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 reinforced 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 throughout the decade, delivering projects across a wide range of metropolitan, regional and specialist facilities in Victoria. This work spanned acute care, mental health, women’s health and community care environments, including projects 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.This breadth of healthcare delivery further strengthened Kane’s reputation for working within complex, operationally sensitive medical environments.

Kane also delivered several architecturally award-winning projects, reinforcing its growing reputation for craftsmanship, technical precision and collaborative delivery. These 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).

In 1995, following Melbourne’s appointment as host city for the Australian Grand Prix, Kane was awarded the contract to deliver the new Pit Buildings and associated temporary structures. This landmark project introduced a new scale and level of complexity to Kane’s portfolio and marked the beginning of an enduring relationship with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

Together, these projects reinforced Kane’s position in Victoria as a trusted delivery partner for complex, award-recognised projects across multiple sectors for institutions and public bodies.

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, 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).

In the early 2000s, Kane continued to build on this international experience with the delivery of the Australian Embassy in Beijing (Job 1010), Australian Consulate-General Bali security upgrades (Job 1745), and the Vaiola Hospital Redevelopment in the Kingdom of Tonga (Job 1083), further demonstrating the company’s capability to deliver complex projects in diverse international contexts.

In 1999, Kane expanded beyond Victoria with the establishment of its New South Wales office, marking a pivotal step in the company’s evolution into a national builder. This expansion laid the foundation for sustained growth across the eastern seaboard and the delivery of increasingly complex projects.

By 2003, Kane marked 30 years in business and was well established as a trusted delivery partner for the delivery of social and community infrastructure in Victoria and New South Wales.

Kane Victoria was awarded Dandenong Performing Arts Centre (Job 1000). This $12m project delivered a landmark civic facility, sensitively integrating the restored elegance of the original Town Hall with the bold contemporary architecture of the new 530-seat Drum Theatre. The project was later recognised with the 2006 Master Builders Association of Victoria Excellence in Construction.

Other notable projects from this time were University of Melbourne Botany North West Extension (Job 785) and the Marine & Freshwater Resources Institute (MAFRI) in Queenscliff (Job 910).

In 2006, Kane further extended its footprint along the east coast with the establishment of its Queensland office. This expansion was reinforced through the delivery of high-quality, recognised projects, including QUT Old Government House (Job 1265) and the Fox Street Office, which achieved a Green Star Office v3 Design Rating and went on to win a Master Builders Queensland Award (Job 1379). Hospitality and leisure projects at RACV Royal Pines further demonstrated Kane’s growing capability in the Queensland market (Jobs 1612, 1763).

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 has maintained a strong and enduring presence across regional Victoria, with particular depth of experience in the western regions including Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, Ballarat and Bendigo. Across these centres, the business has delivered a wide range of community, health, education and civic facilities that have supported Victoria's growing regional populations.

From the outset, Kane undertook projects of significant scale and complexity in regional healthcare and research. Early works included 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).

Together, these projects, along with more recent award-winning projects, reflect Kane’s long-term commitment to regional Victoria, underpinned by a sustained local presence, experienced delivery teams and strong, enduring client relationships.

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.

Over the past five decades, we have evolved from a small Melbourne-based builder into a nationally recognised construction business, trusted to deliver complex, high-profile projects across Australia.

What began as a modest operation has grown into a multi-sector contractor with a strong presence across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Throughout this journey, we have built a reputation for technical excellence, collaborative delivery and the ability to work within operational, live and highly regulated environments.

Our work spans health, education, civic, commercial, defence, research and specialist infrastructure, with many projects recognised for their design quality, construction innovation and contribution to the communities we serve. Long-standing client relationships, repeat work and enduring partnerships with architects, consultants and our clients reflect the consistency of our approach and our commitment to delivering high-quality social infrastructure.

This sustained 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 has been built on experience, strong leadership, skilled teams and a culture that values professionalism, accountability and long-term career development. As the business continues to evolve, these foundations remain central to how we deliver work and build for the future.

Built on five decades of experience, we continue to adapt in response to changing client needs, industry expectations and community priorities, while remaining committed to delivering complex, high-quality social outcomes for the communities we serve.

Looking ahead, our focus is on sustainable growth, continuing to develop future leaders and maintaining the standards that have defined Kane for 50 years. By investing in our people, systems and partnerships, we are well-positioned to continue delivering meaningful projects that create lasting value for the communities in which we operate.

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.