Concrete Block — Various Finishes (Split Face, Honed, Shotblast)
Architectural concrete masonry units (CMUs) with decorative surface treatments are load-bearing and non-load-bearing masonry products that combine structural performance with designed aesthetic character. Three principal finishes define the range: split face blocks are fractured along a predetermined plane during manufacture, exposing a rough, striated aggregate face that varies naturally in texture and depth; honed blocks are ground smooth after curing, removing the outer cement paste to reveal the aggregate matrix in a flat, low-sheen surface; and shotblast blocks are treated with an abrasive media blast to lightly erode the surface, producing a matte texture with subtle aggregate exposure intermediate between split face and honed. All three finishes are produced to the standard 390 x 190 mm face module in series widths of 90, 140, 190, and 290 mm, enabling consistent coursing with standard hollow CMUs. Compressive strength f'uc is typically 15 MPa minimum per AS/NZS 4455.1. Fire resistance ratings under AS 3700 are wall-system dependent, ranging from FRL 60/60/60 for 90 mm walls to 240/60/60 structural adequacy for 290 mm walls. Manufactured in Australia by Adbri Masonry, Austral Masonry, National Masonry, and Boral Masonry, with oxide pigment additions available across the palette.
- External architectural facades
- Internal feature walls
- Fire-rated wall assemblies
- Boundary and retaining walls
- Bushfire-resistant construction
- Gymnasium and sports halls
- Healthcare and institutional corridors
- Acoustic separation walls
- Residential feature elements
- Commercial and industrial construction
Concrete masonry units were introduced to Australia in the early twentieth century, with the Besser vibrating compaction machine arriving in the 1920s and becoming ubiquitous in post-war construction. The 'Besser Block' — Adbri Masonry's trademark — became synonymous with standard hollow CMUs across the country. Mechanised block-making expanded significantly from the early 1950s; BRANZ records that Winstone began manufacturing Hollowstone blocks in 1953 using a Besser Vibrapac machine. Architectural finishes emerged as a distinct product category during the 1960s and 1970s, when Australian architects began specifying textured masonry for public buildings, universities, and civic infrastructure as an alternative to brick veneer and off-form concrete. Split face masonry became closely associated with Brutalist and New Brutalist architecture in Australia during the 1970s, appearing in schools, government offices, and shopping centres across suburban Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. The honed finish gained traction from the 1980s as interior design tastes moved toward exposed aggregate and polished concrete aesthetics. Australian Standards for masonry units were first formalised in 1974 and have been continuously updated; the current suite — AS/NZS 4455.1:2008 and AS 3700:2018 — reflects harmonised Trans-Tasman manufacturing and structural design requirements. The Concrete Masonry Association of Australia (CMAA) has promoted architectural CMUs through technical guidance and the NATSPEC specification system since the 1980s. Contemporary manufacturers now offer expanded oxide palettes, longer face modules, and factory-applied sealers as standard options, and some ranges include recycled supplementary cementitious materials (fly ash, slag) to reduce embodied carbon.
DISCLAIMER: This specification document is generated from the CLAD Materials Atlas Database. Information is for general guidance only and does not constitute professional engineering advice. Values are typical and may vary by batch, manufacturer, and production run. Verify suitability for specific project applications independently.