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It was a year ago that Taylor embarked on our first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan. Focused on meaningful outcomes, our RAP builds on Taylor’s strong legacy in achieving and exceeding Aboriginal Participation targets on our projects.

One of the most rewarding aspects of our Reconciliation Action Plan is connecting with new partners. And none have been more pivotal than the KARI Foundation. KARI is the largest Aboriginal Charity in Australia that exists to support Aboriginal people and community, particularly education, employment and connecting everyone to celebrate culture.

KARI has generously advised us on our RAP from the outset and continued to become involved with Taylor in; ceremony and engagement, cultural awareness, procurement, tender advice, and volunteering opportunities.

Taylor is proud to have developed an annual $15,000 KARI / Taylor #WomenBreakingGround Scholarship that will support high achieving female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in tertiary studies in Construction. In this first year (FY23), the scholarship will support a number of high school students and, in coming years, Taylor will continue that support through to one selected candidate’s 4 years’ of University, and a Taylor Cadetship.

Taronga Conservation Society Australia and Taylor welcomed Leslie McLeod, a Yuin, Dharawal and Ngarigo Custodian and loreman to lead the smoking ceremony at the Upper Australia Precinct. The cultural tradition of a smoking ceremony is undertaken to cleanse an area, protect a build site, and show our respect to Elders past and present.

On completion, the $11.6 million Upper Australia Precinct will provide zoo visitors with an innovative and immersive wildlife experience that shares Australia’s unique animals, plants and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

This development includes a new Koala Exhibit, and upgrades to the existing Nocturnal House and Macropod Walkthrough. Works also comprise a new western pavilion, walkways and amenities, back-of-house and infrastructure upgrades, landscaping and demolition of the Avian Wetland Ponds as well as partial demolition of the Nocturnal House and Ropes Course.

The new development is the latest of a range of refurbishment and live environment projects Taylor has undertaken, including Taronga’s Institute of Science and Learning and the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga.

Team Taylor look forward to bringing this development to life – thank you for a reflective and rewarding morning for all involved.

Diversity is strength – by cultivating future talents through unique STEM engagement initiatives, we help accelerate the careers of emerging female leaders. 

Students enjoyed a site tour of Tara Anglican School for Girls’ new Aquatic Centre and Sports Precinct, led by Tim Christie, General Manager Construction – General Build, Fred Sedighi, Project Manager and Fara Alavi, Contract Administrator. Over the course of the day, students learnt about materials, techniques and construction methodologies used onsite, in addition to the impact of inclement weather and how Taylor’s innovative reverse-build approach mitigated potential delays.

The new development will comprise of a 25 metre eight-lane competition pool, fitness centre and tiered seating for spectators and supporters. The tiered seating will include shade structures so spectators can comfortably view netball, basketball and tennis on six newly-refurbished outdoor sports courts. The main pool will be enclosed and heated for year-round use. It is primarily designed to accommodate water polo, with a separate learn-to-swim pool, change room, shower and toilet amenities located within the facility.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this page contains the names and images of people now passed and resting in the Dreaming. 

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Boomalli artist, Shane ‘Joe’ Hurst. 

Longtime member of Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Cooperative, Joe descended from the Johnson clan of the Murrawarri people, Northern NSW. Working across a vast array of disciplines including design, construction, sculpture, printing, painting, set design and public art, Joe completed a number of commissioned pieces for government bodies such as the Department of Aboriginal Affairs (NSW Government) and NSW Premiers Department. 

Taylor had the privilege of working with Joe on Schools Infrastructure NSW’s redevelopment works at Kyeemagh Public School. With its origami-inspired design, the two-stage project thoughtfully incorporated local Aboriginal totems and artworks. 

The various artworks have their own totemic significance, selected in collaboration with the school’s students and Dean Kelly. Dean is an Aboriginal Liaison Officer from NSW National Parks who grew up in the surrounding Matraville area – a part of the Sydney coastal region known as the traditional lands of the Bidjigal and Gadigal peoples of the Eora nation.  

Dean spoke with the children about animal totems from the local area, sharing the importance of protecting your personal totem, and also that people can have more than one totem. Following this teaching, Joe collaborated with Dean and the children to design a variety of totemic artworks to be allocated across the school grades from Kindergarten to Year 5. 

Joe was responsible for creating these special pieces, including a mix of Aboriginal sculptures, concrete relief stencils, and log carvings. Joe’s sculptures for Kyeemagh Public School were designed and fabricated at Francesco’s Forge, a unique studio in Botany. Home to Joe’s longtime collaborator and fabricator, Francesco Petrolo, the Forge is full of history, character and an impressive portfolio of displayed artworks. Here is where Kyeemagh’s eight totemic sculptures were molded and forged from recycled steel off-cuts. Symbolic of the local animals surrounding the school, the totems include the Rainbow Lorikeet, Butcherbird, Blue Tongue Lizard, the Black Cockatoos that fly through the local area each April, as well as insect totems, the Native Ant, Snail, Bee and Spider. Drawing inspiration from his own backyard, Joe took photographs and used illustrations to sketch each totem before bringing the sculptures to life. The pieces are the cooperative cultivation and amalgamation of Joe’s artistic interpretation, connection with the land the project is built on, and Francesco’s lifelong forging skills. 

Joe also designed and created four concrete stencils and four log carvings featuring local plants Wattle, Banksia, Grevillea, Lilly Pilly. These plants have historically been used as emblems at the school. Sea creatures local to the traditional lands on which the school is situated are also present in Joe’s artworks. These include the Whale, Abalone, Mullet, and Cockle.  

We are thankful for Joe’s collaboration and connection to culture, helping educate our project team on the history and importance of the local land. 

Rest in Peace, Joe.  

More than 220 Taylor employees congregated at Royal Randwick Racecourse, to reflect on a successful, although challenging, FY22 and prepare for the coming fiscal year. With the construction of this venue completed in December 2021, it was fitting to come together in a state-of-the-art facility built by our own.

Taylor welcomed Leslie McLeod, a Yuin, Dharawal and Ngarigo custodian and loreman to lead the smoking ceremony to mark the start of the event. After this, Leslie led a traditional Welcome to Country to show respect to Elders past and present.

Mark Taylor, Managing Director, George Bardas, Chief Executive Officer and Clive Wickham, Chief Financial Officer took to the stage to lead the State of the Nation address. Reflecting on the unprecedented nature of FY22 due to COVID-19 escalation in pricing and inclement weather impacts, they acknowledged the resilience shown across the organisation in the face of shifting industry regulations and unforeseen lockdowns, thanking staff for their ongoing commitment to safety and wellbeing throughout.

Pouring a span of 640sqm – the equivalent of 88 trucks – over two days, this significant milestone is the first step in forming the flexible public spaces, before continuing the foyers walls to the roof level. Using a 51m boom pump to pour over 14m high precast concrete panels, the L1 was deck suspended close to 8m above ground.

Building J, designed by Lahznimmo Architects is designed with an appreciation of concrete as more than just a building material; it will be a core design feature of the new facility.

The expansion of Powerhouse Castle Hill will deliver new levels of access to the Powerhouse collection for the people of the Hills Shire and broader Sydney communities. The new building   also include state-of-the-art conservation facilities, learning, research and exhibition spaces.   .

The new building is set to be completed by early 2023. The site remains open to the public every weekend throughout the duration of the construction.  For more information on Powerhouse Castle Hill programs and tours, please visit this website. 

On 3 February 1993 at age 29, Kahi Puru was crushed in a forklift accident at work after completing a 13-hour shift. Due to the extent of his injuries, his left leg was amputated at the hip and he was hospitalised for 8 months. Drawing on the strength of his family and loved ones, Kahi defied the odds and went on to become a world-class athlete and safety culture champion.

One of Australia’s best bench press powerlifters, Kahi represented the nation at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney when he was ranked No. 1 in Australia and 7^th in the world. At the same time, he was slowly reintegrating into the workforce. Determined to shift the industry’s lacklustre approach to safety, Kahi spoke out about the shared responsibility of management, teams and individuals to create a safe work environment.

Joining the Taylor team onsite at Proximity@Botany, Kahi shared his powerful story of resilience, perseverance and determination. Exploring the power of connection, he encouraged the team to look after their fellow peers by adopting a collective approach to risk management and safety reporting.

Kahi said, “Safety reporting always has to be the top priority – the first and last 10-minutes of your shift can save your life, or the life of your colleague. Think safe, work safe, go home safe.”

Taylor would like to thank Kahi for sharing his story, as well as those who helped bring this event to life. You can learn more about Taylor’s commitment to safety here.

Since joining in 2012, Wayne has built a formidable reputation as a mentor, leader and role model across the organisation.  

With a deep understanding of the complexities of construction, Wayne’s fresh and innovative project management solutions are highly valued by his peers.  

Known for putting relationships first, Wayne effectively manages client needs to ensure strong bonds are formed between key stakeholders. His dedication to managing stakeholders and forging positive business relationships does not go unnoticed, with Hayden Kegg, Project Director at Mostyn Copper, saying: 

“The whole team of stakeholders involved in the The Winx Stand build for ATC appreciated Wayne’s expertise, inclusive management style, and his personal accountability. It takes a very high standard of project management to deliver to the quality achieved, in the environment we were operating in.” 

Above all, Wayne’s unfaltering commitment to quality and compliance plays a pivotal role in the successful delivery of Taylor projects.  

Thank you, Wayne, for truly living the Taylor values.  

You are a deeply trusted and respected member of Team Taylor, and we are proud to celebrate this exceptional milestone with you.  

Congratulations to our client, Taronga Conservation Society, for being one of Tripadvisor‘s highest rated accommodation destinations in Australia. This accolade is awarded to outstanding Australian and international accommodation based on visitors’ feedback and reviews.

The Wildlife Retreat at Taronga wraps around its own private native wildlife sanctuary nestled within the zoo. All guests are treated to the ultimate, immersive overnight conservation experience with multiple exclusive guided tours, close-up wildlife encounters, delicious dining opportunities and first-class views of Sydney Harbour.

Learn more about this impressive project here.