Forrest

Forrest’s story as a builder began in childhood, helping his father with projects on the family farm. By eleven he was crafting small structures from mud bricks, and at sixteen he was already working as a builder’s labourer. Building quickly became more than a skill—it became a lifelong passion.

He went on to study Furniture Design at the University of Tasmania and the Australian National University, where he refined his eye for detail and deepened his respect for craftsmanship. This design background still shapes his approach today, blending functionality with aesthetics in every project.

Over the years, Forrest has embraced both tradition and innovation. He has built to Passive House standards, travelled to Germany for hands-on training with Unilux’s world-leading window systems, and maintained a fascination with timber—milling and grading his own, and even constructing his first home at twenty-four entirely from salvaged wood. Each experience reinforced his belief in sustainable, thoughtful building methods.

For him, building is about more than construction. It’s about creating healthy, enduring spaces that people love to live in. He thrives on collaboration with architects and clients, drawing together materials, design, and craftsmanship into projects that balance form and function.

Conscious building remains at the heart of his work. Whether it’s repurposing materials found on-site—like timber removed for bushfire safety, recycled stone, or even soil—or guiding clients toward healthier and more sustainable product choices, Forrect is committed to making projects that respect both people and place.

Away from work, he spends time outdoors canoeing and bushwalking, enjoys woodcarving and blacksmithing, and is dedicated to a regenerative agriculture project on his grandparents’ old farm—continuing his lifelong practice of working with, and giving back to, the land.