To mark 80 years of building Australia, construction materials supplier Boral has partnered with Sydney independent agency 3rdspace to launch a distinctly human-centric anniversary campaign. The new spots shine a light on everyday Australians.
It highlights the lives lived around, and on top of the hospitals, roads, and homes that Boral has helped build over eight decades.
Keeping the casting in the family
The production team kept the casting unusually close to home.
When the script called for an 80-year-old couple and their grandchild, 3rdspace executive creative director Rickie Marsden suggested casting the daughter of 3rdspace founder Rob Logan. This internal recommendation ultimately led to casting her real-life grandparents in the lead roles.
Despite the cast having no acting experience, director Rhys Day and director of photography Jack Saltmiras successfully captured the family’s natural interactions in a park setting. Luna Pan, known for her work on the official soundtrack for the 2025 New Year’s Eve fireworks, composed the emotional score.
Sustainable production in practice
Aligning with Boral’s sustainability goals, 3rdspace committed to a highly green production model. The crew shot the film using recycled wardrobes from the creative team. And powered all their gear with solar batteries. To further minimise the carbon footprint, the team kept all shooting locations within a five-kilometre radius of one another.
“To capture 80 years of history is no small feat, but the 3rdspace team created magic,” said Boral head of brand, communications and marketing Ben Wyld. “We are incredibly proud of this campaign; it celebrates our past and future in a way that feels genuine and new, humanising what Boral has done for generations of Australians in shaping the built environment.”
Marsden noted that Australians are likely standing on something built by Boral without even knowing it. “Eighty years is a huge achievement, the challenge we had as a team was to connect to the emotion of that,” he said. “The answer was simple, film the life that happens on top of it. It takes confidence for a company as big as Boral to speak that softly, and we have Ben and the team to thank for allowing us to do just that.”
Credits
Boral
Ben Wyld – Head of Brand, Communications and Marketing
Hollie Parker – digital and studio lead Boral
3rdspace
ECD – Rickie Marsden
EP – Rob Logan
Producer – Cleo Borean
Director & Edit – Rhys Day
DOP – Jack Saltmiras
1st assist – Luke Rodley
Gaffer – Mirco Guidon
Score Composition and production – Luna Pan Music
Sound Engineer – Daryl Missen – Vinilo
Grade – Sam Holman
Feature image: supplied