Profile

Kane Constructions is a multi award-winning, privately owned commercial construction company delivering projects across all major sectors of the industry. With an annual turnover exceeding $1 billion and a team of more than 450 full-time professionals, we operate across the east coast of Australia and internationally, with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Our reputation has been built on consistently delivering complex, high-quality projects through strong leadership, deep technical capability and a people-first approach. We believe success is defined not only by what we build, but by how we build it; through collaboration, integrity and respect for our clients, partners and communities.

Our success is recognised in the way we achieve, as much as what we achieve.

Kane Constructions was established in Melbourne in 1973, beginning operations from a modest office above an antiques shop in High Street, Armadale. From these early foundations, the business quickly built a reputation for reliability, craftsmanship and problem-solving across a diverse range of projects.

Our early work included the delivery of several Catholic primary schools (Jobs 23, 37, 55 & 57), facilities for local councils, projects for the CSIRO, a private residence in Toorak (Job 2), and infrastructure works such as a wastewater treatment plant in Kensington (Job 75). These formative projects set the tone for Kane’s approach to construction — practical, detail-focused and grounded in strong client relationships.

From the outset, Kane demonstrated a willingness to take on varied and technically demanding work, laying the foundations for the capability, adaptability and trust that continue to define the business today.

In 1980 Kane was awarded the $5m contract to deliver the West Gippsland Arts Centre in Warragul (Job 87). Featuring a 490-seat proscenium arch theatre and a 220-seat performing arts space, the project marked a defining moment for the business. Completed in 1982, it established Kane as a serious and capable presence in the Victorian construction market and remains a cultural centrepiece for the Warragul community today.

The business experienced consistent growth during the 1980's by consolidating its position in established fields and branching into new sectors of the industry. This period was defined by a series of high-profile and technically demanding projects, including the refurbishment of the Dome at the Royal Exhibition Building (Job 287), restoration of the spires at Newman College (Job 165) at the University of Melbourne (designed by Walter Burley Griffin) and major works at Raheen (Jobs 171, 224 & 274) - former residence of the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne.

These projects reinforced Kane’s growing reputation for delivering architecturally significant, heritage and technically complex works with care, precision and respect for their cultural importance.

The 1990s marked a decade of sustained growth for Kane, driven by long-standing client relationships and strengthened through the delivery of complex institutional, civic and design-led projects.

During this period, Kane delivered major works at Monash University, including the Andrew Syme Business School (Job 423) and the School of Art & Design (Job 550) in collaboration with Denton Corker Marshall.

Kane also made significant contributions to healthcare infrastructure across Victoria, delivering projects spanning acute care, mental health, women’s health and community care. This included major works at Geelong Hospital such as the Andrew Love Centre (Job 278) and the Bellarine Centre (Job 554), as well as the completion of a 50-bed acute psychiatric unit at The Alfred Hospital (Job 500) in 1998.

Throughout the decade, Kane delivered a series of architecturally award-winning projects that reinforced its growing reputation for quality, craftsmanship and technical precision. Notable works included the conservation works at St Francis Church (Job 460), the 4 Treasury Place Level 2 Link (Job 897) and the Woodleigh School Science Building (Job 822).

As Kane’s Victorian portfolio continued to expand, the 1990s saw the business take on new and complex offshore projects across the Pacific and South Asia, extending our delivery capability into international markets.

In 1996, Kane completed works at the University of the South Pacific in Western Samoa (Job 416) in collaboration with Peddle Thorp Architects, marking an important step in the company’s international delivery capability.

This was followed by a series of projects in Papua New Guinea, including a prison facility in Port Moresby (Job 560), schools in Clifton, Baliora and Valilile (Job 560), and a broadcasting facility in Kavieng on New Ireland (Job 562). Kane’s offshore work during this period also extended to Pakistan, with the delivery of the Australian High Commission in Islamabad (Job 613).

Kane commenced operations in New South Wales in 1999 with the opening of its Sydney office, establishing a permanent presence to support a growing demand for expansion along the eastern seaboard. The business entered the state through the redevelopment of the historic GPO at No. 1 Martin Place (Job 587), delivered in collaboration with Grocon.

Early momentum was established through a major Construction Management contract at the University of New South Wales (Job 740), followed by projects for the Department of Defence, the delivery of a PC3 laboratory at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute in Menangle (Job 838) and multiple facilities for the University of Sydney. These projects set the foundation for Kane’s NSW business across education, defence and specialist research environments.

By 2003, Kane marked 30 years in business, having established itself as a trusted delivery partner for social and community infrastructure across Victoria and New South Wales, with an expanding reputation across the Pacific and South Asia.

Reaching 30 years was not simply a measure of longevity, but a reflection of sustained growth, long-standing client relationships and the strength of Kane’s people. Strong tenure across the business provided continuity, technical leadership and deep delivery knowledge, enabling Kane to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes across multiple sectors and regions.

This milestone marked Kane’s transition from a strong Victorian builder into a multi-state, award-winning construction partner with the capability to deliver complex public, institutional and community infrastructure projects at scale.

In 2006, Kane established its Queensland office as part of the company’s continued expansion along Australia’s east coast, creating a permanent base to support growing demand and extend its footprint across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and regional centres. Kane’s expansion into Queensland coincided with a period of unprecedented growth across the state, as major investment in education, healthcare, civic and community infrastructure reshaped South-East Queensland.

Kane quickly became a trusted delivery partner through the successful completion of high-quality, recognised projects including the King George Square Redevelopment (Job 1320), QUT Old Government House (Job 1265) and the Fox Street Office (Job 1379), which achieved a Green Star Office v3 Design Rating and went on to receive a Master Builders Queensland Award.

By 2013, Kane was strongly embedded across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, with a diverse portfolio spanning healthcare, education, civic, defence, science and infrastructure projects.

During this period, Kane was proud to be recognised for Construction Excellence by Master Builders for a number of significant projects, including The Drum Theatre, Dandenong Performing Arts Centre (Job 1000), Star of the Sea College Performing Arts Centre (Job 1430), the Swinburne University Advanced Technology Centre (Job 1367), Victoria University’s Construction Futures facility (Job 1535), Ingleburn Library and Community Centre (Job 1263), Fort Scratchley Historic Restoration Project (Job 1237), Tamarama Kiosk and Services Building (Job 1622), and the ANSTO Centre for Accelerator Science (Job 1565).

These projects reflected the breadth of Kane’s delivery capability and reinforced the company’s reputation for quality, collaboration and technical excellence across multiple sectors and regions.

Kane Property Services was established in Queensland in 2014 to support clients seeking a trusted builder for smaller-scale works delivered with the same discipline, safety and quality standards applied to major projects.

The business delivers minor works, refurbishments and upgrades across Queensland, providing end-to-end building services supported by cost planning, design management, programming and practical construction advice. Drawing on Kane’s established systems and technical expertise, projects are delivered with consistency and reliability.

Positioned between maintenance contracting and full construction delivery, Kane Property Services offers a fully resourced building partner for projects below traditional major project thresholds, enabling high-quality outcomes without compromising on governance, safety or value.

This division has strengthened Kane’s Queensland offering by providing clients with a trusted delivery partner for smaller, specialist and ongoing works.

Kane has maintained a strong and enduring presence across regional Victoria since the early years of the business, with particular depth of experience in the western regions, including Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, Ballarat and Bendigo. Across these centres, Kane has delivered a diverse portfolio of community, health, education and civic facilities that have supported the growth and resilience of regional communities for decades.

From the outset, Kane was entrusted with projects of significant scale and complexity outside metropolitan Melbourne. Early regional healthcare and research projects such as Kyneton District Hospital (Job 811), Mount Alexander Hospital in Castlemaine (Job 933) and the multi-award-winning Marine and Freshwater Research Institute at Queenscliff (Job 910) set a strong foundation, establishing Kane as a trusted delivery partner for regional clients.

Over time, this foundation has grown into a sustained regional footprint, with ongoing investment in local teams, long-term client relationships and repeat work across health, education and civic infrastructure.

arete Australia was established in 2015 as Kane Constructions’ specialist fitout and refurbishment division, created to meet growing demand across Victoria for the delivery of complex, operational fitout, refurbishment and adaptive-reuse projects within existing buildings. As workplaces, retail, hospitality, universities, civic and health providers sought to modernise their assets, arete was formed to focus on the transformation of occupied and highly constrained environments.

From the outset, arete built its reputation by working within live buildings, integrating contemporary building systems, sustainability and technology while respecting and retaining original structure. The business operates through a delivery model centred on precision, collaboration and adaptability, enabling projects to be delivered safely and efficiently where continuity of operations is critical.

In recent years, arete has evolved into a specialist in complex operational environments across the research, science and health sectors. These projects require advanced technical coordination, regulatory compliance and risk management. From clinical and IVF facilities to laboratories, forensic environments and research institutes, arete has demonstrated a diverse and growing capability across an extensive portfolio over the past decade.

Over the past five decades, Kane has evolved from a small Melbourne-based builder into an internationally recognised construction business, trusted to deliver complex and high-profile projects across Australia.

From modest beginnings, Kane has grown into a multi-sector delivery partner with a strong presence along Australia’s eastern seaboard. We are recognised for technical excellence, collaborative delivery and the ability to operate successfully within complex, live and highly regulated environments.

Our portfolio spans health, education, civic, commercial, defence, research and specialist infrastructure. Across these sectors, our projects are recognised for design quality, construction innovation, safety excellence and positive community impact. Long-standing client relationships, a diverse project portfolio and enduring partnerships with architects, consultants, subcontractors and our workforce reflect the consistency of our approach and the quality of the social infrastructure we deliver.

This performance has been recognised through industry honours, including:

• Master Builder of the Year – National: 2016, 2019

• Master Builder National Safety Award: 2023

• Master Builder of the Year – Victoria: 2016, 2017, 2019

• Master Builder of the Year – ACT: 2025

Our success is built on experience, strong leadership, skilled teams and a culture that values people, partnership, professionalism and accountability. Long-term career development and respect for all stakeholders remain central to how we operate.

As the business continues to evolve, Kane remains focused on meeting changing client, industry and community expectations while maintaining the highest standards of quality.

Looking ahead, our focus is on sustainable growth, developing future leaders and strengthening the systems and partnerships that support our work. Built on five decades of experience, Kane is well positioned to continue delivering meaningful projects that create lasting value.

As we move beyond our first 50 years, our foundations remain unchanged: integrity in how we deliver work, accountability in decision-making, and a clear commitment to building for the long term.