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 period of continued growth for Kane, driven by strong client relationships established over the preceding decades. These partnerships were further strengthened through the delivery of major institutional and civic projects, including works at Monash University such as the Andrew Syme Business School (Job 423) and the School of Art & Design (Job 550) with Denton Corker Marshall, as well as significant healthcare projects at Geelong Hospital — the Andrew Love Centre (Job 278, 1991) and the Bellarine Centre (Job 554, 1999).

Milestone in Tourism Delivery

In 1995, Melbourne was appointed host city for the Australian Grand Prix, and Kane was subsequently awarded the contract to deliver the new Pit Buildings and associated temporary structures. This project represented a new scale and complexity of delivery and marked the beginning of a long-standing relationship with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

Milestone in Healthcare Delivery

During the 1990s, Kane reached another significant milestone with the completion of a 50-bed acute psychiatric unit at the Alfred Hospital (Job 500) in 1998.

Together, these projects demonstrated Kane’s ability to work collaboratively with leading architects, institutions and public bodies, delivering complex and high-profile projects while maintaining trusted, long-term client relationships.

The 1990s also saw Kane expand its operations offshore, delivering projects across the Pacific and South Asia. In 1996, Kane completed works at the University of the South Pacific in Western Samoa (Job 416) in collaboration with Peddle Thorp Architects. 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).

Strengthening Regional Victoria

Kane’s presence across regional Victoria continued to strengthen through the delivery of significant healthcare and research facilities, including the 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). These projects demonstrated Kane’s capability in delivering technically complex facilities in regional settings while maintaining strong connections with local communities.

A Landmark Community Milestone

In December 2003, Kane reached a significant milestone with the award of the Dandenong Performing Arts Centre (Job 1000). The $12 million project delivered a landmark community facility, combining the restored elegance of the original Town Hall with the striking contemporary architecture of the new 530-seat Drum Theatre.

Performing Strong Across Regional Victoria

Kane has developed particular strength across the western regions of Victoria, including Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, Ballarat and Bendigo. The business has delivered a number of significant projects across these regional centres, contributing to key community, health, education and civic facilities. This work includes the delivery of award-winning projects and reflects Kane’s ongoing commitment to regional Victoria through sustained presence, experienced delivery teams and long-standing local relationships.

Kane commenced operations in New South Wales in 1999 with the opening of its Sydney office, establishing a permanent presence in the state to support an increasing volume of work. The first project undertaken was the redevelopment of the GPO at No. 1 Martin Place, delivered in collaboration with Grocon, marking the beginning of Kane’s New South Wales operations.

Establishing Momentum in New South Wales

Operations in New South Wales gained rapid momentum from the beginning. A major Construction Management contract at the University of New South Wales (Job 740) marked Kane’s entry into the state, soon followed by a diverse portfolio of projects including a new Borders bookstore (Job 798), multiple contracts for the Department of Defence, a highly complex PC3 laboratory at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute in Menangle (Job 838), and the delivery of multiple facilities for the University of Sydney.

Steady Growth 25+ Years

Since its commencement, Kane’s New South Wales business has continued to grow in scale and capability. The business has delivered projects across a range of sectors, including education, health, commercial and civic facilities, working with public and private sector clients.

Today, Kane’s New South Wales operations are an established part of the business, supported by experienced leadership and delivery teams. Operating from Sydney, the business continues to undertake projects across the state, maintaining the same standards of quality, safety and governance applied across Kane’s operations nationally.

Establishing a Queensland Presence

In 2006, Kane established a Queensland office in Brisbane, reflecting the broader shift of key clients, architects and consultants operating along Australia’s east coast. This expansion was underpinned by the relocation of several senior team members from Melbourne, bringing with them more than 50 years of combined experience within Kane and ensuring continuity of leadership, relationships and culture.

Early Iconic Projects in Queensland

This continuity enabled Kane’s values and delivery standards to be embedded in Queensland from the outset. Within the first few years of operation, Kane successfully delivered two iconic projects:

• the restoration of Old Government House (Job 1066)

• the redevelopment of King George Square (Job 1122)

Together, these projects firmly established Kane’s reputation in the Queensland market.

Kane Property Services (Queensland)

In 2014, Kane Property Services (KPS) was established as part of Kane’s Queensland operations in response to growing client demand for a professional builder capable of delivering smaller-scale works with the same standards of quality, safety and governance applied to major projects. KPS specialises in delivering complex projects within live and operational environments, complementing Kane’s major project delivery capability in the Queensland market.

KPS provides a comprehensive range of services including maintenance and construction, cost planning, design management and general building advice. These services are delivered across health, commercial, industrial, retail, hospitality, education and residential sectors throughout Queensland. The division is supported by a directly employed workforce and long-standing subcontractor partners, enabling flexibility and reliability across refurbishment and new-build projects.

Two Decades of Delivery

With nearly two decades of projects delivered, Kane Queensland and Kane Property Services form an established and mature part of the business. Operating from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, the Queensland team is supported by experienced leadership and established delivery teams across the state, delivering projects across a range of sectors including health, education, commercial and civic.

Kane Property Services complements the broader Queensland operation through the delivery of smaller-scale and complex works in live and operational environments, maintaining the same standards of quality, safety and governance applied across the business nationally.

arete Australia was established in 2015 as the specialist fitout division of Kane Constructions. The business focuses on fitout and refurbishment projects, with particular expertise in the revitalisation of existing buildings.

arete Australia works within existing and often complex environments, integrating contemporary building systems and technology while respecting and retaining the character of original structures to create durable, future-ready spaces.

Since its establishment, arete Australia has completed more than 180 projects, delivering over 260,000 square metres of built space across a range of sectors including commercial, workplace, education, health, retail and hospitality.