Roberts & Co – John McRae Photography & Studio

October 16, 2025November 10, 2025

Roberts & Co upgrade of Cumberland High School continues

I recently returned to Cumberland High School to capture the latest phase of the impressive upgrade by Roberts Co. This visit marked the completion of the latest phase of the project (there is more to come), with the final extension of classrooms now in place, alongside a brand-new high school building designed to house woodwork, technical studies, and other hands-on learning activities.

A standout addition is the state-of-the-art gymnasium and multi-purpose meeting hall, both built with a clear focus on functionality, light, and space. The architecture and finishes speak to a modern learning environment—one that feels open, inspiring, and well considered.

The transformation of Cumberland High has been remarkable to witness over the course of construction. With handover approaching, it’s easy to imagine how much the students and staff will appreciate their revitalised campus—ready for a new chapter of learning and community.

July 31, 2025August 2, 2025

Roberts & Co upgrades infrastructure at Cumberland High School

A recent commission was to photograph the completion of the latest stage of the development at Cumberland High School, by Roberts & Co. The project has delivered a series of new buildings and classrooms designed to provide state-of-the-art teaching facilities for students and staff.

The contemporary architecture, light-filled spaces, and innovative layouts reflect a strong focus on creating inspiring environments for learning. My aim was to capture the scale and detail of the design, from the expansive communal areas to the thoughtfully planned classrooms.

Projects like this demonstrate how modern educational spaces can foster creativity. I am always reminded that things weren’t quite so spiffy and high-tech when I was attending my local high school in country Victoria. I could not have imagined how different school life would be in the contemporary setting of young students today – with computers, internet, social media – all the bells and whistles of current technology. It was certainly a simpler time for me.

January 9, 2025January 13, 2025

Roberts & Co – “topping out” at Wentworth Point

I am frequently asked to photograph “topping out” events for various stakeholders in the construction industry. On this occasion, I was invited to document the “topping out” of an educational facility at Wentworth Point in western Sydney, during mid-construction.

You might wonder, what is a “topping out”? According to Wikipedia, it is a practice which seems to have originated in ancient Scandinavia as a religious rite, where a tree was placed atop a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits displaced during construction. The tree also served a practical purpose: when the pine needles fell to the ground, it signaled to the builders that their timber frame had cured or dried.

Today, a “topping out” event is usually organized by the builder, who invites those partners and associates involved with the project to a ceremony to mark the completion of the final level in construction, signifying that the structure is finished.

At the event I covered for Roberts & Co., a large potted tree was hoisted by crane onto the roof of the building. Speeches were made and group photos were taken. I learned that the tree does not remain on the roof; after the event, it is taken back down by crane and planted somewhere nearby.

October 10, 2023October 11, 2023

Roberts & Co update their marketing imagery

I recently spent time documenting a couple of sites in Sydney that are currently undergoing construction by Roberts & Co. The first site is part of the upgrade and on-going infrastructure expansion at Westmead Hospital and the other is the massive extension to the Wentworth Point Public School at Wentworth Point.

The brief was to work on collecting more personalised imagery for marketing purposes, including for their web site. There is a move away from using stock imagery for these purposes. Instead, several companies now prefer to produce their own branded images, and to focus on the many people who are working in a creative manner.

It fascinates me to go onsite for such clients. I get to see a professional, fast-paced environment, involving many aspects of the building industry. There’s continual movement of people and construction materials, which for me creates a dynamic picture of activity and growth. I aim to capture this in my photos for Roberts & Co, and I walked away inspired by the commitment of the people involved in their work.