Melbourne team restores copper doors on Melbourne Town Hall
When you’re publicly repairing metal objects, such as the copper doors at Melbourne City Hall, you have to steel yourself against scammers.
Jokes made by the Copper Doctors include: “You missed some,” “why don’t you try using tomato sauce on this?” and “you’re wasting your time”.
The Thorns test their courage, but they continue to move forward with their extraordinary profession.
Founder Brian James says it’s a rewarding job. “You start every job with something that is tarnished and hides the true beauty of the work,” he says.
Retired communications consultant James, 74, stumbled upon the surprising new job in 2019 when his daughter Mikala asked him to repair tarnished copper linings on the windows of the Loom Towels store in Armadale’s historic King’s Arcade.
James joked at the time: “I don’t work with my hands!”
But he enjoyed the challenge and “bringing out the beauty of copper” using sanding pads.
James then restored the facades of all 12 stores at the arcade and knock-down vintage stores elsewhere, finding more work and hiring temporary workers when necessary.
A couple who bought a French chateau had the copper and brass antiques restored, including the sculpted fireplace guard. And for a Geelong church, doctors restored 60 brass candle holders.
At a mansion in Sydney, James is restoring 200 objects, including copper tulip-shaped garden lamps.
His right-hand man is Paul Martini, 31, the former chef of the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Frantzen in Stockholm, Sweden.
In 2023, while working at Melbourne CBD restaurant Izakaya Den, Martini noticed James polishing copper on the facade of a building near his flat, a sign reading Copper Doctors caught his attention and struck up a conversation.
Tired of long working hours spent in the kitchen and working outdoors at various jobs while working with his hands, Martini started working with James on his days off.
James liked Martini’s work ethic and focus, and in April 2024, Martini became a full-time Copper Doctor. The team still includes temporary employees for larger jobs.
The company operates in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Geelong. The team has polished copper panels on the Playhouse Bar at Arts Center Melbourne and is working on the Manchester Unity Building on Swanston Street.
James is proud of the work they did this year on Melbourne City Hall’s two formerly dull, now dazzling copper doors. The brass frames of the hall’s main glass doors, decorated with images of Melbourne’s coat of arms, were also restored.
Upcoming projects include repairing the brass plaques on the war memorial at the top of Mount Macedon.
James aspires to work at the Sydney Opera House, which he says has “miles and miles of brass rails”.
Two weeks ago, James hosted Martini’s wedding. Martini says the career change was “incredible” and “one of the best things that ever happened to me.”
The job requires patience and can be tedious, but it’s rewarding, Martini says.
“People stop and say, ‘Wow. Look at this, look at the difference.’ It makes you want to do more.”
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