Masonic Hall
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Built in 1940 and destroyed by squatters in 2016.

 

The first day we walked inside this job it was horrendous. Black char to all the walls and half the ceilings burnt out and most of the floor gone. The stench was unforgettable. What ever was left standing was either smoke damaged or water damaged.
Our job was to reinstate from pictures and burnt remains. Data points were drawn up and signed off by all parties before we could start.

Being on the Pacific Highway in north Sydney made all drop offs a logistic nightmare. The recreation of the curved ceiling upstairs with up lights showing any and all defects.  This was created firstly by the team at unique plasterboard offsite and then by our crews onsite.

Building the bulkheads downstairs and installing all plaster cornices and corbels/bands/straps and the alter was tedious. The skimming, shaping, relaying and recreation was perfect. Recreation of the wall panels was last minute and huge. We finished our contracted works and then were called back to do more. The Alter was initially to be saved then it was to be recreated.

We are lead to believe this Masonic hall will be opening as one of the most exclusive art galleries in Sydney with a high demand diamond merchant also looking at residing there.

The tight turn around meant we were working with most trades each day. This limited our scaffold to mobile scaffold 8 meters up. This put extra pressure on the boys and also our budget. What a spectacular finish it is though.