Toowoomba firm McNab Construction now one of Qld’s largest private companies, $1bn in upcoming projects amid national award win

A homegrown construction firm is now one of Queensland’s largest private companies — and with $1bn in upcoming projects, it doesn’t plan to stop there.

With more than 500 employees across Queensland and more than $1bn worth of projects in its future, Michael McNab knows his Toowoomba company is no longer dealing in small fry.

“We’re very fortunate that our clients across Queensland trust the certainty we can provide at a time when there’s a lot of uncertainty in the market,” the managing director of McNab said.

Mr McNab’s 27-year baby is officially one of the state’s largest private businesses according to ISISWorld’s analysis, having entered the top 25 with a revenue of $625m last year (which is now $800m this year).

The firm’s growth of 36 per cent year-on-year is the sixth-fastest in the Queensland.

Launch of Vitality Village health and wellness hub at Birtinya. Michael McNab helps launch the project

McNab recently capped the stunning rise with a win at the Master Builders National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards at the weekend for the new Sunshine Coast City Hall project.

Mr McNab, who started the company in 1996, said his teams were either already working on or preparing to break ground on another 32 projects across Queensland.

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council's new city hall, built by McNab.

“It was fantastic for our company to be recognised as delivering the best project in Australia in its category for Sunshine Coast Council’s new City Hall,” he said.

“We also just handed over a luxury apartment building to 28 happy buyers called White Main Beach on the Gold Coast, where we were both the developer and builder.

“We’re seeing huge growth across southeast Queensland as more and more people move to the state, and Toowoomba is no exception.

“There’s some really exciting projects coming up, such as premium office buildings and much-needed affordable housing for essential workers, but we’ll have to see how we go in winning them first.”

McNab's luxury residential tower at White Main Beach on the Gold Coast.

It comes as Toowoomba looks to position itself as a stable centre for the construction sector, which has seen increased volatility in recent years.

Fellow Garden City firm FKG Group is also in the top 50 Queensland companies, while the Toowoomba arm of Hutchinson Builders has reported strong performances over the past two years.

Mr McNab said he believed the region’s values were reflected in its most successful companies.

“Toowoomba has so many businesses that are successful on a national and international stage, and for good reason,” he said.

“Like those businesses, we started in Toowoomba 27 years ago, and I think what we all have in common is a similar DNA and values that translates really well when doing business across the country.”