About us

Russ has a degree in Industrial design, Cert 4 in Building and Construction, and Cert 3 in Carpentry. Russ recently completed a Master Builders Green Living program.

His fine carpentry joinery skills were utilized for architectural homes by Glenn Murcutt, Rick LePlastrier in the Upper Blue Mountains when he worked for Blackheath local builder Rolley Clarke.

Commercial building experience with Hansen Yunken for the Wolgan Valley Emirates 6 star resort and Site foreman for Brookfield Multiplex BER for the Upper Blue Mountains schools. 

High end residential Site foreman experience on the Northern Beaches for a Chenchow Little new house in Palm Beach and Smith & Tzannes designed renovations for a house in Clontarf.

Russ is the Director of Beyond Design Residential trading as Avalon Constructions NSW which he established in 2013. Russ is an environmentally conscious builder who endeavors to specialise in architectural bespoke designs utilising green building methods.
Russ can read, understand & interpret architectural and engineering plans, problem solve building problems, remain calm and communicate with diplomacy between clients, architects, engineers and subbies.

 
BUILDERS LICENCE 260858C
ABN 82 148 214 797
 

 

History

BUILDING FOR WAGES 2000-2013
 
After a few years living on artist's earnings, I joined the building industry working from the bottom up as laborer, carpenter, leading hand, foreman, and site manager for various builders, now a licensed independent master builder specialising in sustainable houses.
During this time I have developed a series of door designs and am selling these as Beyond Doors.
 
At Avalon Constructions we are not set up to manufacture furniture any more, but rather are we are able to incorporate the joinery, design, and sculpture, into your house.
Our workshop however, is set up to make doors and tables.

 

 

Prepping a BEYOND DESIGN door

Furniture Making

 The woodwiz
BEYOND DESIGN FURNITURE MAKING 1996 - 2000
 
After graduating from University of Newcastle with a degree in Industrial Design, I started Beyond Design specialising in designing and making furniture and sculpture. Developed design and joinery skills.

Harbour bridge table, designed 1995, a popular design

Generations of building

Great grandfather had a sawmill in the 1920s.  Steele Brothers sawmill, - near Rotorua NZ  1920s.

   

Grandfather was a owner builder and keen carpenter/joiner.           Dad  was an owner builder in Bilgola

  

We grew up on this worksite. The car pulled on a 600 ft rope on a 6:1 pulley and lifted building materials up this tree.
We also had a railway and slipway winch for bringing up material we couldn't pull up the tree, such as bricks and plaster.

  Started young                                                                    Learnt to lay concrete with dad on our shared right-of-way in Bilgola Plateau.

 

       Any spare time - paragliding, rockclimbing, sailing with the  kids, and canyoning.