation and filtration systems ensure that the pools
remain clean and healthy for the animals.
“Quite often they’ll roll in mud, then roll in sand, and
then go wash off, so obviously there’s a high amount of
debris going into the pool and we needed to factor that
into the filtration system.” said Rohan.
The third major aspect of the project was construction of
two barns to provide shelter for the elephants as well as
a space for training and veterinary care. These structures
required a high amount of custom metalwork, including
heavy-duty gates and passageways.
“Every panel, gate, and enclosure is bespoke, designed
for a specific purpose,” said Rohan. The gates in particular
had to be ultra-heavy-duty.”
Even without any specific sustainability targets on the
project, significant consideration was given to ensure
a low-impact project and ongoing use of the area.
Alongside the recycled materials in the fencing, all
timber within the project met FSC certification. Further
enhancements included a major upgrade to the zoo’s
recycled water infrastructure, increasing capacity for
irrigation and reducing the reliance on potable water.
Beyond the primary habitat, Fairbrother also took on the
construction of a new café space, providing visitors with
a space to take in the stunning new surroundings. Built
using modular elements, the structure came together
efficiently as a late variation in the project.
Fairbrother worked closely with the Zoos Victoria team
and Development Victoria to deliver the expansion.
Development Victoria’s Acting Group Head of Civic
Infrastructure Benjamin Delaney said it was a very
exciting and complex project for our team to be involved
in.
“We are proud to have worked closely with Zoos Victoria
and Fairbrother to successfully deliver this important
asset for Werribee Zoo. This is a fantastic outcome for the
Zoo and most importantly, for the elephants.”
A unique project that is something the entire team
involved can look on with pride, the Werribee Open
Range Zoo expansion bears long-term significance. A
space where generations of visitors will experience and
learn about the incredible animals who will inhabit this
environment, the habitat demonstrates Fairbrother’s
ability and commitment to iconic and distinctive builds.
“This was the biggest project I’ve led, and it was great to
see it come together,” said Rohan. “It gave a lot of our
team members the opportunity to work on something
truly unique. It’s a project that we can come back to in
the future and see making a real impact.”
Werribee Open Range Zoo Elephant Trail Life Sciences
Manager Erin Gardiner said the project delivers both an
incredible visitor experience and world-leading welfare
for the Zoo’s elephant herd.
“Our elephant habitats are designed to allow the herd
to thrive in our care, meeting their natural biology and
continuing to strive for the highest level of welfare,” said
Erin.
“We are blown away by the new Elephant Trail at
Werribee Open Range Zoo. It’s not only visually stunning
for our visitors, it meets the needs of our nine-strong
elephant herd and has been designed to assist our
keepers in providing the best husbandry and care.”
Fairbrother’s ability to navigate the complexities of a
project of this nature, as well as overcoming engineering
challenges and collaborating with diverse stakeholders
has resulted in a world-class facility that not only meets CLIENT: Developments Victoria
the needs of its inhabitants, but also enhances the visitor ARCHITECT: Taylor Cullity Leathlan
experience at Werribee Open Range Zoo.
Landscape Architecture
PROJECT MANAGERS: Rohan Eves
SITE MANAGERS: John Ellis, Morgan Rogers,
Jarrad Page
PHOTOS: Ned Meldrum
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9

DEAKIN
HEALTH
Fairbrother’s recent completion of the refurbishment
of Deakin University’s Health Education Facility has
breathed new life into the Warrnambool campus,
delivering state-of-the-art teaching environments for
nursing, medicine, and occupational therapy students.
The $5 million project focused on revitalising two of the
campus’s older buildings, transforming the spaces into
dynamic, high-spec educational hubs while maintaining
full campus operations throughout the process.
From the outset, the project posed several unique
challenges. Tasked with stripping the interiors back
to their bones, retaining only the external walls and
concrete structure, Fairbrother’s team navigated complex
demolition works while preserving critical infrastructure,
including the main communications room for the entire
campus, which was housed within one of the buildings.
“One of our key priorities was ensuring the campus
communications room stayed fully operational,” said
Aaron Finnigan, Fairbrother’s Manager – Southwest
Victoria. “We had to set up temporary feeds and power
supplies to keep everything running smoothly before we
could even commence demolition.”
The primary goal of the refurbishment was to
accommodate Deakin’s growing suite of health education
programs, including the introduction of new courses
within the School of Medicine, as well as Occupational
Therapy training at the Warrnambool campus. This
required more than a basic facelift; it demanded a
complete reimagining of learning spaces to align with
contemporary standards and technological advances.
“It was pretty much a full demolition job, then building
brand-new teaching spaces specifically designed for these
new courses and to update existing ones,” said Aaron.
A major feature of the refurbishment was the creation of
immersive simulation environments that replicate realworld
healthcare settings. One of the standout elements
is the simulation ward, complete with hospital-grade
bedheads and medical equipment designed to mimic
authentic hospital conditions.
“We installed compressed air systems instead of oxygen
for safety, but the functionality feels real to students,”
Aaron explained. “That hands-on experience is critical. It
allows them to train in an environment that’s as close to
the real thing as possible.”
The occupational therapy spaces also boast high-end
finishes, featuring a simulation home environment
equipped with cutting-edge assistive technologies.
Students are able to practice working with features like
automated wardrobes, ceiling hoists, and voice-activated
systems, learning firsthand how these innovations
improve quality of life for clients.
Incorporating Deakin’s advanced audiovisual teaching
tools was another critical part of the build. Mannequins
in the simulation spaces are fully integrated with AV
systems, enabling staff to control patient scenarios
remotely while observing and recording student
responses.
“The AV package was massive,” said Aaron. “It allows
Deakin’s teaching staff to create realistic, high-pressure
situations and review how students perform under those
conditions.”
While the project’s complexity was significant, the team’s
strong relationships with trusted subcontractors and a
proactive approach to risk management ensured success.
Having worked closely with Deakin on previous projects,
Fairbrother’s familiarity with the university’s unique
design standards and requirements was a key advantage.
“We brought in a lot of repeat subcontractors who knew
the high standards expected,” said Aaron. “The client has
their own design standards that go above and beyond the
National Construction Code, so having people on board
who understand that from the start was crucial.”
One of the more challenging aspects of the project was
completing major works in a live environment. Teaching
spaces were still in use well into November, requiring
careful coordination to minimise disruption. Fairbrother
implemented detailed two-week lookahead schedules in
consultation with Deakin, carefully planning noisy works
and service isolations around student exams and campus
activities.
rectify the problems.
CLIENT: Deakin Health
ARCHITECT: DS Architects
PROJECT MANAGER: Aaron Finnigan
SITE MANAGER: Peter Trezise
PHOTOS: Ned Meldrum
“It’s that ongoing trust
and understanding that
keeps these long-term
partnerships thriving”
“We wanted to ensure we weren’t just covering things
over,” said Aaron. “It’s about being honest, upfront, and
making sure we’re handing back a safe, high-quality
facility.”
Despite the tight program and inherent risks, the project
was completed on schedule, with practical completion
achieved precisely on the agreed date. Early access was
even provided to allow Deakin staff time to prepare
the space for the new academic year. Feedback from
the university has been overwhelmingly positive, with
staff and students alike praising the modern, functional
learning environment.
“The teachers are absolutely rapt,” said Aaron. “It’s great
hearing that students are excited to walk into such a
fresh, well-equipped space. Knowing we’ve played a part
in that is really rewarding.”
Reflecting on the experience, Aaron highlighted the
strong relationship with Deakin as a key factor in the
project’s success.
Additionally, working within an existing building
presented unforeseen hurdles, including structural
surprises such as cracked concrete and load-bearing
brick walls. Rather than ignoring these issues, the team
took immediate steps to engage structural engineers and
“We understand the university’s requirements and risks,
and how to manage them. It’s that ongoing trust and
understanding that keeps these long-term partnerships
thriving,” he said.
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VICTORIA
The first quarter of 2025 is already behind us, and what a
period it’s been. Our teams have tackled an exceptional
number of tenders, and I’m pleased to report that
we’re on track to meet our forecast revenue. We’ve
strengthened our relationships with existing clients,
securing the new $41 million Armstrong Creek Sports
Centre in our Geelong Region. We are also keeping a
close eye on a bundle encompassing seven education
projects across Southern Victoria valued at around $75
million in total.
With the Maryborough Hospital team nearing practical
completion of stage one, we are also positioning
ourselves to secure additional projects in the Bendigo
region to ensure a steady workload.
The diversity of projects across the state has created
fantastic opportunities for our team to deliver essential
community infrastructure. There are significant
opportunities in Victoria through the coming months, and
we remain focused on securing the next wave of projects
before the end of the financial year. We are confident
that we’ll be able to secure the right projects for the year
ahead.
On the project update front, Werribee Open Range Zoo is
now home to its new residents. Zoos Victoria’s transfer of
the elephants from Melbourne to Werribee was a great
success and the new residents are loving their new home.
Deakin Health has also been completed, finalising
another successful partnership with Deakin University.
It’s a great result for our team and our client.
The team on the Girton COLA project have finished up
and moved straight onto the Higgs Hall project, which is a
challenging renovation of a historic early 1900s building.
Our offices are hosting
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Notre Dame College in Shepparton is full steam ahead
with more than 70 workers on site. The team is managing
a complex project and bringing the program forward
where we can. Practical completion is now forecast for
October, six months ahead of schedule.
Despite the heat in the early months of this year slowing
progress, momentum has picked up on the 22-bed
Cohuna Aged Care facility. Alongside this, the hospital
theatre upgrade has presented design and construction
challenges; lessons learned from Maryborough Hospital
are being applied to ensure a successful delivery.
Bendigo Health will soon see the demolition of two
seven-storey hospital buildings. Managing this within a
live hospital environment presents unique challenges, so
careful planning is underway to minimise disruption while
ensuring safety is held in the highest regard.
Following a detailed value management phase, the
permit for Building One on the St Aidens Road Social
Housing project is expected soon. The team is engaged
and ready to begin construction with completion staged
through to mid-2028.
Finally, Maryborough Health, as mentioned earlier, is
almost at the point of practical completion for stage one.
The local community has been incredibly supportive and
appreciative of this project. A six-week transition period
Victorian Employees at the Master Builders Victoria
International Women’s Day Breakfast
will occur before stage two commences, focused on
demolishing outdated sections of the hospital.
On the people front, we recently welcomed our newest
cohort to the Fairbrother Graduate Program, bringing
them together from both Victoria and Tasmania for
the Graduate Day in March. The quality of new talent
continues to impress, and we remain committed to
supporting their growth and development.
We have also increased our team size by 10% since
December to support the growing project pipeline, and
we aren’t slowing down. If you, or someone you know,
is considering a career in commercial construction, we’d
love to hear from you! We’re always on the lookout for
the right people to join our team.
Mick Josey
Director and General Manager
Victoria
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13

BREAKING
GROUND
Fairbrother has commenced construction on three
major projects across Tasmania and Victoria, further
cementing its reputation for delivering high-quality
commercial and community infrastructure. These
developments—spanning sport, hospitality, and retail—
will bring significant economic and social benefits to their
respective regions.
In Victoria, Fairbrother has been appointed as head
contractor for the $41 million Armstrong Creek Sports
Centre, a landmark facility in the fast-growing region
south of Geelong. Set to be completed in late 2026, the
centre will offer four indoor multi-sport courts, modern
changerooms, a café, and outdoor activity zones designed
for informal recreation. Facilities will cater to a wide
range of sports, including basketball, netball, volleyball,
badminton, and pickleball, with additional spaces for
parkour, skating, and community events. Sustainability is
a core focus, with the project targeting a Five Star Green
Star rating.
In Launceston, Fairbrother is about to begin work on
the $62.25 million, nine-storey WTC Hotel on Cimitiere
Street. The development will integrate contemporary
accommodation with Launceston’s rich heritage by
preserving historic façades while introducing a highquality
hospitality offering. The project involves extensive
below-ground works, including deep foundation piling
and the underground relocation of power lines to
improve the surrounding streetscape. Once complete, the
hotel will feature 190 rooms, a ground-floor restaurant,
and a welcoming street frontage, contributing to the
city’s ongoing growth as a premium tourism destination.
Meanwhile, in Southern Tasmania, Fairbrother has
broken ground on Spring Farm Village, a $37 million
project in Kingston. Delivered for our valued client,
Tipalea Partners, the project will provide more than 7,500
square metres of retail space, enhancing convenience
and shopping options for the rapidly expanding
Kingborough region. Currently, work is focused on site
preparation, including retaining walls and in-ground
infrastructure, with completion expected by mid-2026.
The project will generate significant employment during
construction and create valuable apprenticeship and
training opportunities.
With these projects now underway, there’s plenty to
keep our teams busy over the coming months, and we’re
looking forward to seeing them take shape. As work
progresses, we’re also keeping an eye on what’s ahead,
with new opportunities continuing to emerge across
Tasmania and Victoria.
Armstrong Creek Sports Centre
WTC Hotel
Spring Farm Village
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15

NORTHERN
On the Joinery front, I’d like to acknowledge the major
impact that our 12 Stony Rise Road Redevelopment is
having on our Joinery operations and congratulate the
team for how well they’ve taken it in their stride. They
have come up with innovative solutions to ensure that
everything is still getting out the door to our clients as
required.
We’ve seen the successful completion of the
Maryborough Hospital joinery package for our Victorian
team – a great outcome for everyone.
Joinery packages for Mersey Community Hospital, Risby
Cove, St Patrick’s College STEM building, Mount Carmel,
AYDC, and the Colonial Hotel are all well underway.
Meanwhile Marist College, Scotch Oakburn, Montello
Primary, Hutchins, Bridgewater Police Station and 12
Stony Rise Road are all in various stages of planning.
Thanks again everyone for your efforts and contribution
over the first few months of the year.
Marcus Perkins
General Manager
Northern Tasmania
TASMANIA
As we begin 2025, we are seeing an extremely positive
outlook for all three business units. The number of
major tenders being released into the market has been
a welcomed addition, following a quieter second half of
2024.
A good variety of medium-sized projects spread from
Strahan to Latrobe has seen Construction North West
continue with a steady workload.
• Mersey Community Hospital is rapidly approaching
completion and has seen a scaling back of the
crew on site to finish off D-Block with a targeted
completion in May.
• North West Regional Hospital Mechanical Upgrades
are continuing with the current focus on heavily
staged upgrade of existing operating theatres.
• Works are progressing well at Marist Regional
College’s MDT Redevelopment, with the main
structure nearing completion and roof cladding
well in advance, we are anticipating a mid-year
completion.
• Devonport Indie School is now progressing at a
good pace with the substructure complete and the
superstructure advancing well.
• Risby Cove Accommodation is continuing with the
final stage of units, expecting to be completed midyear.
• Boat Harbour Beach Surf Life Saving Club is now well
out of the ground and progressing well.
• Fieldwicks, a long-term client, has commenced
a fresh project to build an industrial premises at
Latrobe.
• And finally our own office and workshop
redevelopment at 12 Stony Rise Road is progressing
well, with the Stage One concrete structure complete
and the timber structure well advanced.
Meanwhile Construction North has continued to maintain
enough work to keep everyone busy, but we are looking
for another major project. The first quarter of 2025
has been the busiest tendering period that I’ve seen,
submitting more than $200 million in tenders across just
a four-week period!
• Pleasingly we have secured the Fragrance Group’s
WTC Hotel in Cimitiere Street and have commenced
site establishment and early design work. This will be
our second hotel built for Fragrance Group following
the Devonport Novotel.
• Works at the UTAS Stadium Match Day
Redevelopment are nearing completion around three
weeks ahead of program to accommodate an early
AFL game, I’d like to congratulate the whole team on
accelerating the program to make this happen.
• All the structure at Scotch Oakburn’s Elphin Inquiry
and Environmental Centre is now complete and
service rough-ins have commenced.
• Work at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre is
continuing through a multi-staged program, with the
gatehouse area complete and now moving into the
Franklin internal and external works.
• The demolition at Star of the Sea School is complete,
and structural changes, services, and plastering are
all on track.
• Finally, the Launceston Tennis Centre is complete and
has seen its first tournament.
12 Stony Rise Road Redevelopment
Launceston Tennis Centre
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17

LAUNCESTON
TENNIS CENTRE
Fairbrother recently completed work on the new
Northern Regional Tennis Centre in Launceston,
delivering a complex project that balances functionality,
design precision, and future-proofing for Tennis Tasmania
and Tennis Australia. The project, jointly funded by the
Tasmanian Government and Launceston City Council,
was key to reviving the Launceston International Tennis
Tournament and a reinvigoration within the region’s
sporting infrastructure.
The six-month program, completed within eight days of
the original contract completion date despite several
substantial increases to scope, is a strong example of
Fairbrother’s capacity to adapt to evolving requirements
while maintaining high delivery standards. From the
outset, the project posed several logistical challenges,
including extensive civil works carried out during
Tasmania’s winter months. Site conditions were made
more difficult by the need to demolish an existing tennis
court and relocate it towards Racecourse Crescent,
ensuring no disruption to broader operations.
A key aspect of the project’s structural design was
ensuring the facility could accommodate future
expansion without the need for major modifications.
“The building is actually designed to support a second
storey for future expansion, so it’s supported on
12-metre-deep continuous flight auger piles,” said Project
Manager Luke Young.
While at first glance the facility appears to be a
straightforward community events centre, the
construction concealed layers of technical complexity.
The internal fit-out includes polished ply wall panelling
with integrated, inverted ‘hidden’ doors that blend
seamlessly into the existing wall. This finely detailed
aesthetic is designed to maintain clean architectural
lines and simplify the flow of the space, reflecting both
aesthetic restraint and craftsmanship.
Accessibility compliance was another central
consideration. Externally, the building features a levelone
viewing platform, accessed via a corner post lift
specifically designed for DDA compliance. This lift was
procured and ordered early in the process to meet tight
program timelines. Its configuration accommodates
future integration into the second storey, aligning with
the project’s broader future-ready mindset.
Externally, the facility includes a high-quality Tennis
Australia-standard court surfaced with Plexipave,
complemented by a mixture of asphalt, exposed
aggregate, and burnished concrete finishes across the
grounds to ensure durability and usability. Fairbrother
also proposed and constructed an auxiliary officials’
office. Originally intended as fitted-out shipping
containers, Fairbrother’s value-added concept ended
up being delivered as a permanent, cohesive addition
aligned with the main building’s architecture, adding
consistency and continuity to the project’s presentation.
“We handed over eight days after the original completion
date, but considering the significant changes to scope
during the build, being able to deliver so close to the
target was pretty impressive,” said Luke. “The team
managed to adapt quickly and keep things on track,
which was a great outcome for everyone involved.”
“The feedback from the client throughout the contract
was really positive,” said Luke Young. “They were rapt
with how Fairbrother managed the project, and we built
a really solid relationship with both Tennis Australia and
Launceston City Council.”
“Working with the Fairbrother team has been a really
positive experience for the Council and our community,”
said City of Launceston Mayor, Matthew Garwood. “Their
professionalism and effective communication fostered a
strong partnership and contributed significantly to the
project’s success.”
The Northern Tennis Centre stands as a showcase
of Fairbrother’s expertise in delivering technically
demanding projects while providing pragmatic, valuedriven
solutions that ensure both immediate client
satisfaction and long-term infrastructure viability.
CLIENT: Tennis Australia
ARCHITECT: Prestone Lane Architects
PROJECT MANAGER: Luke Young
SITE MANAGER: Daniel Fox
PHOTOS: Rob Burnett
18 What’s Building - April 2025
What’s Building - April 2025
19

INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN’S DAY
SOUTHERN
TASMANIA
Since our December newsletter, both Construction
South and Facility Management continue to be busy
despite a number of challenges in getting some projects
commenced.
We have achieved practical completion on Bowen
Road Primary School, as well as our latest warehouse
project for Fairbrother Developments, and SISU Winery
at Campania. By the time this issue goes to press, we
will also have completed the final stage at Lauderdale
Primary School being the landscaping and playground.
• Works continue at Queens Walk, progressing
well into the fit-out phase, alongside extensive
landscaping.
• Hutchins School is taking shape with the impressive
precast façade now in place and commencement of
structural steel roof framing underway.
• The Procreate fit-out will now start gaining some
traction with the final approvals resolved.
• Mount Carmel Early Learning Centre is on track for
building works to be completed by early April, and
external landscaping and playground targeting late
May.
• 20 new social housing units at Nagle Place is gaining
momentum with framing and roofing works ongoing.
• We are continuing with structural works at
Bridgewater Police Station, including blockwork to
support the suspended slab and framing for the front
offices.
Other projects to commence include the Spring Farm
Village shopping centre in Kingston. This project is for
the same client who we delivered Glebe Hill Village for in
2022. Karadi Health Clinic, Zero Davey fire remediation
works, and an early works package at Huon Aquaculture
are all underway as well.
Facility Management continues to be busy with a
combination of reactive maintenance (over 60 jobs
received over the Christmas shutdown period) and minor
works projects. We have recently completed Our Lady of
Lourdes, New Norfolk High School and Hobart College,
with the focus shifting to now finishing Elphinstone
Burnie and Clarence City Council playground upgrades.
We welcome Richard Lack as a Facility Manager in
Launceston, Scott Massie has transitioned to a Facility
Manager role in Hobart and Drew Moles has commenced
as a Site Supervisor in Hobart. We have also increased
our capacity with additional maintenance tradesmen
– Jarrod Yost, Mark Kingman, Ben Farrall, Will Francis,
James Holliday and Brendan Ryan.
Our Design Team continues to grow with the addition of
Fergus Smith. Fergus commenced with assisting on the
UTAS Stadium submission, so fingers crossed we will be
successful.
A big congratulations to Mark Baker - 20 years and
Matt Legro - 15 years service. Mark commenced his
journey in Construction South as an apprentice concrete
finisher, who then successfully completed his carpentry
apprenticeship. Matt has recently taken the role of
Regional Manager for Facility Management Southern
Tasmanian, which is testament to his contribution to the
ongoing growth and success of FM. Paul Ransley
General Manager
Southern Tasmania
On March 7, members of the Fairbrother team joined
inspiring events across the country to celebrate
International Women’s Day. This included our Victorian
team members attending the Master Builders Victoria
breakfast and employees in Hobart attending the Royal
Hobart Hospital Research Foundation’s IWD Breakfast.
At the Hobart event, attendees were treated to a
heartfelt conversation between ABC’s Jane Longhurst and
Fairbrother co-founder Thea Fairbrother, whose pivotal
role in the company’s 50+ year history continues to shape
its future. Thea took the stage – ruby-red Fairbrotherbranded
shoes and all – to reflect on her journey
from humble beginnings to becoming a trailblazer in
Tasmania’s construction industry.
From the early days delivering cheques around
Devonport in a tiny Mini, to falling in love with
spreadsheets and teaching herself the intricacies of
business systems, Thea shared how she and husband
Royce built Fairbrother from the ground up. With just
$12,000 in savings and a shed full of second-hand tools,
they laid the foundations of what would become one of
Tasmania’s most respected construction companies.
She also spoke candidly about the family’s personal
journey, including the challenges of navigating son
Glen’s mental health needs: challenges that eventually
inspired the creation of Glenson Place, a purpose-built
mental health care facility completed in 2024. After years
of planning, advocacy, and a $2 million philanthropic
contribution, Royce and Thea’s passion for meaningful
change helped bring the vision to life.
As we mark International Women’s Day for 2025, we’re
proud to honour Thea’s legacy, alongside the many
talented women across Fairbrother and our industry who
continue to lead, build, and inspire.
20 What’s Building - April 2025
What’s Building - April 2025
21

EMPLOYEE
OF THE YEAR
APPRENTICE
OF THE YEAR
Fairbrother is proud to recognise Steve Rushton as our
2024 Employee of the Year. Since joining the company
in July 2021, Steve has made a lasting impact in our
Northern Tasmanian construction division, quickly
establishing himself as a strong and respected leader.
Steve’s first project with Fairbrother was the ambitious
$100 million UTAS Willis Street project. His measured
and methodical leadership was crucial in guiding
a diverse team of employees, subcontractors, and
consultants to deliver a high-quality facility for UTAS
and its students. His ability to balance complex project
demands while maintaining exceptional safety, quality,
and environmental standards has set a benchmark for
excellence.
Over the past four years, Steve has demonstrated an
unwavering commitment to upholding Fairbrother’s
values. He not only demands high standards from
himself but also inspires those around him to do the
same. His strong leadership and mentoring efforts have
been invaluable to the Launceston division, fostering a
culture of professionalism, collaboration, and continuous
improvement.
Steve’s ability to build rapport across all levels—whether
with employees, consultants, clients, or subcontractors—
has been a defining trait of his tenure at Fairbrother.
His clear and effective communication, both verbal
and written, enables him to navigate challenges
and consistently achieve positive outcomes for all
stakeholders. His contribution alongside the whole
project team was instrumental in the success of the
UTAS Willis Street project, reinforcing his reputation as a
standout performer.
Steve’s dedication, expertise, and leadership make him a
truly deserving recipient of this award. We congratulate
him on this well-earned recognition and look forward to
seeing his continued success at Fairbrother.
Fairbrother is proud to recognise Sam Walley as our
2024 Apprentice of the Year. Sam had an outstanding
year in 2024, successfully completing his Carpentry
apprenticeship in August and stepping up in multiple
leadership capacities across key projects.
Sam joined Fairbrother in March 2023, transitioning
from residential construction to the more dynamic
and challenging commercial sector. His impact was felt
early on, particularly in the successful delivery of the St
Lukes project, where he took on key responsibilities in
Safety, Quality, and Environment. He quickly adapted
to HammerTech, providing invaluable support to the
project team and demonstrating a keen ability to manage
compliance and safety processes.
A skilled carpenter with a well-rounded technical ability,
Sam has shown a strong aptitude for leadership. He
is currently working alongside Braidyn Dawe on the
demanding Ashley Youth Detention Centre project. In this
high-pressure environment, Sam has proven his ability
to support and lead teams, reinforcing his potential for
future site management roles.
Beyond the tools, Sam has expressed a long-term interest
in transitioning into the office, drawing on his previous
experience with estimating and project management.
His commitment to growth is evident, as he is currently
undertaking his Certificate III in Workplace Health and
Safety to further broaden his skill set.
Sam’s dedication, adaptability, and leadership qualities
make him a deserving recipient of this award. We
congratulate him on this significant milestone and look
forward to watching his career continue to grow and
develop within Fairbrother.
UTAS Willis Street
St Lukes
22 What’s Building - April 2025
What’s Building - April 2025
23

COMMUNITY
CONTRIBUTION
These three join continuing recipients, Anisah Yates
and Bianca Russell. The annual value of the scholarship
in 2025 for all these students increases from $5,000
to $7,500, in recognition of rising costs and of our
overarching goal to ensure our scholarship support is
truly meaningful for the students.
In 2025 for the first time, we have also introduced a
Fairbrother Foundation Construction Industry Scholarship
at UTAS. Also worth $7,500 for each year of full time
undergraduate study, the inaugural recipient of this
scholarship is Flynn Austin.
The Fairbrother Foundation Royal Flying Doctor
Scholarship, supporting a first-year nursing student is
now in its eighth year, and in 2025 has been awarded to
Shilah Crane.
Finally, our annual call out for Fairbrother and Degree
C employees to nominate charities for the Fairbrother
Foundation to support is now happening. 2025 marks the
10th anniversary of this employee reach out, and we are
celebrating with $30,000 available to support employee
nominations. The amount available to each nomination
will depend on the number of nominations received.
Nominations must be emailed to me (grutherford@
fairbrother.com.au) by 5pm on Wednesday 30th
April. Only charities with DGR status are eligible to be
supported – please see the advertisement in this issue for
more information.
Gaye Rutherford
Director and Chair
Fairbrother Foundation
Charitable contributions are delivered through two
established entities: The Faibrother Foundation and the
Fairbrother Charitable Trust.
Combined, Fairbrother’s charitable arms have delivered
more than $2 million to the communities that our
people live and work in. We are extremely proud of this
achievement and how it brings to life our comapny value
of giving back to local communities.
2024-25 is shaping up to be, by far, the most impactful
year to date for the Fairbrother Charitable Co. Since our
last update in 2024, donations made by the Fairbrother
Foundation have included:
$2,784 to The Smith Family starting our seventh year of
support for our two Learning for Life Students. Following
on from our support of The Smith Family Digital Learning
Essentials Program last year, in 2025 we have donated
$26,950 to provide 35 digital essentials packages to
students who otherwise would not have the ability
to complete their schoolwork at home (either due to
a lack of a computer to use, or lack of access to the
internet at home, or both). Recognising the essential
nature of digital access for students to succeed, we have
committed to providing these 35 digital packages every
year through until 2027.
$30,000 to Hobart City Mission (HCM). HCM have been
one of our longest running charity partners and it is
with great pleasure we continue to be able to support
the frontline community work they do. Our donation
continues to contribute to the DIY Dads program and
their Growing Together program, both of which help keep
families facing hardships together.
funding for their Sports Program allowing us to explore
other ideas. This has led to SUSC using our support to
commence work on a mental health program focussed
specifically on the needs of the construction industry. The
goal is to have a pilot program ready for late 2025, with
an industry-wide launch in 2026. Fairbrother will also be
getting behind SUSC’s annual Shorts Day event coming up
on 20 June, when many of our site teams will brave the
cold in shorts in support of conversations around mental
health.
$30,000 to the Royal Hobart Hospital Research
Foundation, to support research into early detection of
dementia. Support from the Fairbrother Foundation will
allow a local Tasmanian research team based out of the
Wicking Dementia Centre in Hobart to continue exploring
emerging evidence that suggests hand reaction time
may predict dementia risk. If risk can be detected early,
strategies exist that may slow the cognitive decline that
comes with this cruel disease, giving significant potential
for improved quality of life for longer periods of time for
sufferers and their families and loved ones.
The Fairbrother Foundation has also been able to
significantly increase our education support, introducing
new scholarships in 2025, and increasing the value of our
scholarships, new and continuing.
The Fairbrother Foundation Scholarship welcomes three
new recipients in 2025:
• Alisha Green, daughter of Michelle Green, Accounts
Payable Manager
• Isabella Lovell, daughter of Heath Lovell,
Construction Manager Southern Tasmania
• Jessica Ransley, daughter of Paul Ransley, General
Manager Southern Tasmania
Employee Charity
Donation Program
$30,000 support!
To celebrate 10 years of the Employee Donation Program, the Fairbrother
Foundation has allocated $30,000 in funding for employee-nominated
charitable organisations in 2025.
Email your nomination to Fairbrother Foundation Chair, Gaye Rutherford.
grutherford@fairbrother.com.au - Before 30 April 2025
Nominations must include the name of the charity
and the reason you are nominating them.
By nominating your charity, you agree to have
the details of your nomination announced by the
Fairbrother Foundation in the August issue of What’s
Building, and on the Fairbrother Website ‘Community
Contribution’ page.
Nominated charities must be registered as Deductible
Gift Recipients (DGR) with the Australian Charities
and Not-For-Profits Commission. Nominated charities
must be based in Australia and conduct their activities
within Australia. You can confirm this by searching for
your chosen charity on the ACNC website and clicking
the “Will my donation be tax deductible?” button.
$40,000 to Speak Up Stay ChatTY (SUSC), in the third of
our 3-year $120,000 partnership with SUSC. In recent
years our support has underpinned SUSC’s Sports
Program, but in late 2024, SUSC secured government
24 What’s Building - April 2025
What’s Building - April 2025
25

FAIRBROTHER
RIDE 2025
On February 21st, a number of our Fairbrother
employees, subcontractors, clients, and consultants
joined together to embark on a 400km, two-day cycling
challenge in North West Tasmania. Starting in Burnie,
the group rode through the picturesque Tarkine region
on Tasmania’s west coast before making their way
to Smithton, where they were greeted with fantastic
hospitality from Tall Timbers. Day two saw the group ride
from Smithton, through the rolling hills and dairy lands
of Circular Head, before finishing back in Devonport after
covering some 4,500 vertical meters of climbing over the
journey. They were treated to fantastic weather and were
grateful that all participants made it 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 that has surpassed our
$100,000 target, landing at an impressive $104,260!
The Fairbrother Foundation is extremely grateful for
all donations; the kind and giving nature among our
community is something we can all be proud of.
This was our 7th annual Fairbrother Ride, which has
now accumulated a combined total of over $543,000
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 SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY,
Hobart City Mission, Action Against Homelessness (aah),
New Horizons, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Cancer
Council Tasmania, National Heart Foundation, The Smith
Family, the UTAS Foundation, and Deakin University.
Since the Fairbrother Foundation’s establishment in 2007,
we have contributed more than $1.3 million to worthy
charitable causes, enriching the lives of many people in
the communities we serve.
26 What’s Building - April 2025
What’s Building - April 2025
27

HEALTH AND
WELLBEING
Kudos to our Tasmanian employees who turned out en
masse for the Hobart Run the Bridge and Devonport
Bluff 2 Boat Ramp fun runs over the summer! We had
more than 20 representatives running the Tasman Bridge
in Hobart, and over 30 participants in the Bluff 2 Boat
Ramp!
The challenge is now on for everyone to brave the cold
for the Launceston Running Festival on 1 June, with
options from the 21.1km half marathon down to a 1-mile
event.
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 112 APRIL 2025
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 2025
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