As a popular Mornington Peninsula builder facing growing demand, CWC needed a dedicated office for client consultations and everyday admin.
To offer optimal value by reducing operating costs, we decided to build a new office building on Managing Director Nick Wootton’s rural property, Binbarra Farm. The relatively modest initial construction cost would yield a rapid ROI compared to renting a commercial office.
One of the great things about living on the Mornington Peninsula is you’re never far from anywhere. Despite its secluded rural setting, our Main Ridge office is just 15 minutes from Dromana and 30 minutes from Mornington or Sorrento.
This strategic location puts us within easy driving distance of the entire Peninsula, encouraging clients to pop in and discuss their build in person.
The Country-Style Barn Vision
But a stock-standard modern office block would look out of place on a rustic working farm. Brimming with fresh growing produce, grazing sheep, and roaming cattle dogs, the lush hilltop property evokes an idyllic country scene.
The only thing missing? Your classic country-style barn. Nick and his wife had always longed for a big timber-clad A-frame, complete with large swinging doors and a truckload of hay.
Then came the “eureka” moment. By adding a mezzanine to the upper storey, they could achieve their dream of a country-style barn and build a suitable, strategically-located office space. Thus, the CWC barn build project was born.
The CWC Barn Build
When a clear window opened between client builds, Nick gathered the team to commence construction of the new barn.
We tackled the project using the classic post-and-beam technique, the go-to method for creating large, open-space interiors with high ceilings. In this case, the end result is an impressive double-storey timber frame structure that mimics the rustic aesthetic of a country-style barn.
We chose silvertop ash weatherboards to clad the frame. This durable, native hardwood has a unique nut-brown, almost pinkish colour that elegantly complements the natural setting. With a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) of up to 29, it’s approved for fire-prone areas in Victoria. Our team sourced the timbre from a well-regarded Gippsland sawmill, where the logs were radially sawn into weatherboards.
We topped the barn with a Colorbond gable-end roof, using sturdy log rafters to create a durable, long-lasting result. The rafters can still be seen at the eaves of the overhangs.
The next step was constructing the mezzanine. Perched above the barnyard floor, this section is now home to the Croft Wootton Construction office. The cosy but functional space houses three separate workstations, a kitchenette, and a comfortable client meeting and consultation area.
The CWC Office
Upon its inauguration, the project achieved two objectives: creating a suitable CWC office space and a traditional barn to complement Binbarra Farm.
Our admin team uses the unique barn office every day to plan projects and liaise with stakeholders. Clients from all over the Peninsula (and beyond) visit us in person to discuss the finer details of their builds.
