NT Builder buys Melbourne Construction Company

Northern Territory builder DCOH has entered the Victorian market after acquiring Melbourne-based Unlimited Commercial Constructions and says it can start working for southern developers straight away.

The Victorian business will rebrand as DCOH, which since its foundation in 1987 has delivered government, defence, health, education, commercial and sport and recreation projects.

Headquartered in Darwin, the company employs more than 300 people and expects to achieve a $300-million turnover this financial year.

DCOH chief operating officer Lachlan Michell said the acquisition provided the company with an established leadership team and project pipeline in Victoria.

“Unlimited has built a strong reputation in Victoria and brings experienced leadership with a track record in delivering complex projects,” he said.

“The alignment in sector focus and delivery approach made this a natural fit.”

Michell said that he had spent eight years working in construction in Victoria and so his links to clients in the state were robust.

“We’ve got staff members there now who can actively price and tender projects at a large scale and because we have the financial capability to do jobs of $200-million-plus, consistently ... it’s really adding that legitimate Tier 1 option to the market for developers to come to us for solutions,” he said.

DCOH recently completed the $200-million Danala education and community precinct for Charles Darwin University [pictured at top] and is building the $389-million Robertson Barracks Base improvement project as well as the $150-million Darwin Civic Centre.

Unlimited was founded by directors Jen Burridge and Ben Bugeja in 2023. The company had undertaken local government, tertiary institution and large-scale commercial work.

Burridge said Unlimited had an exceptional team and a strong foundation in Victoria.

“Partnering with DCOH enhances our ability to pursue opportunities in our core sectors with the backing of an established contractor with long term financial stability,” she said.