The Complete Guide to Sandstock Bricks in Australia: History, Uses, Cost & Where to Buy

Sandstock bricks are Australia’s oldest handmade clay bricks, produced from the early 1800s through the early 1900s using a process where clay was pressed into wooden moulds dusted with sand. Recognised by their distinctive “elephant skin” textured surface, earthy tones, and irregular dimensions, they are commonly called “convict bricks” due to their role in building colonial Sydney.

Genuine recycled sandstock bricks cost between $2.50 and $5.00+ per brick in Australia, depending on condition, scarcity, and provenance. The Brick Pit Australia’s oldest brick recycler is one of the few remaining specialist suppliers of authenticated recycled sandstock bricks.

Introduction: Why Sandstock Bricks Are Unlike Any Other Brick in Australia

If you’ve ever stood in front of an old sandstone terrace in Sydney, a colonial-era hotel in regional NSW, or a heritage homestead in South Australia, and felt a pull towards that warm, rough-textured brickwork you’ve felt the presence of sandstock bricks.

They are not just building materials. They are artefacts.

Handmade in wooden moulds by convicts and free labourers from as early as 1788, sandstock bricks built Governor Macquarie’s Sydney, line the walls of buildings that have stood for 150 years, and carry maker’s marks hearts, diamonds, spades, broad arrows stamped into their faces by the hands of people who shaped this country.

Today, as heritage restoration projects surge across Australia and architects increasingly specify materials with authentic provenance, genuine recycled sandstock bricks are becoming scarcer and more valuable. Knowing what they are, how to identify them, and where to source them from a trusted supplier is knowledge that every heritage home owner, architect, builder, and landscape designer in Australia should have.

This is the most complete guide to sandstock bricks in Australia written by The Brick Pit, which has been rescuing and supplying them since 1975.

What Are Sandstock Bricks?

A sandstock brick sometimes written as “sandstruck brick” is a handmade clay brick produced by pressing clay into a wooden rectangular mould that has been dusted with dry sand. The sand prevents the wet clay from sticking to the mould, and as the clay is pressed and compacted, it develops the characteristic deep surface texture that makes sandstocks unmistakable.

The process works like this:

1. Clay is mixed with water and sand (and sometimes animal hair or fired brick dust to improve binding)
2. The wooden mould is dusted with fine sand on its interior surfaces
3. The clay mixture is pressed by hand into the mould
4. The brick is released, coated with dry sand to prevent sticking during drying, and left to air-dry before kiln firing

The result is a brick with:

• A deeply textured, creased surface often described as “elephant skin” caused by the compression of clay against the sand-dusted mould
• Slightly irregular dimensions no two handmade bricks are exactly alike
• Rich, varied earthy tones from terracotta and burnt orange to warm cream, ochre, and deep red, depending on local clay composition and kiln temperature
• A distinctive “frog” indentation on one face an impressed mark used to identify the brick maker or property owner, and to help mortar bind more effectively

Important distinction: The term “sandstock” is frequently misapplied to mass-produced bricks with machine-stamped textured surfaces. A genuine sandstock brick is produced using the sandstruck hand-pressing method. The elephant skin creasing that develops during pressing and air-drying cannot be replicated by machine stamping and once you’ve seen the real thing, the difference is immediately obvious.

The History of Sandstock Bricks in Australia

The Convict Era: 1788 to the 1850s

The first bricks made in Australia were sandstocks. A small number of bricks were brought from England on the First Fleet, but it quickly became clear that the colony needed its own supply. By the 1790s, convict brickmaking gangs were operating at the Brickfields in Sydney — the area now occupied by Central Railway Station.

Convict labour shaped the early sandstock industry. Working in gangs, convict brickmakers dug up clay, mixed it with water and sand, hand-pressed it into wooden moulds, air-dried the green bricks, and fired them in wood-burning kilns. In 1819, Major George Druitt reported that a gang of eight men were expected to produce 3,000 bricks per day, extraordinary output for entirely manual work.

These early bricks built Governor Macquarie’s ambitious program of public works: churches, barracks, hospitals, and government buildings that still stand in Sydney’s historic CBD. The Hyde Park Barracks, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built with convict-made sandstock bricks.

The frog marks: From the 1820s, all government-made bricks were marked with a broad arrow to prevent theft by convicts. By the 1830s, hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs from playing cards were being used as frog marks to identify individual brick makers and enable the mortar to bond more effectively with the brick. Finding one of these marks on a salvaged brick is like reading a handwritten signature from colonial Australia.

The Manufacturing Transition: 1840s to Early 1900s

As the colony grew and demand for bricks surged, the limitations of the sandstock process slow, labour-intensive, and inconsistent drove the industry towards new technologies.

From around 1840 onwards, wire-cut brick extrusion was introduced, followed by dry-pressed bricks and eventually modern machine extrusion technologies in the early 20th century. Sandstock production gradually declined as machine-made bricks offered greater consistency, compressive strength, and output.

Many brickyards continued hand-moulding well after mechanisation became available. It was probably not until after World War I that the majority of Australian bricks were machine-made. The last significant era of genuine sandstock brick production in Australia spans from approximately the 1800s to the early 1900s.

Geographic concentration: Sandstock bricks were predominantly made and used in New South Wales and South Australia, where suitable clay deposits were abundant. Victoria and Tasmania saw greater use of “waterstruck” bricks, a related hand-made process using wetter clay rather than sandstocks. This means genuine sandstocks carry particular historical resonance in Sydney and regional NSW, and are highly sought after for matching heritage structures in those areas.

Sandstock Bricks Today: Scarce, Sought-After, and Irreplaceable

Genuine recycled sandstock bricks cannot be manufactured in the same way today at commercial scale. Their scarcity increases with every heritage building that is demolished without salvage. Each batch rescued from a demolition site is finite once it’s gone, those particular bricks, with their particular clay, their particular maker’s marks, and their particular century of weathering, are gone.

The Brick Pit has been rescuing sandstock bricks from demolition sites across Australia since 1975. When the Royal Hotel at Cudal in regional NSW was demolished, The Brick Pit rescued 38,000 handmade sandstock bricks, irreplaceable artefacts that had been part of that building for over 100 years. Every batch like this is an act of cultural preservation as much as sustainable building supply.

How to Identify Genuine Sandstock Bricks

Not everything sold as a “sandstock brick” is the real thing. Here is exactly what to look for when examining a brick claimed to be a genuine recycled Australian sandstock.

The Five Authenticity Markers

1. Elephant Skin Surface Texture : Run your hand across the face of the brick. A genuine sandstock has deep, organic creasing the compression folds that formed when the clay was pressed against the sand-dusted mould. This texture is three-dimensional, varies across the face, and cannot be replicated by machine stamping. Machine-textured bricks have regular, repetitive patterns. Real sandstocks do not.
2. Irregular Dimensions : There was no standardised brick size in 19th century Australia. Early colonial-era sandstocks (pre-1850) were typically smaller, approximately 230mm × 110mm × 60mm while later sandstocks tended to grow to 230mm × 110mm × 65–75mm. Dimension variation across a batch is a sign of genuine hand production. Perfectly uniform sizing across hundreds of bricks is a sign of machine manufacture.
3. Frog Marks : Many authentic sandstock bricks carry a frog mark with a pressed indentation on one face. Look for: a broad arrow (government-made), hearts, diamonds, spades, or clubs (maker identification marks popular from the 1830s), or a manufacturer’s name or initials. The presence of a legible frog mark dramatically increases both historical interest and monetary value.
4. Colour Variation Within the Same Batch : Authentic sandstocks were fired in wood-burning or early coal kilns with inconsistent temperature control. The result is colour variation within a single batch: some bricks fired hotter and appear darker, others cooler and lighter. A batch of genuine sandstocks will show a natural range of earthy tones. A batch with perfectly uniform colour across every brick was more likely produced industrially.
5. Weathering and Age Patina : Genuine century-old bricks show authentic weathering: lime mortar residue in the pores, surface discolouration from decades of exposure, rounded corners from handling and use, and sometimes salt efflorescence. This patina is impossible to fake convincingly. White or cream deposits on the surface (lime leaching) are common and expected in bricks that have spent 100+ years in lime mortar structures.
6. Buyer’s tip: If you’re purchasing sandstock bricks from a supplier, ask for provenance where the bricks came from, what structure they were salvaged from, and when. The Brick Pit documents the origin of its sandstock batches so buyers understand exactly what they’re getting.

Best Uses for Sandstock Bricks in Australia

1. Heritage Building Restoration (Primary Use)

The most critical use of genuine sandstock bricks is matching existing heritage brickwork for restoration, extension, and repair. This is non-negotiable for properties under heritage protection orders state or local heritage listings typically require like-for-like material matching.

Sandstocks are the only material that can authentically match colonial-era brickwork in NSW and SA. Attempting to substitute modern machine-made bricks or even “heritage look” products in a heritage restoration creates a visible, jarring mismatch that heritage authorities will identify and reject.

When matching sandstocks for restoration: bring a sample of your existing brick to your supplier. At The Brick Pit, our team can match colour, texture, size, and clay character to find the closest available batch to your existing brickwork. See our advice on how to match new bricks with recycled bricks for a seamless look.

2. Feature Walls – Interior and Exterior

Sandstock bricks create feature walls that machine-made bricks simply cannot replicate. The organic surface texture, colour variation, and aged patina produce depth and warmth that reads completely differently in person than in photographs.

Used as an interior feature wall in a residential home particularly in living rooms, kitchens, or entryways, sandstocks bring 200 years of Australian history into a modern space. Used on the exterior of a new home or extension, they create an immediate sense of permanence and character that new construction rarely achieves.

For feature wall applications, the bricks do not carry structural loads and do not need to comply with structural grading requirements. This means even bricks with surface chips or minor imperfections which would be unacceptable in a structural wall can be used, often adding to the character of the result.

3. Landscape and Garden Features

Sandstock bricks work beautifully in:

• Retaining walls in heritage or period-style gardens
• Garden edging around beds and pathways for a colonial or Federation aesthetic
• Raised garden beds the rough texture and earthy tones blend naturally with soil and plants
• Outdoor entertaining areas , paved or walled with sandstocks, these spaces feel grounded and authentic

For outdoor landscape use, sandstocks should be sealed in high-moisture environments to prevent water ingress and efflorescence. Lime-based or lime-compatible mortars should be used for any mortared application see the mortar note below.

For inspiration on garden applications, see our guide on creative brick ideas to transform your garden.

4. Commercial Fit-Outs and Hospitality

The exposed brick aesthetic has been a dominant trend in Australian hospitality cafés, bars, restaurants, and hotels for over a decade. Sandstock bricks take this aesthetic to a level that reclaimed red bricks and machine-made heritage bricks cannot match. The genuine age, handmade quality, and provenance of sandstocks give commercial spaces an authenticity that design-savvy customers immediately register.

The Brick Pit has supplied sandstock bricks to some of Australia’s most recognised hospitality and commercial projects, including work featured on Better Homes & Gardens and for clients including Google and Outback Steakhouse.

When NOT to Use Sandstock Bricks

This is important. Sandstock bricks are more fragile and less structurally consistent than dry-pressed or machine-made bricks. They are not recommended for:

• High-load structural walls without engineering assessment
• Below-ground or in-ground applications (high moisture causes spalling)
• Driveways or paving subject to heavy vehicular traffic
• Environments with prolonged contact with cement mortars (see mortar section below)

The Critical Mortar Rule for Sandstock Bricks

This is the single most important practical point in this guide, and one that causes significant damage to heritage brickwork when ignored.

Sandstock bricks must be laid and pointed with lime-based mortar never Portland cement mortar.

Here is why. Historic sandstock bricks are softer and more porous than modern bricks. They are designed to be the “sacrificial” element in a masonry wall — they absorb movement, moisture, and stress, and are easily replaced when worn, while the structure behind remains intact.

Portland cement mortar is harder than sandstone bricks. When used with soft historic bricks, cement mortar traps moisture, cannot flex with thermal movement, and progressively causes the face of the bricks to spall (flake away) a process that accelerates over years and cannot be reversed. Heritage Victoria, Heritage NSW, and the National Trust of Australia all specify that repointing heritage lime-mortar brickwork with Portland cement is the most damaging and common error in heritage masonry repair.

Use a lime putty mortar, mixed to a ratio that is softer than the brick itself — typically 1 part lime putty to 2.5–3 parts clean sharp sand. No cement. If your bricklayer insists on using cement, find a bricklayer experienced in heritage masonry.

For more on this, Heritage Victoria’s guidelines on lime mortars for masonry repair are an authoritative public resource.

Sandstock Brick Price Guide: What to Expect in 2026

Sandstock bricks are priced differently from standard recycled red bricks because of their scarcity, historical value, and the difficulty of sourcing consistent batches. Here is what you can expect to pay in the Australian market in 2026.

Factors That Increase Sandstock Brick Prices

Documented provenance – bricks from a known historic building (a hotel, courthouse, or church with a documented history) carry a premium because their story can be verified and used in a heritage submission.

Frog marks – bricks with legible maker’s marks, broad arrows, or playing card symbols are historically significant and priced accordingly.

Colour and consistency – batches with unusually consistent colour (easier to use across a large area) are rarer and more valuable than highly varied batches.

Scarcity of supply – as heritage buildings are demolished at a faster rate than new sandstock-era buildings are discovered, the supply of genuine recycled sandstocks contracts each decade. Price trends are upward.

Quantity – like all recycled bricks, volume orders attract better pricing. Small orders (under 500 bricks) may incur a premium per brick.

What Does a Typical Project Cost?

These are material costs only. Labour for a qualified bricklayer experienced in heritage masonry runs approximately $58–$80 per hour in Australia, or $1.10–$1.60 per brick laid. Always factor this separately, and always use a bricklayer with demonstrated heritage masonry experience when working with sandstocks.

For a comprehensive look at how sandstock pricing compares to other recycled brick types, see our guide to how much do recycled bricks cost in Australia.

Where to Buy Sandstock Bricks in Australia

What to Look For in a Sandstock Brick Supplier

Buying sandstock bricks is not the same as buying standard recycled bricks. The wrong supplier can leave you with:

• Machine-made “heritage look” bricks sold as genuine sandstocks
• Uncleaned or structurally compromised bricks that crumble during installation
• Inconsistent batches with no colour or size matching across the quantity you need
• No provenance information critical for heritage submissions

A genuine, trustworthy sandstock supplier should be able to tell you:

• Where the bricks came from (which structure, which suburb or region, what era)
• Whether they have been cleaned and inspected individually
• What grade they are (feature wall, heritage, structural)
• Whether lime mortar or cement mortar was used in the original structure because cement-bonded sandstocks can be harder to clean and may have mortar residue that affects the face

The Brick Pit: Australia’s Specialist in Recycled Sandstock Bricks

The Brick Pit has been Australia’s specialist in recycled sandstock bricks since 1975 longer than any other supplier currently operating. Our Brick Rescue® process means every batch of sandstock bricks we receive is individually inspected, cleaned by hand, graded for quality, and documented for provenance.

We supply sandstock bricks to:

• Architects specifying heritage restoration materials across NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, and WA
• Heritage-listed property owners needing like-for-like brick matching
• Designers and interior specialists creating feature walls with authentic colonial-era character
• Builders working on period residential renovations across Australia and New Zealand

We can supply photos of current batches, advise on colour and texture matching from a sample you send us, and arrange Australia-wide delivery. Call us on (02) 9681 7666 or email sales@thebrickpit.com.au to discuss your project.

Learn more about how we source and quality-grade every batch through our Brick Rescue® programme.

Caring for and Maintaining Sandstock Bricks

Cleaning Sandstock Bricks

• Never use high-pressure washing. The soft surface of sandstock bricks is damaged by high-pressure water jets it strips the surface texture and accelerates weathering.
• Never acid wash genuine sandstocks. Acid cleaning (commonly used on modern bricks) damages the surface and removes the natural patina that makes them valuable.
• Use gentle brushing with clean water to remove loose dirt. For mortar residue, a soft bristle brush and warm water is the first approach.
• For stubborn mortar, a diluted solution of mild detergent can be carefully applied. Any cleaning should be tested on a small, inconspicuous area first.

Sealing Sandstock Bricks

In outdoor or high-moisture applications, applying a breathable silicone-based sealant helps prevent water ingress and reduces efflorescence (white salt deposits on the brick face) without altering the appearance. The key word is breathable sandstock bricks are porous and need to breathe. An impermeable sealant traps moisture inside the brick and causes spalling.

Ongoing Maintenance

• Inspect mortar joints annually. Cracked or recessed pointing allows water ingress that accelerates brick deterioration.
• If repointing is needed, use the same lime mortar composition as the original — never substitute Portland cement.
• White efflorescence on the surface is normal in new installations and typically weathers away within 12–18 months.

For more detailed guidance on keeping your recycled brickwork in excellent condition, read our seasonal maintenance tips for outdoor recycled brick features.

Sandstock Bricks vs. Other Recycled Brick Types

To understand how sandstocks compare with other recycled brick types for your specific project, see our detailed guide on sandstock vs red bricks vs pavers: how to pick the right recycled brick.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sandstock Bricks

Q: What is a sandstock brick?

A: A sandstock brick is a handmade clay brick produced by pressing clay into a wooden mould dusted with sand the “sandstruck” method. The sand prevents the clay from sticking and creates the distinctive deep, creased “elephant skin” surface texture that identifies genuine sandstocks. They were produced in Australia from the early 1800s through the early 1900s and are also known as “convict bricks.”

Q: Why are sandstock bricks called convict bricks?

 A: Because some of Australia’s earliest sandstock bricks were made by convict labour in colonial NSW, particularly at the Brickfields in Sydney (now near Central Station). Convict brickmaking gangs produced bricks by hand for Governor Macquarie’s public works programs from the 1790s onwards. However, not all sandstocks were made by convicts many early commercial brick makers also used the sandstruck method. The terms are related but not interchangeable.

Q: Are sandstock bricks structurally strong enough for a retaining wall?

A: Sandstock bricks are softer and more fragile than modern machine-made bricks. For a low landscape retaining wall (under 600mm high) in a dry, well-drained location, recycled sandstocks can work well. For taller retaining walls, high-load applications, or any in-ground use, we recommend using standard recycled red or combo grade bricks, which have greater compressive strength. Always consult with an engineer for retaining walls over 1 metre.

Q: What mortar do I use with sandstock bricks?

A: Lime-based mortar only never Portland cement. Portland cement is harder than sandstock bricks and causes the brick faces to spall (break away) progressively over time. A typical lime mortar mix for sandstocks is 1 part lime putty to 2.5–3 parts clean sharp sand. If your bricklayer is not familiar with lime mortar, find one who specialises in heritage masonry.

Q: How do I know if sandstock bricks are genuine?

A: Look for: deep, organic “elephant skin” texture (not regular machine-stamped patterns), colour variation within the batch, slightly irregular dimensions, possible frog marks (broad arrow, playing card suits, or maker’s initials), and visible weathering and lime mortar residue consistent with genuine age. Ask your supplier for provenance documentation where the bricks came from and what structure they were salvaged from.

Q: How much do sandstock bricks cost in Australia?

A: Standard grade recycled sandstocks typically cost $2.50–$3.50 per brick. Premium heritage grade bricks with documented provenance range from $3.50–$5.00 per brick. Rare colonial-era examples with frog marks can fetch $5.00–$10.00+ per brick. They are more expensive than standard recycled red bricks because they are scarcer, harder to clean, and have significant heritage value.

Q: Can I buy sandstock bricks for a heritage DA submission?

A: Yes. For heritage development applications requiring like-for-like material matching, The Brick Pit can provide provenance documentation for our sandstock batches. This documentation confirms the recycled origin, approximate era, and sourcing location of the bricks which heritage architects and council heritage officers typically require.

Q: Are reproduction sandstock bricks an acceptable substitute for genuine recycled sandstocks in heritage restoration?

A: In most cases, no. Heritage architects and council heritage officers typically require like-for-like matching which means genuine recycled sandstocks from the same era and ideally the same region as the existing brickwork. Reproduction bricks may be accepted for non-heritage decorative applications but are generally not suitable for listed heritage properties.

Summary: What Makes Sandstock Bricks Genuinely Irreplaceable

Sandstock bricks are not simply an aesthetic choice. They are the physical record of Australian colonial history handmade by convicts and free labourers, fired in wood-burning kilns, and built into the structures that defined early Australian towns and cities. Every genuine sandstock brick in existence today is a finite resource. When they are buried in landfill during demolition, they are gone.

For heritage restoration, there is no substitute. For feature walls that carry genuine character and provenance, there is no substitute. For the architect, builder, or homeowner who understands the difference, that is the whole story.

The Brick Pit has spent 50 years rescuing these bricks from demolition sites across Australia so they can be given a second life in projects that honour their history. If you’re working on a project that calls for genuine recycled sandstock bricks whether it’s matching a 120-year-old terrace or creating a feature wall that will outlast the next century we’d like to help.

External References

1. NSW Migration Heritage Centre — 1831 Fairfield Convict Sandstock Bricks (historical documentation)
2. Heritage Victoria — Lime Mortars for the Repair of Masonry (technical guidance)