Heritage & Restoration

Melbourne's Heritage Deserves More Than a Patch Job.

Specialist heritage brickwork, repointing, crack stitching, and restoration for pre-war homes and heritage buildings across Camberwell, Hawthorn, Canterbury, and inner Melbourne.

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A Rare Skill. The Highest Standard.

Very few bricklayers can do heritage masonry to a genuinely high standard. It is a discipline built on decades of hands-on experience, an intimate knowledge of historical materials, and the skill to match original mortar profiles, brick colours, and construction methods with near-invisible accuracy. The result either looks right or it doesn't, and there is no shortcut to getting it right.

David Goodwin has spent 25 years becoming one of Melbourne's most trusted heritage restoration specialists. He has worked on 1915 chimneys in Hawthorn, 1930s facades in Canterbury, clinker brick Art Deco homes, and pre-war residential properties across inner Melbourne, restoring them to a condition that matches, and often exceeds, their original construction.

Heritage Services

What We Restore

Heritage red-brick boundary wall rebuilt brick by brick with a sandstone-capped pier by Goodwin Bricklaying, Fitzroy

Heritage Brickwork

Matching and rebuilding original brickwork on period homes and listed buildings, maintaining architectural character and structural integrity.

Repointing and Pointing Styles

Raking out and replacing deteriorated mortar using period-appropriate profiles and materials. Profiles include flush, struck, weathered, raised ribbon, bird's beak, penny rolled, and recessed pointing to match original construction.

Steel beams installed to stabilise and reinforce heritage brickwork during structural repair by Goodwin Bricklaying

Crack Stitching

Structural repair of cracked masonry using specialist reinforcement techniques that stabilise the wall without compromising heritage aesthetics.

Cracked and spalling heritage chimney crown showing failing masonry before remedial repair by Goodwin Bricklaying

Remedial Work

Diagnosis and repair of failing brickwork, spalling, moisture ingress, and structural movement in heritage and modern buildings.

Landmark Project

The Cairo Flats Heritage Wall, Fitzroy

On the Hanover Street side of the iconic, heritage-listed Cairo flats in Fitzroy, directly opposite the Royal Exhibition Building, stood a brick boundary wall more than 150 years old. It is the last surviving feature of Uxbridge House — an 1860s residence that served as a private hospital from 1895 to 1934, before it was demolished to make way for the modernist Cairo flats in 1935.

Goodwin Bricklaying carefully deconstructed the ageing wall, fitted new footings and drainage, and then historically reconstructed it brick by brick under expert heritage guidance, preserving both its structural integrity and its original character. The extensive eight-month project was completed and proudly unveiled to the Fitzroy community.

Heritage article describing Uxbridge House, the 1860s Fitzroy residence and private hospital whose Hanover Street brick boundary wall survives at the Cairo flats — The wall's recorded history — a surviving feature of Uxbridge House, the 1860s residence that once stood on the Cairo site.

The completed heritage boundary wall running the length of Hanover Street, Fitzroy, with the Cairo flats rising behind it, rebuilt by Goodwin Bricklaying — The completed wall on Hanover Street, with the heritage-listed Cairo flats rising behind it.

Before

A wall 150 years in the making

The base of the original Cairo flats wall during careful deconstruction, with the corbelled course lifted and reinforcement exposed — Careful deconstruction — each course recorded, the original bricks set aside for reuse.

The Work

Rebuilt brick by brick

David Goodwin and a team member on the Hanover Street wall project site, opposite the Royal Exhibition Building — David and the team on site, opposite the Royal Exhibition Building.

A reclaimed-brick pier being rebuilt by hand with stainless ties on the Cairo flats heritage wall — Rebuilding a pier by hand — tied, plumbed and levelled.

A bricklayer checking the level along the rounded brick capping course of the rebuilt Cairo flats wall — Setting the rounded capping true along the full length of the wall.

A rebuilt section of the Cairo flats heritage wall on new footings, with its bullnose brick capping in place — A rebuilt section on new footings and drainage, capped and ready.

The rebuilt pier on the corner of Hanover Street, Fitzroy, beside the heritage interpretation board during the works — On the corner of Hanover Street, beside the heritage interpretation board recording the wall's history.

Unveiled

Returned to the Fitzroy streetscape

The finished elevation of the Cairo flats heritage wall, reclaimed brick relaid to the original bond and colour — The finished elevation — reclaimed brick relaid to the original bond.

A rebuilt brick pier crowned with its original sandstone cap on the frontage of the Cairo flats wall, Fitzroy — A rebuilt pier, crowned again with its original sandstone cap.

The capped pier and gate of the restored Cairo flats heritage wall with its project heritage plaque, Fitzroy — The capped pier and gate, with the project's heritage plaque.

The restored Cairo flats heritage wall stretching the length of the boundary along the footpath, Fitzroy — The wall stretching the length of the boundary, returned to the street.

A long view of the completed Cairo flats heritage boundary wall after eight months of restoration, Fitzroy — Eight months of work, unveiled to the Fitzroy community.

A dragonfly resting on the new brickwork of the restored Cairo flats heritage wall, Fitzroy — A dragonfly settles on the new brickwork — the wall alive in its setting again.

Selected Work

Heritage Brickwork, Restored to Last

Cracked and spalling heritage chimney crown before remedial repair by Goodwin Bricklaying, Melbourne

Heritage chimney rebuilt with a new rounded cement capping by Goodwin Bricklaying, Melbourne

Bricklayer rebuilding a tall red-brick heritage chimney on a tiled Melbourne roof by Goodwin Bricklaying

The Goodwin name carved into the new cement capping of a restored twin-pot heritage chimney

Restored heritage red-brick garden wall with a curved end and matched reclaimed brick by Goodwin Bricklaying

Reclaimed Glen Iris frog-marked brick laid into a restored heritage wall by Goodwin Bricklaying

Completed heritage red-brick front garden wall with the Goodwin Bricklaying sign, Melbourne

Heritage brickwork restoration to the porch and front fence of a period home by Goodwin Bricklaying, Melbourne

New arched brick opening built into a period home during renovation by Goodwin Bricklaying, Melbourne

Steel beam and new structural opening in heritage brickwork during a period home renovation by Goodwin Bricklaying

Reclaimed brickwork rebuilt over a new opening in a heritage wall by Goodwin Bricklaying, Melbourne

Structural opening propped and rebuilt in original brickwork during a heritage renovation by Goodwin Bricklaying

Get an honest assessment of your heritage property

David provides detailed quotes with full construction specifics — no obligation, no sales pressure.

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Client Reviews

Trusted on Melbourne's Finest Period Homes

Thanks David and team for restoring our 1915 heritage chimney. Looks great! Very pleased with the professionalism of the whole job. If you want high quality work from guys who love heritage, call Goodwin.

Linda T.

His craftsmanship and dedication and level of detail to his job is top class. The front of the house has never looked better.

Ben L.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you match original mortar and brick on a heritage property?

David assesses the existing mortar profile, colour, and composition before any work begins. Where necessary, samples are tested and mortar is mixed to match the original as closely as possible. For brickwork, he sources period-appropriate materials to ensure the finished result is seamless. This process takes time and expertise, which is why it's not something every bricklayer can deliver.

Can you repair heritage brickwork without affecting its heritage overlay status?

Yes. David is experienced in working on heritage-listed and heritage-overlay properties across Melbourne. He understands the requirements that apply to these properties and works in a way that respects and preserves their character. If your property has a specific heritage overlay, mention this when you enquire and David will advise accordingly.

What is crack stitching, and when is it needed?

Crack stitching is a structural repair technique used when masonry walls develop cracking due to movement, settlement, or structural stress. Steel reinforcement is inserted into the masonry at key points to stabilise the wall and prevent further movement, without the need to rebuild or significantly alter the appearance of the original brickwork. It is commonly used on older homes where the original construction has shifted over time.

Do you work on heritage-listed buildings and properties with heritage overlays in Melbourne?

Yes. David regularly works on period properties across Hawthorn, Canterbury, Camberwell, Toorak, and other inner Melbourne suburbs where heritage overlays apply. He is familiar with the care and approvals these properties may require and works closely with homeowners and their architects or council contacts where needed.

Serving Melbourne's Heritage Suburbs

Goodwin Bricklaying provides heritage restoration services throughout Camberwell, Hawthorn, Canterbury, Glen Iris, Toorak, Surrey Hills, Hawksburn, Richmond, and Fitzroy: the suburbs where Melbourne's finest period architecture stands.

Enquire About Your Heritage Project

David provides detailed quotes with full construction specifics. If you're not sure what your property needs, he'll give you an honest assessment.

Get a Quote Click to Call