Western Advocate

Havenhand & Mather Architects: designing your world for 40 years

EXPERTS: The team at Havenhand & Mather: Vanessa Nancarrow, Greg Schwenke, Catriona Roach, Chris Funnell, Craig Guyer and Derek Moses.
EXPERTS: The team at Havenhand & Mather: Vanessa Nancarrow, Greg Schwenke, Catriona Roach, Chris Funnell, Craig Guyer and Derek Moses.

This is advertiser content for Havenhand & Mather Architects.

This year, Bathurst-based Havenhand & Mather Architects are celebrating 40 years of service, a testament to their reputation, success and proficiency. 

The firm was established in 1979 by Ron Havenhand and David Mather. After Ron retired in the 1990s, John Lewis joined the firm. Soon after, Derek Moses joined the practice and became director in 2002. John retired in 2015, followed by David in 2017.  Derek is now sole director and leads a skilled and energetic team including architects, interior designers and technicians.

“Creating built environments is very challenging and rewarding. 

As architects, we are always learning, always trying to achieve a better result,” Derek said. 

New location, new energy

The firm recently relocated from Keppel Street to the MMI Building in Russell Street and staff are enjoying the new collaborative studio environment, a move which has brought them together to enhance creativity and efficiency. 

Derek explained that “the move to the new office provides a more open and collaborative studio environment which can be quickly adapted to suit the ongoing changes in how we work.”  

All the services

LOCAL: The street view of the Quest Apartments in Orange (artwork by Havenhand & Mather)
LOCAL: The street view of the Quest Apartments in Orange (artwork by Havenhand & Mather)

Havenhand & Mather’s recent projects have been varied and interesting, ranging from master plans to fit-outs, including a series of school master plans, facilities for the Rural Fire Services and the Royal Flying Doctor Service, church alterations and large activity-based working office redevelopments for government agencies.

Since the firm started, technology has progressively changed and the team has stayed ahead of the curve. 

“Some of us started in the days of ink pens on tracing paper where any changes would need to be removed with a razor blade and redrawn. These days, we utilise Building Information Modelling (BIM) software where we construct a 3D digital model of the building,” he said.  

As well as efficiencies in design and change, BIM offers many benefits including 3D views, fly-through movies and shadow studies to really bring ideas to life.

The best team

With a depth of experience, the current team are always keen to be involved in local projects including shop and office alterations, interior fit-outs, tourism, education and medical centres and residential projects. 

They offer a wide range of architectural services including site master plans, feasibility studies, design, interior fit-out through to administration of construction contracts. 

The firm is adept in designing within tight budgets, complex guidelines and standards, and their ongoing training is integral to stay on top of compliance and technical issues.

“Our team brings a range of skills from the overall site planning stage and concept design, through to detailed architectural design and interior design. We listen closely to clients at the design stage to create built solutions that respond thoughtfully to the local environment and the end users,” Derek said.

You know their work

FULL CIRCLE: Havenhand & Mather designed the original Scallywags Childcare Centre in 1985 and have just completed extensions. (artwork by Havenhand & Mather)
FULL CIRCLE: Havenhand & Mather designed the original Scallywags Childcare Centre in 1985 and have just completed extensions. (artwork by Havenhand & Mather)

Over the years, the firm has designed many local buildings that you’ll be familiar with including:

  • Bathurst Art Regional Gallery and Library 
  • Macquarie Care Centre 
  • the Reliance Centre  
  • Lourdes Rehabilitation Hospital in Dubbo
  • The original Scallywags Childcare Centre, as well as recent extensions
  • The four-storey Quest Apartments currently under construction in Orange CBD 
  • Restoration of the historic Carrington Hotel in Orange

Keeping it regional

The practice has a proud history and going forward will continue to provide a full range of architectural services to regional NSW.

“It is usual for us to travel to clients all over NSW to better understand the local site conditions and specific needs. As a regionally-based business, we find we generally talk the same language as our country based clients, as we are dealing with the same issues.”

Havenhand & Mather supports the local and regional community and aims to involve suitable experienced builders from the region. 

“We invite local business and organisations to come and talk to us with their future planning and design needs. Investing in good design from the start will yield many benefits such as increased comfort, efficiency and reduced energy bills.”

This is advertiser content for Havenhand & Mather Architects.