A GERALDTON-BASED builder won a swag of gongs for a country house with eclectic style at the 2019 Master Builders-Bankwest Building Excellence Awards for the Mid West.
McAullay Builders scooped 11 honours including the Best Country Home award for the custom residence on a bush block in Waggrakine described as a striking example of unique and inventive building work.
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READ NOWThe block’s Bushfire Attack Level rating of 29 added complexity to the planning and management of materials and construction methods, with the builder triumphing in the alternative construction, energy efficiency and recycling categories.
The home’s excellence in trades such as plastering, roofing, concreting and external finishes was also celebrated.
“The home has a smorgasbord of external finishes including rammed earth, local granite, corrugated iron and recycled timber,” regional awards judge Charlie Baggetta said.
“Inside, the home has polished concrete floors, more rammed earth and recycled timber as well as recycled brick in the kitchen.
“It has a high energy efficiency rating, with lofty ceilings and lots of glass facing north to capture the winter sun.”
Judges assessed houses valued from less than $150,000 to $2.5 million and commercial projects from $1.5 million to $20 million, with McAullay Builders receiving the Small Builder of the Year prize.
The best commercial project award went to Crothers Construction for the upgrade of Champion Bay Senior High School.
Trainee plumber Bailey O’Donnell was named Best Regional Apprentice.
Master Builders regional manager Paul Kerr said local builders and trades had been hard hit by the economic doldrums of recent years but they maintained first-rate professionalism.
“Geraldton is known for having high quality trades such as bricklayers, tilers and carpenters,” he said.
“They need to produce good results or they won’t get work.
“Reputation and word of mouth are important in the local industry.”
Award winners will be considered for next year’s state-wide housing and construction awards.
Award winners
BEST REGIONAL PROJECT
Crothers Construction Pty Ltd
Highbury Street, Rangeway
BEST COUNTRY HOME
McAullay Builders
Bore Road, Waggrakine
BEST CONTRACT HOMES
$200,000 – $250,000
WA Country Builders
Forecastle Street, Sunset Beach
$250,000 – $300,000
WA Country Builders
Spindrift Vista, Glenfield
$300,000 – $350,000
WA Country Builders
Polwarth Parade, Deepdale
$350,000 – $400,000
Poynton Building Company
Tern Way, Jurien Bay
$450,000 – $550,000
Plunkett Homes
Chapman Road, Beresford
$750,000 – $1 million
McAullay Builders
Bore Road, Waggrakine
$1.5 million – $2.5 million
Zorzi
Catalonia Street, Cervantes
BEST ALTERATIONS & ADDITIONS
Under $150,000
McAullay Builders
Coastside Crescent, Glenfield
$150,000 – $200,000
Ulawa Street, Mount Tarcoola
$250,000 – $300,000
McAullay Builders
Bowes Springs Road, Northhampton
$500,000 – $750,000
Geraldton Building Services & Cabinets
Blackburn Crescent, Tarcoola Beach
BEST MULTI UNIT DEVELOPMENT
Two to five units
Steele Campbell Homes
Estuary Drive, Drummond Cove
BEST REFURBISHMENT OR RENOVATION
Under $1.5 million
Poynton Building Company
Walton Close, Geraldton
BEST PUBLIC USE BUILDING
$1.5 million – $5 million
Crothers Construction
Edward Road, Utakarra
BEST GOVERNMENT BUILDING
$1.5 million – $5 million
Geraldton Building Services & Cabinets
Aeromedical Road, Moonyoonooka
BEST EDUCATION BUILDING
$10 million – $20 million
Crothers Construction
Highbury Street, Rangeway
BEST RETAIL BUILDING
$5 million – $10 million
Crothers Construction
Pass Street, Wonthella
BEST BUILDING FIT-OUT
$1.5 million – $5 million
Crothers Construction
Edward Road, Utakarra
EXCELLENCE IN PLASTERING
FD & ME Plastering
Bore Road, Waggrakine
EXCELLENCE IN CEILINGS
Sun City Ceilings
Blackburn Crescent, Tarcoola Beach
EXCELLENCE IN CARPENTRY
Geraldton Carpentry and Metal Roofing
Tilti Rise, Moresby
EXCELLENCE IN ROOFING
McAullay Builders
Bore Road, Waggrakine
EXCELLENCE IN EXTERNAL FINISHES
McAullay Builders
Bore Road, Waggrakine
EXCELLENCE IN FLOOR & WALL TILING
Basile’s Wall and Floor Tiling
Chapman Road, Beresford
EXCELLENCE IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY
McAullay Builders
Bore Road, Waggrakine
EXCELLENCE IN RECYCLING
McAullay Builders
Bore Road, Waggrakine
EXCELLENCE IN PAINTING
APE Painting
Tilti Rise, Moresby
EXCELLENCE IN CONCRETING
Keith Gregory
Bore Road, Waggrakine
SILVER TROWEL
Andy Pope Bricklaying
Hill Creek Road, Moresby
EXCELLENCE IN BRICK & BLOCK PAVING
Geraldton Landscaping
Polwarth Parade, Deepdale
BEST WATERWISE HOME
McAullay Builders
Bore Road, Waggrakine
EMPLOYER TRAINER OF THE YEAR
Geraldton Building Services & Cabinets
SMALL BUILDER OF THE YEAR
McAullay Builders
BEST ALTERNATIVE CONSTRUCTION HOME
McAullay Builders
Bore Road, Waggrakine
EXCELLENCE IN WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY
Geraldton Building Services & Cabinets
BANKWEST BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE
Geraldton Building Services & Cabinets
KEVIN GIUDICE BEST REGIONAL APPRENTICE
Apprentice: Bailey O’Donnell
Employer: Skill Hire
BRIAN NEIL AWARD
Steele Campbell Building