Novati Constructions enters voluntary administration after five decades in business

Novati Constructions Pty Ltd, a Sydney-based builder operating since 1971, entered voluntary administration on 8 February 2026, with Graeme Beattie and Aaron Lucan of Worrells appointed as voluntary administrators.

The appointment brings to a halt nearly five decades of trading for the family-run contractor, which has delivered a portfolio of commercial and residential projects across metropolitan Sydney. Directors Luisa and Marco Novati oversaw the business at the time of the collapse, with Marco Novati serving as group manager.

In a statement issued following their appointment, the administrators said they are undertaking an urgent review of the company’s financial position, including identifying assets available for realisation and quantifying creditor claims. A first meeting of creditors has been scheduled for 18 February, where stakeholders will receive an initial report on the company’s affairs.

The directors, through the administrators, indicated an intention to propose a deed of company arrangement. Beattie and Lucan said they will assess any proposal in accordance with their statutory duties and determine whether it is in the interests of creditors compared with an immediate liquidation.

Novati’s collapse comes against the backdrop of sustained pressure in Australia’s construction sector, where rising material and labour costs, higher interest rates and fixed-price contract exposures have compressed margins and eroded working capital. Financial strain appears to have intensified in recent months, with the directors stating that market uncertainty, escalating input costs and interest rate rises rendered continued operations unsustainable.

The administration process will now focus on assessing ongoing contracts, employee entitlements and subcontractor claims, as well as determining whether the business or its projects can be preserved through restructuring or sale.