Big Dreams, One Payphone, and the Birth of Cook Brothers Construction

Salzburg, Austria. 2004.

A young Kiwi backpacker named Dave stands in the hallway of Yoho Backpackers, clutching coins and dialing home from an old payphone. Fresh out of the University of Otago and halfway through his OE, Dave wasn’t just checking in — he was calling his mates back in New Zealand to help name their new construction company.

“What should we call it?” Between the static and the laughter, someone said, “Why not name it after The Cook?” And just like that, Cook Brothers Construction was born — a name inspired by the crew who brought Dunedin’s run-down Captain Cook Tavern back to life.

Not a Family Name — A Reputation

People often assume Cook Brothers is a family business. In a way, it is — not by blood, but by reputation. The name represents what the founders stood for: mateship, ambition, and a willingness to back each other’s ideas. Those same values still drive every project today — from hospitality fit-outs and commercial builds to community spaces across New Zealand.

From the Captain Cook to Construction

Before there were building sites, there was a bar. The team’s first big win came when they transformed the Captain Cook Tavern into one of Dunedin’s most iconic venues. That success lit a fire. If they could rebuild an institution, they could build anything. From there, the crew took their grit, creativity, and teamwork into construction — growing into a nationally recognised, award-winning building company known for quality, culture, and community focus.

Full Circle: 20 Years On

Two decades later, Dave returned to that same backpackers in Salzburg. No payphone this time — just a quiet moment to reflect. What started as a call between friends had become a company with a nationwide footprint, hundreds of employees, and a reputation built on trust and hard work. Twenty years later, those big dreams truly paid off.

Building on Big Dreams

At Cook Brothers Construction, we believe great things start small — with a spark of an idea, a bit of grit, and a group of people willing to back each other. From that first phone call to today’s award-winning projects, our journey has always been about owning our reputation and building on big dreams.

Here’s to the next 20 years — and to everyone who’s helped us build them.