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W. Fairweather & Son receives 2017 Robert Law Award

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THE state’s first registered builder, whose involvement in WA’s construction industry stretches back to the Goldfields in 1895, received the ultimate recognition from the Master Builders Association of WA (MBAWA) last week.

Family-run W. Fairweather & Son in Subiaco received the 2017 Robert Law Award at a luncheon for industry executives, recognising its outstanding contribution to the WA building industry.

W. Fairweather & Son managing director Peter Fairweather, the great-grandson of company founder William Fairweather, received the honour on behalf of his trailblazing family.

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“I accept this on behalf of not only the three William Fairweathers who have presided over this company before me, but more importantly the thousands of employees and contractors who have found a home in the building industry at W. Fairweather & Son over the past 122 years,” Mr Fairweather said in his speech.

“The firm has survived booms, recessions, the Great Depression, two World Wars, oil shocks and stagflation and even more recessions and the GFC.

“Good times come and go but still we have managed to survive.

“I am very proud to be a part of the building industry and W. Fairweather & Son’s association with the Master Builders Association.”

MBAWA executive director Michael McLean said the fourth-generation commercial building company had a proud history and continually delivered outstanding workmanship in an extremely competitive industry.

“Fairweather & Son may not be a household name in WA, but to each of their many clients they are first-class master builders that can be relied upon,” he said.

“Master Builders is privileged to have had Fairweather & Son as members for more than 100 years.”

W. Fairweather & Son is sought after for its expertise in projects of a specialised, difficult nature or those with heritage significance.

Its portfolio of projects include the Perth Oval grandstand, South Fremantle power station, Subiaco Council Chambers, Scotch College early learning centre, and its transformation of the heritage-listed Aquin House at St Charles Seminary in Guildford.

“Fairweather and Son is an inspiration to all builders in WA as they are living proof that you can survive booms and busts and live to see the landmarks your predecessors have built as legacies to future generations,” Mr McLean said.

“It’s incredible that the walls of Kunanalling’s Premier Hotel, which were built by the Fairweathers in the late 1800s, still stand today even though the town has been abandoned.”

William Fairweather was the proud holder of the first registration certificate issued by the Builders Registration Board of WA and was a founding member of MBAWA, serving as president from 1919 to 1920.

His son, also called William, was a member of the industry body from the 1920s and president from 1938 to 1940.

Peter’s father – yet another William – joined the family business in 1956, while Peter has been making his mark in the industry since 1990.

W. Fairweather & Son joins a prestigious list of Robert Law winners, including Plunkett Homes, Dale Alcock, Garry Brown-Neaves and the late Len Buckeridge of BGC. n