Renovating and extending a heritage property in Hawthorn requires a delicate balance. Known for its prestigious Victorian, Edwardian, and Federation homes, the suburb is heavily protected by the City of Boroondara’s strict heritage overlays. Homeowners looking to add modern living spaces or second-storey extensions must navigate complex planning regulations to ensure any new construction honours the original streetscape.
To successfully expand your property while preserving its intricate architectural details, you need a builder who specialises in period homes. You need a team that can seamlessly blend centuries-old craftsmanship with contemporary, energy-efficient designs. Below is a curated list of ten heritage renovation and extension specialists servicing Hawthorn. This is not an official ranking, but rather a guide to help you find a local option to compare for your upcoming residential project.
1. Yorcon
Website: https://www.yorcon.com.au/
Location: Servicing Hawthorn and Inner Melbourne, VIC
Services: Heritage home renovations, period home extensions, custom builds, second-storey additions, architectural design.
Pricing: Not publicly listed.
Taking the number one spot on our list, Yorcon is a highly regarded local option for Hawthorn homeowners seeking bespoke heritage extensions. With over 20 years of experience in the Melbourne building industry, Yorcon has established a formidable reputation for delivering high-quality, structurally complex construction services. Their deep understanding of Hawthorn's architectural landscape allows them to seamlessly blend historic charm with contemporary functionality.
Yorcon is perfectly equipped to handle the complexities of Boroondara’s heritage overlays. They offer a comprehensive design and build service, guiding clients from the initial concept and council permit stages right through to final construction. Whether your project involves restoring the ornate fretwork of an original Victorian facade, updating a tired Edwardian home, or adding a sleek, modern rear extension that floods the house with natural light, Yorcon has the expertise to execute the vision. They pride themselves on using skilled master tradespeople and premium materials, ensuring that every heritage renovation respects the past while providing the modern liveability your family demands.
2. Fortem Projects
Website: https://www.fortemprojects.com/
Location: Servicing Hawthorn, VIC
Services: Period home renovations, heritage home extensions, architectural building.
Pricing: Not publicly listed.
Fortem Projects is a dedicated provider to consider if you are looking for builders who focus exclusively on period and heritage homes. They have a strong reputation in Hawthorn for their meticulous approach to preserving the historical integrity of iconic local properties.
Fortem Projects employs an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) method, meaning they assess your budget and financial goals right from the start to prevent unexpected costs. Their team of seasoned carpenters is experts at revitalising intricate features like original cornices, skirting boards, and timber floors while smoothly integrating ultra-modern kitchens and bathrooms. If you want a builder who respects the architectural legacy of Hawthorn, they may suit your project perfectly.
3. Duncan Thompson Extensions
Website: https://www.duncanthompson.com.au/
Location: 892 Riversdale Rd, Camberwell / Servicing Hawthorn, VIC
Services: Heritage home extensions, period renovations, ground and second-storey additions.
Pricing: Not publicly listed.
Located right next door in Camberwell, Duncan Thompson Extensions is a veteran builder with over 30 years of experience transforming homes across Melbourne's inner east. They have completed over 1000 successful projects and are highly familiar with Hawthorn's specific architectural styles.
They provide a complete "concept to completion" service, employing in-house designers, draftspeople, and heritage experts. They take the stress out of the planning phase by expertly handling Boroondara Town Planning, ResCode, and complex heritage overlays on your behalf. For homeowners wanting a highly established firm that guarantees new additions fit seamlessly into original buildings, they are an exceptional local option.
4. Period Extensions & Designs
Website: https://www.periodextensions.com.au/
Location: Servicing Hawthorn, VIC
Services: Period home extensions, heritage renovations, architectural design, bespoke additions.
Pricing: Not publicly listed.
As their name suggests, Period Extensions & Designs specialises entirely in the renovation and expansion of older, historical homes. They understand that families in Hawthorn often outgrow their traditional layouts but do not want to sacrifice the charm of their original property.
They offer an outstanding end-to-end service, managing both the architectural design and the physical construction. Their primary goal is to ensure that a rear or second-storey addition never looks like an awkward, tacked-on afterthought. By meticulously matching traditional architectural details while providing highly liveable, modern spaces, they remain a fantastic provider worth considering.
5. Supa Group
Website: https://www.supagroup.com.au/
Location: Servicing Hawthorn, VIC
Services: Ground floor extensions, second-storey extensions, heritage home renovations.
Pricing: Not publicly listed.
Boasting over 50 years of experience, Supa Group is a highly established extension builder that frequently services the Hawthorn area. They are an excellent local option for growing families who love their neighbourhood but desperately need more living space.
Supa Group is well-versed in navigating the permit application processes of the Boroondara City Council. Their process is highly transparent, offering a fixed price and guaranteed completion time alongside unique 3D concept designs. This allows homeowners to take a virtual walkthrough of their heritage extension before any physical work commences, providing immense peace of mind.
6. Craft Built Homes
Website: https://www.craftbuilthomes.com.au/
Location: Servicing Hawthorn, VIC
Services: Custom home builds, heritage extensions, knockdown rebuilds.
Pricing: Not publicly listed.
Craft Built Homes operates specifically as a custom builder, making them highly effective at dealing with the strict heritage and Significant Landscape overlays common throughout Hawthorn. Unlike volume builders, they design and construct around your specific block, budget, and local planning constraints.
They are highly adept at collaborating with independent architects to execute complex, site-specific designs. Whether you are dealing with tight access, reactive clay soils, or strict facade preservation rules, Craft Built Homes manages the entire process proactively from the very first consultation, making them a very reliable provider to compare.
7. Cameron Construction
Website: https://www.cameronconstruction.com.au/
Location: Servicing Hawthorn, VIC
Services: Heritage style renovations, double-storey extensions, ground floor additions.
Pricing: Not publicly listed.
Cameron Construction brings over 40 years of industry experience to the table, possessing a deep understanding of what it takes to successfully extend a heritage property in Melbourne. They are experts at navigating strict council regulations and Heritage Victoria requirements.
They excel at designing modern rear extensions and second-storey additions that sit behind the primary street facade, minimising council scrutiny while allowing for contemporary materials and large, modern windows. If you want a builder who knows how to make heritage properties work harder without losing their special character, they are definitely worth considering.
8. BY Projects Architecture
Website: https://byarchitecture.com.au/
Location: Servicing Hawthorn, VIC
Services: Heritage assessments, heritage extension architecture, design management.
Pricing: Not publicly listed.
While primarily an architectural practice, BY Projects Architecture is an essential provider to consider if you are at the very beginning of your heritage extension journey. They specialise in preparing the critical heritage assessments and condition reports required by local councils during the planning process.
They focus on taking the best elements of heritage living and enhancing them with light, airflow, and modern spatial configurations. By helping establish realistic parameters and a coherent project direction before you even engage a builder, they lay the critical groundwork for a successful, code-compliant renovation.
9. RFT Solutions
Website: https://rftsolutions.com.au/
Location: Servicing Hawthorn, VIC
Services: Home extension design, drafting services, builder brokering, tender management.
Pricing: Not publicly listed.
RFT Solutions offers a different, yet highly valuable, approach to heritage extensions in Hawthorn. They operate as design and drafting specialists who also act as building brokers, making them worth considering for homeowners who want to maintain tight control over their project's budget.
Instead of locking you into a single construction company from day one, RFT Solutions works with you to design your heritage extension, secure all necessary council approvals, and create highly detailed working drawings. Once the design phase is complete, they take your project to tender, obtaining competitive quotes from multiple vetted local builders.
10. Sherbrooke Constructions
Website: https://sherbrookeconstructions.com.au/
Location: Servicing Hawthorn, VIC
Services: Heritage home restorations, period extensions, custom home building.
Pricing: Not publicly listed.
Rounding out our top ten is Sherbrooke Constructions, a highly established firm with over 35 years of specialised experience. They focus heavily on renovating, restoring, and extending Melbourne’s most iconic period homes, making them intimately familiar with the craftsmanship that defines Hawthorn's older properties.
Sherbrooke Constructions offers a highly structured building process, taking care of complex structural challenges and intricate period detailing. They are committed to long-term client satisfaction, offering ongoing after-build support and warranty reviews through their Sherbrooke for Life Membership Program, making them a highly reliable local option for your extension project.
