Portsea Pub Hotel

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Set along Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, the Portsea Hotel has long stood as a landmark of heritage and hospitality. Its revitalisation called for a careful balance - retaining the charm of its historic architecture while introducing materials capable of enduring one of Australia’s harshest coastal climates. UniCote® was integral to achieving this outcome, delivering a roofing solution that respects the past and ensures resilience for the future.
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𝗔 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵
Directitude Management approached the project with a clear objective: reinstate the building’s iconic presence while strengthening it against decades of exposure to Bass Strait. The roofing system was central to this vision. It needed to mirror the original architectural language, preserve the recognisable silhouette of corrugated steel, and offer the durability required to stand up to constant salt spray and unpredictable weather.
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𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀
Working at the water’s edge brings unavoidable material pressures. Salt particles carried by sea air accelerate corrosion, while high winds and shifting conditions place additional stress on the building envelope. Standard steel products deteriorate quickly under these conditions, compromising both their visual and structural performance. For the Portsea Hotel, the roofing solution could not simply replicate history; it needed to safeguard the building’s longevity in an unforgiving coastal climate.
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𝗔𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁: 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱
UniCote® Coastal was selected as the definitive material response. Engineered for Australia’s demanding coastline, UniCote® Coastal employs an AM210 metallic coating that applies 210 grams of protective alloy per square metre to guard against corrosion. The defining advantage lies in its use of magnesium within the zinc/aluminium alloy - a refinement that transforms performance at cut edges, the most vulnerable point of any steel roof. As the material weathers, the magnesium activates a microscopic migration of the coating across exposed steel, initiating a sacrificial reaction that seals and strengthens the edge. The outcome is a self-protecting surface, capable of preserving both appearance and integrity where other products quickly break down.

Finished in Slate Grey from the UniCote® Essential Range, the roof captures the understated character of the original while introducing a refined contemporary edge. Supplied through Concept Sheetmetal and installed by Alabaster Plumbing, the solution united heritage form with modern resilience in a seamless application.
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𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱
The completed project demonstrates how architectural integrity and technical certainty can coexist. The Slate Grey roof integrates harmoniously with the coastal setting, reinforcing the hotel’s historic presence while strengthening it for decades to come. With UniCote® Coastal, the Portsea Hotel is not only restored but prepared to withstand the challenges of its environment without compromise.
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𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄. 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗖𝗼𝘁𝗲®
The Portsea Hotel restoration illustrates how UniCote® Coastal enables architects and builders to deliver enduring solutions in the most demanding environments. By bridging heritage aesthetics with long-term material resilience, UniCote® sets a benchmark for projects where design intent and environmental performance must align.
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𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗖𝗼𝘁𝗲® 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.