Experience

‘We are custodians for the craftsmanship of past workers.’

Brian follows a philosophy of preservation before renovation. Each project is approached with respect and viewed as a valuable resource containing the energy and workmanship of past masters. To achieve best practice conservation methods, Brian worked in Europe for five years and then continued to pursue education and training opportunities across the globe including Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, The Netherlands and Myanmar.

Since 1996 Brian has been exposed to the traditional materials and methods which are compatible for older buildings but these techniques can be applied to sustainable buildings and as features in contemporary designs.

By aiming to produce quality, authentic and enduring projects, opportunities have arisen to develop rewarding experiences on projects in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

Past projects

Maria Island Penal Settlement, Tasmania. Administrative Officers Quarters, 1847
Internal Plaster conservation

Qld Parliament House, 1889
Reinstate cornice in-situ, condition report

Ormiston House, 1862
Damp remediation, lime plaster conservation

Custom Credit House, 1926
Render stabilisation

Duhig Building, Nudgee College, 1912
Reinstate cement cast balusters and balustrade

St. Andrew's Anglican Church, South Brisbane, 1878
Lime plaster restoration

Saint Francis House, Elizabeth St. Brisbane, 1886
Facade restoration, finial reproduction, capitals reproduction, fluted columns, cast rosettes, in-situ cornice

St. Laurence's College, 1915
Pargeting reinstated, render reinstated

Old Government House, Gardens Point, 1862
Repair cornice in-situ, lath and lime plaster repair

Government House, Bardon, 1865
Copy plaster mouldings and reinstate, set coat walls

‘Glengariff’, Hendra, 1890
Conserve 17th century gryphons, cast leaves, apply mouldings on pedestals, final coat pedestals, shelter coats, re-pointing

‘Toonarbin’, West End, 1862
Lime plaster ceilings reinstated, plaster cast ceiling roses, re-instate cornice in-situ , ceiling and wall restoration

Florence House, Petrie Terrace, 1870
Parapet reinstated in-situ

The Mater Hospital, 1908
Cement render restoration

Coronet Court, 1933
Pressed cement mould reproduction, re-pointing, decorative plaster reproduced, ceiling and wall restoration

Raymont Lodge Fence, Auchenflower, 1905
Baluster repairs, reinstated and restoration

Roma Street Rail Station, Brisbane City, 1872
Reproduce pediment and finial, parapet restoration, shelter coats, chimney's restored, chimney pots reproduced, cast cement corbels, restore and lime wash ashlar render, Lime plaster ceiling and wall restoration, cornice restoration, rising damp remediation, plaster arch moulds reproduced in-situ

Treasury Building, Brisbane City, 1889
Reinstate cornice in-situ, restore ceilings

‘Gumerache’, Ascot, 1912
Conserve sandstone fountain

NAB Building, Brisbane City, 1885
Lath and lime plaster reinstated, copy and reinstate moulding, condition report

‘The Grange’, Grange, 1874
Lime render restoration and lime wash

St. John Cathedral, Brisbane City, 1906
Lime mortar re-pointing

Adelaide House (The Deanery), 1852
Lath and lime plaster reinstated, cornice restoration, stone re-pointing

St. Joseph's School, Treacy Centre, 1876
Ceiling lath and lime plaster reinstated

Holy Trinity Church, Fortitude Valley, 1864
Model and cast new finial for spire, conserve weathering's, conserve spire

‘Palma Rosa’, Hamilton, 1887
Stringer mould reproduction, lime mortar re-pointing, rising damp remediation, lime plaster reinstated, ceiling lath and plaster, ceiling mould reproduction

Brisbane City Hall, 1920
Cornice reproduction

Hampton Court, New Farm, 1929

Concrete balcony remediation and restoration, lime mortar re-pointing

Kangaroo Point Uniting Church, 1903
Spire Cross cast production, cement render cap restoration

Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Convent, Gatton, 1917
Lime plaster ceiling and wall restoration

‘Naseby’, Ipswich, 1882
Lime plaster wall restoration, ashlar reproduction

NAB Building, Longreach
Cornice reproduction

St Paul's Presbyterian Church, 1889
Plaster mould restoration

Windsor workers cottage, 1870
Lime plaster conservation and restoration, cement render stucco restoration

St Brigid's Catholic Church, Red Hill, 1914
Parapet restoration

St. Mary's Catholic Church, South Brisbane, 1893
Corbel restoration

St. Benedict's, East Brisbane, 1910
Main facade arch run in-situ, concrete remediation

St Alban's Anglican Church, Wilston, 1929
Lime mortar re-pointing

Elystan Court, New Farm, 1932
Concrete hood remediation and restoration

Brisbane Tramways sub-station No.8, Kedron, 1934
Cement render restoration

Brisbane Tramways sub-station No.6, Paddington, 1929
Mould restoration

Gympie, Facade, 1886
Lion head and rosette copy and cast

Albert Street Uniting Church, 1888
Lime Plaster restoration

Forgan Smith Building, University of Queensland, 1937
Cement render restoration, cornice reproduction, in-situ ceiling mould, tile reproduction

Macedonian Orthodox Church, 1927
New Farm, Concrete remediation, ceiling restoration

Brisbane Central State School, 1874
External render conservation and restoration

Ballow Chambers, 1926
Cornice reproduction, plaster vent reproduction, ceiling and wall restoration

Toowoomba Railway Station, 1867
Lime plastering

Delamore House, Kedron, 1888
Lime plastering, lime wash, re-pointing, paint removal, damp remediation

Kingaroy War Memorial Rotunda, 1927
Concrete remediation, lead flashing

The Old Museum, Bowen Hills, 1891
Finial reproduction, stabilisation, lime wash, shelter coat

Warwick Train Station, 1881
Concrete remediation, paint removal, render stabilisation and repair, lime wash, lead flashing repairs.

Central Train Station, Brisbane, 1889
Pediment conservation, chimney cap reproduction

Wairuna, Highgate Hill, 1896
'Harling' reinstated on the boundary wall

World Theatre, Charters Towers, 1891
Tympanum restoration, pargetting

Nassagaweya, West End, 1885
Lime plaster restoration

Caithness, West End, 1885
Main stairs entrance repairs

Vacy Hall, Toowoomba, 1873
Rosette reproduction, lime plaster ceiling restoration

QUT Chancellery, 1930
Skirting mould re-production, plaster restoration

Freelance portfolio

Victoria, Ballarat Trades Hall, 1877
Raysanna, Ray Wiltshire
Facade restoration.

Victoria, Coolart Homestead, Mornington Peninsula, 1895
Raysanna, Ray Wiltshire
Re-pointing

Victoria, Yea, Stewart McKenzie Solid Plastering
Hempcrete cottage
Lime Plaster

Tasmania, Woolmers and Brickenden Estates, 1820's
Longford Academy
Drainage, consolidation, Harling, lime wash.

Germany, Dresden, Regiment House
Stuckart, Tomas Schubert
Re-instate Baroque decorative features.

Switzerland, Zurich
Feinraum
Marmorino, lime plaster

Italy, Venice
Giuseppe Trolese
Marmorino

Scotland, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow
Kilmorie Chapel, Revack Lodge, Blackburn House
Re-pointing, lime plasters, lime wash, traditional mastics, in-situ cornice restoration, plaster casts, bench moulds

Ireland, Dublin, Farran, Ballicollig, Cork
Lead flashing, slate roof repairs, wet dashing, set coat, renders

The Netherlands, Nijmegen
Lime plasters

Training and workshop implementation

Myanmar, The Secretariat, 1905
Yangon Heritage Trust Training Workshop

Myanmar, New Law Courts, 1927
Training local masons

Tasmania, Longford Academy
Group training

Murwillumbah College
'Building with Lime' workshop

Scholarships and education

2016 Eddy Dunn Endowment International Fellowship, International Specialised Skills Institute
2016 Longford Academy, Tasmania, Australia
2014 SPAB How to Restore Old Buildings course
2013 James Love Churchill Fellowship, United Kingdom and Italy
2011 The European Centre for Heritage Crafts and Professions, Italy. Plaster Conservation, European Masters Certificate
2011 Conservation of Traditional Buildings, University of Canberra, Australia
1998 to 2002 Yeronga TAFE Certificate III Solid Plastering, Apprenticeship
1986 to 1990 Year 12 St. Paul's School, Bald Hills, Queensland, Australia

Professional Membership

National Trust Lifetime Member
2013 to present - The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)
2013 to present - Building Limes Forum Australia, Committee
2006 to present - Building Limes Forum Ireland

Work History

1996 to 2002 - Apprenticeship in Brisbane and Rockhampton, Queensland
2003 to 2008 - European Journeyman (Italy, The Netherlands, Scotland and Ireland)
2008 to Present - Solid Plastering Contractor