Tumut Turf Club has been hosting horseracing meets since 1859, with its longstanding history embedded into the character of the facility.

Despite boasting a rich history, an entertainment facility of this ilk cannot afford to present as antiquated. Our Canberra team were engaged to provide their coatings expertise to the Judge’s Box that had become dilapidated and consumed by rust.

The challenge

The condition of the Judges Box upon first site inspection was very poor. There were several issues plaguing this centre point of the Tumut Turf Club. Significant rust was prevalent with moss, mould, dirt, and debris also evident. It was clear that significant pre-painting preparation was required to uplift the substrates of this building to a standard that would enable a new painting specification to be applied. All of which had to be achieved within a tight timeframe as races were scheduled for the week following our estimated completion date.

Solution

Our pre-painting preparation focused on treating the rust that was burdening this structure. Our operations team gave the Judge’s Box a thorough heated pressure wash with detergent before utilising hand sanding devices and wire brushes. We drilled leak holes into the structure’s platforms to protect against future water damage.

After restoring the substrates to an acceptable standard, our painting experts were able to apply their craft. The painting specification utilised was a mix of Dulux Durebild STE two-pack epoxy undercoat followed by two topcoats of Dulux Metalshield Epoxy Enamel. The team recommended Durebild as it provides optimal adhesion for the topcoat and creates a barrier to prevent rust coming through, while the Metalshield was ideal for the Judge’s Boxes’ substrates.

Results

Our operations team of two completed over 160 operational hours during this project and delivered a very impressive transformation. Tumut Turf Club’s on-site representatives were equally impressed and remarked of their surprise at the facility’s state upon sign-off. 

"Higgins’ Canberra branch have recently completed a resurfacing and repainting of a structure at the Tumut Racecourse that was in particularly poor condition. As Land Managers of the Tumut Racecourse precinct, we have been impressed with the professionalism of the Higgins team from our first contact with the business development manager through to the estimator, site manager and tradespeople. The recommendations for coatings and paint were very clear and the time frame and budget adhered to despite some wet weather. We would have no hesitation in recommending Higgins for high quality commercial work."

Tumut Racecourse Land Manager Chairman