Heritage Restoration on a Challenging Site

Heritage projects are rarely straightforward, and this one was no exception.

Kendall Consulting Engineers was proud to provide the structural engineering for the restoration of “Shirley”, a 100-year-old Queenslander that has been relocated and is being transformed into a stunning family home in Palm Beach on the Gold Coast. The project has attracted widespread attention for preserving a beautiful piece of Australian architectural history rather than opting for a conventional knock-down rebuild.

From a structural perspective, this was a particularly challenging project.

The site presented several complexities, including very soft, loose sandy soils, a waterfront location, and flood planning constraints. These conditions required a foundation system capable of delivering long-term performance while accommodating the precise geometry of a relocated heritage building.

To overcome these challenges, KCE designed a screw pile-supported raft slab foundation system. This solution provided a robust foundation while minimising excavation and improving performance in the site's difficult ground conditions.

Perhaps the greatest engineering challenge was not the foundation design itself, but its accuracy.

With a relocated 100-year-old building, every column, wall and support point needed to align precisely with the existing structure. There was virtually no tolerance for error once the house arrived on site.

To achieve this, we utilised high-resolution point cloud scanning of the existing building, allowing us to accurately map the structural layout and coordinate every new foundation and structural element before construction commenced. The result was a seamless installation, with the house being positioned exactly as intended.

Projects like this demonstrate how modern engineering technology can be combined with heritage preservation to achieve outstanding outcomes. By integrating advanced surveying techniques with practical structural design, it is possible to preserve the character of historic buildings while delivering foundations that meet modern performance requirements.

We're delighted to see “Shirley” taking shape and look forward to watching this remarkable restoration come to life. Congratulations to the owners and the entire project team for their commitment to preserving a unique piece of Queensland's architectural heritage.