Client
Geelong Heritage Trust
Category
Exterior Painting
Location
18 Moorabool St, Geelong
The Challenge
Built in the 1890s, this Victorian-era weatherboard home is a significant piece of Geelong's architectural history — but years of exposure to coastal weather had taken a serious toll. Paint was peeling extensively across every elevation, leaving raw timber exposed to further moisture damage.
Several weatherboards had begun to rot, the decorative fretwork was crumbling, and the verandah posts showed deep structural cracks. Decades of uneven paint buildup from previous jobs had left a rough, unsightly surface that no longer did the home's original character justice.
The Scope
The Result
The completed restoration brought this magnificent Victorian home back to life, with a faithful reproduction of its original colour scheme that honoured its 1890s character. The local heritage community praised the project as an exemplary restoration.
The entire job was completed in two weeks, and the premium exterior coatings used are expected to protect the property for the next 15 to 20 years.
The restored Victorian weatherboard exterior, finished in a heritage-approved colour palette.
Our Approach
Heritage work asks for a different kind of care — every decision, from timber matching to colour selection, was made in consultation with the Geelong Heritage Trust.
All existing paint layers were carefully stripped using low-impact methods designed to protect the original wood underneath.
Damaged boards were replaced with period-appropriate timber, matched and milled to the original profile for a seamless finish.
Cracks were filled, fretwork repaired, and all decorative elements stabilised before any priming began.
A premium timber primer designed specifically for heritage properties was applied to ensure maximum adhesion on aged timber.
Two coats of exterior acrylic were applied in an authentic heritage scheme — deep green body, cream trims, and burgundy accents.
All joints and edges were sealed with flexible caulk to prevent future moisture ingress and protect the restoration long-term.
Materials Used
"The Geelong Heritage Trust was delighted with the attention to detail and the faithful reproduction of the original colour scheme — praised by the local heritage community as an exemplary restoration."
Add a direct quote from the Heritage Trust here once collected — this line is paraphrased from the project write-up, not a verbatim testimonial.Common Questions
Often, yes. Properties recognised by a local heritage trust or overlay usually require the colour palette and any structural timber repairs to be approved before work begins. We worked directly with the Geelong Heritage Trust to select an authentic palette for this property.
It involves researching the property's era and architectural style, then selecting colours consistent with that period, often in consultation with a heritage body. This home's Victorian-era weatherboard received a deep green body, cream trims, and burgundy accents, in line with 1890s conventions.
Minor rot can sometimes be treated and stabilised, but boards with significant structural decay need replacing. On this project, rotted sections were replaced with period-appropriate timber, milled to match the original profile exactly.
A full strip-back, timber repair, and repaint of a heritage home typically takes around two weeks, depending on the extent of timber damage and the number of decorative elements involved.
With proper surface preparation and premium exterior coatings, a heritage exterior repaint can be expected to protect the property for around 15 to 20 years before it needs attention again.
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We'd love to bring the same care and precision to your home — get a free, no-obligation quote today.
Considering an exterior restoration? See our exterior house painting services.
