"Every home tells a story. The mouldings and doors should be part of it—not an afterthought." — Hugh Gilchrist, Founder of Australian Moulding & Door Company"
Some businesses are built around products. Others are built around people.
Australian Moulding & Door Company (AMDC) was built around a problem.
More than 30 years ago, Hugh Gilchrist wasn't searching for a business opportunity—he was simply trying to finish building a home. As a builder, he was frustrated by how difficult it was to source quality architraves, skirting boards and doors that matched the standard he wanted for his projects.
That challenge became the beginning of what is now one of Australia's leading manufacturers of premium mouldings, architectural doors and custom timber profiles.
Today, after more than three decades, Hugh's philosophy remains remarkably simple:
Build products you'd be proud to install in your own home.
It Started With One Old German Machine
Long before CNC machinery and automated production lines, there was a single German-made moulder.
After struggling to source quality products for his own build, Hugh and his father purchased an old Gerbsch moulding machine and completely rebuilt it from the ground up.
What started as manufacturing mouldings for Hugh's own projects quickly expanded.
Builders began asking for the same profiles. Architects wanted custom solutions.
Soon, Hugh was travelling across Victoria building relationships with customers who were looking for something they couldn't find elsewhere.
Doors naturally followed.
As Hugh jokes:
"When builders buy architraves and skirting boards, they also need doors. It's like McDonald's asking, 'Would you like fries with that?' We simply asked, 'Would you like doors with your mouldings?'"
That straightforward thinking became the foundation of AMDC.
Building Knowledge That Only Experience Can Teach
One of Hugh's greatest advantages isn't simply owning a manufacturing business.
It's that he spent years on construction sites before starting one.
Having worked as a builder, he understands the challenges customers face long before the products arrive.
He knows why oversized doors move. He knows why profiles need to suit the era of a home. He knows that lead times can make or break a project.
That practical experience still influences every recommendation made by the AMDC team today.
Whether you're restoring a Victorian terrace, building a Hamptons-inspired home or designing a contemporary architectural residence, the advice starts with one question:
What suits the home—not what's easiest to manufacture?
Designing Homes That Feel Complete
Ask Hugh what homeowners should consider when selecting mouldings, and he rarely starts by talking about profiles.
He starts by talking about architecture.
The proportions of the home. The ceiling height. The era. The relationship between the skirting boards, architraves and doors.
"When these elements work together, people might not immediately know why a home feels right—but they notice it."
It's often these subtle architectural details that elevate a home from ordinary to exceptional.
Rather than treating doors and mouldings as finishing touches, Hugh believes they should be considered as part of the overall design from the very beginning.
Why Bigger Isn't Always Better—But Proportion Matters
One of the most common questions customers ask is:
"How high should my skirting boards be?"
According to Hugh, the answer depends almost entirely on ceiling height.
For standard 2.4-metre ceilings, skirting boards between 150mm and 180mm generally create the right balance.
As ceiling heights increase to 2.7 metres, 3 metres or beyond, larger profiles become more appropriate.
The same philosophy applies to doors.
Higher ceilings deserve taller doors. Thicker mouldings create more depth. Larger proportions make spaces feel more architectural.
Good design isn't about making everything bigger. It's about getting the proportions right.
Why AMDC Chooses Quality Over Convenience
The building industry has changed dramatically over the past three decades.
Native hardwoods have become increasingly difficult to source. Material costs continue to rise. Labour shortages have affected manufacturers across Australia.
Yet one thing hasn't changed.
AMDC continues to manufacture products to order rather than relying on mass-produced imports.
If a customer needs a heritage profile that no longer exists, AMDC can reproduce it.
If an architect designs a custom door, it can be manufactured.
If a project requires oversized doors, commercial fire doors, veneered doors or bespoke joinery, the team has the capability to produce it in-house.
It's this flexibility that has earned AMDC its reputation among builders, architects, designers and homeowners looking for something beyond standard catalogue products.
More Than Manufacturing—Helping Customers Make Better Decisions
Walk into the AMDC Bayswater showroom and you'll quickly notice something different.
Rather than rows of loose samples hanging on walls, you'll find fully constructed rooms showcasing complete architectural spaces.
That was Hugh's vision.
After years of displaying miniature samples, he wanted customers to experience products in their intended environment.
Today, visitors can walk through beautifully designed rooms featuring full-height doors, wall panelling, skirting boards and architraves installed exactly as they would appear in a finished home.
The showroom allows homeowners, designers and builders to compare profiles, understand scale and appreciate how subtle details influence the overall feel of a room.
It's become one of AMDC's greatest design resources.
Reliability Is Still the Greatest Product
Ask Hugh what he wants customers to remember after dealing with AMDC, and surprisingly, the answer isn't craftsmanship.
It's trust.
"We tell customers exactly when their products will be ready. If we promise mouldings in seven to ten days, that's what we deliver. If we promise doors in ten to fifteen days, that's what we deliver."
In an industry where delays can impact entire construction schedules, reliability has become just as valuable as the products themselves.
Looking Ahead
After more than 30 years, Hugh isn't slowing down.
His vision for the next decade is clear:
To make Australian Moulding & Door Company the country's most recognised supplier of premium architectural doors and mouldings.
Not by becoming the biggest.
But by remaining the company that architects, builders, designers and homeowners trust when quality matters most.
As the industry continues to evolve, one thing remains unchanged.
Every profile, every door and every custom solution still begins with the same philosophy that started the business all those years ago:
Craftsmanship isn't just about making products. It's about helping people build homes that stand the test of time.
Visit Australia's Home of Premium Doors & Mouldings
Whether you're restoring a heritage home, building your forever home or specifying products for your next architectural project, visit the Australian Moulding & Door Company showroom in Bayswater.
Explore full-sized display rooms, compare hundreds of moulding profiles, experience our custom door range, and speak with a team that understands construction from both the builder's and manufacturer's perspective.
Because after more than 30 years, craftsmanship isn't just what we make.
It's how we work.
