commercial & residential builders specialising in the conservation, restoration, structural repair & refurbishment of historic melbourne buildings & landmarks.

Our Services

Forester offers specialist heritage and conservation trade services, with a focus on detail, craftsmanship, and respect for Australia's historic architecture. Our services include:

  • On-site dilapidation documentation

  • Condition reporting and cost estimating

  • Deconstruction site analysis, including paint layer and original materials/method assessment

  • Collaborative construction solutions, working closely with architects, conservators, engineers, and other key stakeholders

  • Access planning for restricted sites, identifying and implementing alternative access strategies for challenging projects

Our Team

Forester’s core crew is made up of master craftsmen and tradespeople with over 138 years of combined experience working on historic Australian buildings.

We are proud to work under the guidance of heritage architects and conservators, delivering sympathetic, compliant outcomes that honour the original character and significance of each structure.

Our team understands the sensitivity and respect required when working with heritage fabric. From conservation and restoration to ongoing maintenance, attention to detail is paramount in everything we do.

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Projects

  • Athenaeum Theatre

    Steel fabrication and restoration works. Stage and Orchestral pit rebuild

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  • Fitzroy Town Hall

    Restoration painting of victorian ceiling artwork. Trade assistant working under fine art conservators.

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  • Cayzer Maritime Restoration

    Historic Cayzer vessel working under master shipwright.

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  • Luna Park

    Master craftsmen, carving and mould making on the carousel and scenic railway. Conservation and restoration working under heritage architects and conservators.

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  • St Martins Church

    Masonry structural stabilising under supervision of a heritage architect.

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  • Frame Restoration, Rehousing and Hanging

    Traditional Frame restoration and conservation standard rehousing.

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  • Nonda Katsalidis New Build

    Nonda Katsalidis residential new build prototype.

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  • Old Melbourne Gaol

    Steel fabrication for walkway compliance under heritage architect.

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  • WEETIES Factory

    Full renovation sympathetic to original building, apartment design.

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  • Red Hill Residential Build

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  • Little Bakers Lane

    Little Bakers Lane

    L. Hauser Historic Northcote bakery-commercial renovation and design of interior and restoration of exterior.

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  • Wardlow Mansion

    Cabinet making and kitchen installation under heritage architect.

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  • Lure

    Designed and Built commercial fit-out.

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  • Faraday Royal Terrace

    Carpentry crew facade restoration under heritage architect.

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  • Caringal Flats

    Roof top playground restoration under heritage architect.

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  • Kreitmeyre House

    Balcony restoration under heritage architect.

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  • St Arnaud Farm house

    Restoration of colonial dwelling regional Victoria.

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  • Kumo Izakaya & Sake bar

    Commercial fit out design and build.

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  • King William

    Colonial terrace restoration and renovation.

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  • Jones Bond Store, Maritime Warehouse

    working under Heritage council Victorias guidance, commercial refit.

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  • Project Photos

    Examples of crews diversity.

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Make It

forester

What sets our service apart is our deep respect for, and understanding of, the standards and sensitivities required when working under the direction of heritage architects and conservators.

forester builders provide expertise in the following areas:

3d building scanning
drone documentation
geotechnical reporting
core sampling
engineering
fire compliance
drafting
surveying
carpentry
sash window fabricating and servicing
bespoke joinery and cabinetry
furniture restoration
french polishing
bricklaying and pointing
chimney builder
stone mason
electrical
lighting and security
locksmith
plumbing
scaffolding
crane access small and large

frame restoration
glazing
painting handling frame/crate manufacturinglarge scale painting and sculpture installation
gallery/museum freight
gold leafing
plastering
hard plastering
mould making for plaster and masonry
woodturning
sculpture repairs/ carving
non ferrous metal welding/fabricating
roofing
heating and cooling
metal work
tiling
landscaping
painting
design
commercial/chemical cleaning
controlled high pressure cleaning