Colgan Industries

Despite four decades in commercial heritage restoration, Colgan Industries’ brand didn’t communicate their unique expertise as custodians of cultural heritage.

Their outdated digital presence lacked the sophistication to compete for premium heritage projects against national firms.

The priority was to strengthen digital presence and discoverability among East Coast businesses and regional Local Government Authorities managing heritage buildings, while translating their authentic DNA from real-world success to digital. Additionally, they needed to celebrate a positive internal culture to attract skilled stonemasons.

Heritage restoration isn’t about freezing the past, it’s about authoring the building’s next chapter.

Colgan’s key differentiator is their role as custodians ensuring heritage’s ongoing relevance to contemporary life. Beyond profit, they preserve skills, knowledge, and cultural value vital to future generations.

This inspired the positioning: ‘We author the next chapter in a building’s life,’ highlighting Colgan as heritage storytellers who keep historical buildings vibrant and functional while honouring their authentic character and significance.

The ‘Celebrate Character’ concept embodied this positioning through the palimpsest metaphor, showing heritage buildings as layered histories, where Colgan adds new chapters while preserving past ones.

The visual system translates Colgan’s DNA using materials common to heritage sites, stone, metal, timber, alongside architectural blueprints and technical drawings.

Layered imagery featuring historical building photos, material textures, and black-and-white craftspeople portraits reflects their deep expertise. This collage approach visually honours both heritage layers and skilled craft, bridging physical restoration and digital storytelling.

The rebrand delivered a digital-first platform that revitalised Colgan’s online and physical presence through impactful hoardings, vehicles, and uniforms.

This enhanced competitive positioning for premium heritage projects with better discoverability across Australia’s East Coast and regional WA.

The sophisticated brand system clearly communicates Colgan’s unique craft expertise and custodianship of traditional stonemasonry, supporting talent attraction.

The palimpsest-inspired identity resonates strongly with institutional heritage owners, positioning Colgan as trusted specialists who command premium pricing through authentic skill and cultural understanding.