17/04/2026
Well, that’s the wrap for one of the biggest and most complicated projects we have done to date.
Situated in the remote NT community of Docker River we completed a series of indigenous metal art pieces for a new Aged Care Facility.
Coming into this project late in the piece we were under some pressure to design, engineer, fabricate and install these art pieces on a short lead time of less than 8 weeks.
Our clients are thrilled with how it all turned out. We learnt a lot of new things, especially working with materials we have not worked with before, including rammed earth walls. And our first fully suspended panel set carefully measured to suit an existing curved roof.
We ticked off quite a few things from the bingo card in the last 2 months.
First trip remote including a 130km dirt track just to get to the job.
Seen Uluru and the Olgas for the first time.
Marked off pretty much every animal possible over the 3 trips including camels, brumbies, scorpions, snakes, goannas and the usual emus, kangaroos and eagles. Even seen a pack of dingos chasing horses down the main street of Docker River!
Project Numbers
2,000km from home
12,000kms travelled in 3 trips
750km from our closest supply store in Alice Springs
130km dirt track into Docker River, traversed 6 times.
1 hurt engine from a very wet dirt track.
2 flat tyres from the same dirt track.
70 sheets of Galv steel and aluminium, prepared, cut with matching frames and doors.
First fabrication of a structural beam to support the hanging piece. Got to relive my rigging days getting that into place!
2 months from contract signature to completed install. Including onsite measure, design, engineering, approvals, fabrication, travel, install and then finally our rework trip.
3 person install team.
16 people involved for our side of the project at some point in time.
4 other businesses assisted us with specific works required.
298 on site install hours.
7 x 16 hour days in the final fabrication week preparing to leave for the install.
$9,600 in diesel (this one hurt!)
Absolutely loved this project but am certainly going to enjoy getting back to normal routine and spending some time with the family until our next major project pops up!
Thanks to the whole team putting up with me running around like a chook with his head cut off for the last 2 months!