The rock helps to limit movement during high-flow conditions and can handle high water velocities. This preserves the environment and encourages natural vegetation to grow which provides a more visually appealing landscape.

For these reasons, Reno Mattresses are mainly used in weirs, river and creek protection works, channel linings, as well as for erosion control and stabilising embankments and slopes. There are many other advantages to using Gabions and Reno mattresses and they are frequently used in large civil projects as well as in smaller residential ones.

Prospect Contractors only use genuine Maccaferri Reno Mattresses and are trained in accordance with the Maccaferri guidelines for Gabion installation, ensuring the consistent and outstanding quality of the finished product. Contact us to find out if Reno’s are the right solution for your erosion control problem!

Traditionally, Gabions are rocks in hexagonal wire baskets that are linked with double twisted wire mesh. The word Gabion comes from the Italian word gabbione meaning "big cage". The most common use of gabions used in civil engineering was originally patented by Gaetano Maccaferri in the late 19th century and even today, Prospect Contractors use the Maccaferri wire baskets for most soil erosion problems.

Wire Gabions

The double twisted wire mesh of the Maccaferri baskets ensure that they will not unravel in the event of one or more of the wires breaking. The PVC coated Galfan wire offers up to three times more protection against corrosion than zinc coated wire and can have a lifespan lasting up to 100 years. Laced together, Gabion baskets form a strong, flexible and monolithic structure. They are also permeable, eliminating any water pressure building up behind the wall and being flexible, they accommodate any ground movement.

Gabions also diffuse, absorb and reduce noise, with the sound unable to pass under or through the one-meter thickness of the filled wire baskets. Sandbags are also often incorporated into the wire Gabions, increasing the sound absorption.

Rockweld, our own welded mesh Gabions are becoming a popular choice for architectural applications as they create a slimmer profile and are used in areas such as fencing, feature walls, cladding and smaller retaining walls, that don’t require as much stabilisation.

Rockweld is constructed out of rigid, galvanised steel mesh panels, which are laced together and stabilised with posts into the ground and are filled with rock, stone or pebbles. The strength and durability of the welded steel combined with the rock fill, creates a strong, hard-wearing, secure, sound reducing and even fire proof product.

The rock we use in both types of Gabions must be the right size as well as be dense, hard, durable and resistant to elements such as air and water. At Prospect Contractors, we generally use sandstone or bluestone.

Whichever type of Gabions you prefer, they both offer a strong and durable solution to many landscaping problems. For more information and ideas, read more on our other Blog posts or contact Prospect Contractors for a free, no obligation quote

Rockweld Gabions by Prospect Contractors are becoming popular around homes in the Adelaide suburbs. You may have driven past our rock fences and walls in front of homes on busy roads or come across our bench seating in parks and playgrounds. Our Rockweld is constructed out of welded mesh that can be configured in many shapes and sizes and filled with rock. The rock can be hand-faced or tipped-in, depending on the effect that is wanted.

There are many applications and advantages to using Rockwled Gabions and in this story, we show you seven ways you can utilise Rockweld in your next home improvement project.

Contact us for more information and a free, no obligation quote. Or check out Rockweld Website Gallery for more ideas.

Derived from the Italian word ‘Gabbione’, meaning ‘big cage’, Gabions have been used a number of ways throughout history.

Traditionally, Gabions were constructed as military fortifications used as protection against enemy fire. The Gabions were portable and were made and deployed quickly wherever needed. They are still used today in military bases, protecting soldiers in mess halls and sleeping quarters.

Today, Gabions can be individually designed and installed to offer protection against noise, traffic and even fire! The main reason for this is that Gabions that are made of double twisted, galvanised wire or galvanised steel (and are filled with a high density rock) combine together to make a strong, durable and solid structure! Gabions also have the added benefits of providing privacy and screening against the wind. Applications include noise walls, road barriers, bollards, columns or pillars, of various shapes and sizes.

Areas that will benefit the use of Gabions are private homes, schools and public spaces like entertainment venues, playgrounds, shopping centres and car parks. The use of natural rock blends with the environment, providing a softer, more natural division between spaces. This makes Gabions a popular choice amongst landscape designers and home owners.

There are many ways to incorporate Gabions that can offer style and protection, in this post we have gathered some ideas for inspiration. Contact Prospect Contractors to discuss ideas and the cost of design and installation - it may be cheaper than you think, and we offer free, no obligation quotes!

Gabion Car Parking Bollard Ideas:

Noise Walls & Soundproof Fencing Ideas:

Depending on the environment, quality Maccaferri Gabion baskets installed by Prospect Contractors can last for over 100 years when installed correctly. We have sourced one great example of a Gabion wall that has been around for 44 years. (Macceferri Case Study 2016)

This Maccaferri PVC coated Gabion wall, originally built in 1974, is located in Coalcliff along the Illawarra escarpment near the Tasman Sea; a place of steep slopes, erosion & rock fall. These environmental factors cause many dangers and obstacles to the roads, building and urban developments in the area. The 60m long x 6.5m high Gabion wall was built to protect the road and railway from the constantly changing environment and is still doing so 44 years later. An inspection in 2016 has provided positive feedback, due to the wall still being in excellent condition. No visible corrosion had been found and the wire mesh and the PVC coating didn't show signs of any degradation, un-effected by UV or the corrosive nature of the marine environment.

The Gabion wall at Coalcliff, is one of many, demonstrating that Gabions can serve a sustainable long-term solution to environmental disturbances, despite the maximum rain fall in the area and volatile landscape.

Maccaferri Gabions are built in agreement

to rigorous specifications and under government linked certifications, this is unique to Maccaferri installed Australian products. Gabions installed under the correct procedures like this one, can be considered sustainable and long standing, qualities which cannot be transferred to all Gabion installers.

There are many other advantages to using Gabions, click here to read more.

For more information or a free, no obligation quote on installation, contact Prospect Contractors.

You normally see Gabions in the great outdoors but they can also be utilised in the interior of your home or business. Apart from creating a unique, modern and natural feel to a room, there are two great advantages to using Gabions inside a building:

Noise Reduction

As well as claddingthe exterior of a building, Gabions can be installed inside a room such as an office space or restaurant, which can help absorb noise. Gabions can be fixed to existing walls or installed as freestanding room dividers. They can be used in reception desks, island benches and bars. They also look great in outdoor rooms ‘bringing the outside in’ while at the same time minimising noise.

Thermal Mass

Thermal mass is the ability of a material to absorb and store heat energy and can help maintain comfortable temperatures inside your home year round. Thermal mass will also assist the ventilation system in providing cool air during the summer months and warm air during the winter months. A building with a Gabion wall not only provide protection from the sun outside, but also allows the wall to ‘breathe’ as the space between the rocks allow the air to flow through and cool the inside.

Woven mesh Gabions are also an ideal method of creating thermal mass under the floor, due to their strength and long-term durability. They can trap and hold cold air, which can then be used as a passive air-conditioning system during summer.

We have collated here some great examples from a search of Gabions used in interior architecture. For a free, no obligation quote on any Gabion ideas contact

Prospect Contractors have installed a number of Terramesh walls around Australia, the most recent being in Lower Molonglo Dam, in the ACT. So what exactly is a Terramesh wall and what are the advantages over other retaining structures?

"Maccaferri Terramesh is a versatile, modular system for reinforced slope systems and mechanically stabilised earth walls that can be a more cost effective solution than the mass gravity Gabion wall because of the speed of installation and reduced rock fill requirements."

The Terramesh system comprises of Maccaferri Gabion baskets with woven mesh soil reinforcement panels, intergrated between each layer of the baskets. They can be used to build structures with either a stepped front face or a vertical facing.

Maccaferri Terramesh are pre-assembled units of double twisted wire mesh. The facing section of the unit is formed by connecting a back panel and diaphragms to the main fascia unit. They can be used individually or combined with Geogrid or Tensar Grid for reinforcement and soil stabilisation. They are used in a wide range of applications including slip repair work and steep slope construction in both residential and road infrastructure projects.