CQ builders win big at Master Builders state awards

From an old Queenslander transformed into a modern masterpiece, a home nestled in the foothills of Mount Archer, a new coastal haven and a health facility - here are Central Queensland’s star properties.

Central Queensland winners of the Master Builders Housing and Construction Awards.

A handful of Central Queensland homes and builds have taken out top gongs at the state’s Master Builders Housing and Construction Awards last month.

The Central Queensland Awards were held earlier this year with four entries making it to the Queensland awards held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on October 15.

The state winners then qualified for the Australian awards held on November 26 however there were no CQ wins.

Rockhampton business Acute Builders won the home renovation/remodelling project from $400,000 to $650,000 category for its ‘Lennox’ home on The Range.

Tyler Wolfenden of Wolf Constructions accepting the award for Stoneybrook at the Master Builders Queensland Awards.

Property ‘Stoneybrook’ at Mount Archer by Wolf Constructions was awarded the gong for Individual Home from $550,000 up to $650,000.

Barmaryee home, ‘The White Coast’ by Lyke Homes, won the Individual Home from $450,000 up to $550,000.

Woollam Constructions also took out a state win for Health Facilities up to $20 million for its build of the Rockhampton Alcohol and Other Drug Residential Rehabilitation Facility.

"Lennox" by Acute Builders won QLD Best renovation between $350,000 to $650,000 at the Master Builders Queensland Awards last month.

The massive renovation of the Lennox home was the brainchild of building designer Nathan Burke, the owner of the home.

Mr Burke started his business Dezign Elements in 2014 and last year took the leap and went full-time with the venture.

“It was good to be the designer, the Lennox Street home being my own house,” Mr Burke said.

But designing his own house was harder than doing it for a client, as he would constantly get new ideas, change his mind and then have to convince his wife Natasha.

“We tried to go with a different taste on the old traditional Queenslander which is unique in a way,” Mr Burke said.

Nathan and Natasha Burke of Dezign Elements at their Lennox home before the CQ Awards.

Living in the house with their young children, the couple says the kids are not fussed that their home has won an award.

“Definitely not, they (the kids) probably can’t appreciate it as much as we can,” he joked.

The home was built in the 1950s and the Burkes bought it with plans to create it into their forever home.

The renovation took five months and included a double volume foyer featuring a 5.4 metre glass wall at the front entrance and a staircase made of native Australian Blackbutt with a glass balustrade , while the existing pine timber floors were kept.

An extension was added at the rear of the home, creating an extra 150 sqm of floor space over two levels.

The lower level has been transformed into a kids’ retreat with two bedrooms, a bathroom, a studio, a rumpus room and laundry.

Upstairs are the main areas with the kitchen, living and dining rooms, main bedroom with walk-in robe and ensuite, along with another ensuite bedroom.

The ageing timber weatherboards on the home’s exterior were replaced with James Hardie Linea boards and the windows were replaced and more installed to capture the mountain and city views.

"Lennox" by Acute Builders won QLD Best renovation between $350,000 to $650,000 at the Master Builders Queensland Awards last month.

Acute Builders owner Mitch McDouall said it was a surprise to take out the Queensland win, especially given the category was $400,000 to $650,000 and the build was only $460,000 – putting them at the bottom end of the scale.

“We weren’t up in the million to two million … It’s fairly common to have a renovation of $400,000 to $650,000,” he said.

The home also took out three wins in the Central Queensland awards, in the same category for Residential Renovation, Best Kitchen and the James Hardie Design Excellence Award.

“The guys were all pretty chuffed, it’s a pat on the back, the guys appreciate it just as much as I do,” Mr McDouall said.

A lot of time went into the design itself, Mr McDouall said.

The front entry was a show piece, along with good choices in tiles and finishes.

“It’s fairly common to lift and build underneath but to have the extension on the back, all the windows, the city views, that’s what set it apart,” Mr McDouall said.

Wolf Constructions won Individual Home from $550,000 up to $650,000 for Stoneybrook at the Master Builders Housing and Construction Queensland Awards.

Wolf Constructions was recognised for its new build in the foothills of Mount Archer.

Stoneybrook is a double-storey, four-bedroom, two bathroom plus toilet, with five bay car parking property.

Another design by Mr Burke at Dezign Elements, the property was custom designed for the steep block and orientation to take advantage of the city lights and western sunsets.

Wolf Constructions won Individual Home from $550,000 up to $650,000 for Stoneybrook at the Master Builders Housing and Construction Queensland Awards.

The lower level has been cut into the block 2.6 metres at the back with a solid brickwork wall, and includes a bunker-style carport with a hidden powder room.

Inside the home, you are greeted by a six metre high entry and solid Merbau timber stairs with frameless glass balustrading.

A deck was added at the rear between the two wings for when the sun is too harsh on the front deck.

"The White Coast" by Lyke Homes won the Master Builders Queensland awards for Individual Home from $450,000 up to $550,000.

Lyke Homes won Individual Home from $450,000 up to $550,000 for its Barmaryee build on the Capricorn Coast which had a value of $527,255.08.

The home, completed in December 2021, had a brief of “white-on-white-on-white coastal home with high impact street appeal”.

Tash and Ben Toohey from Lyke Homes with their award from the Master Builders Awards night.

The clients wanted a shed and a pretty home when builder Ben Toohey suggested a separate garage with matching facade to the main house, adding an attic ladder to the ceiling for extra storage for the family of five with surfboards.

The massive custom-designed and built entry door showcases the cathedral ceiling, evoking a feeling of luxury, tied in with raw natural materials.

The polished hardwood floors complement the bespoke joinery, brushed gold tapware, colonial bar windows and doors, and detailed v-groove feature walls and textured pendant lights.

"The White Coast" by Lyke Homes won the Master Builders Queensland awards for Individual Home from $450,000 up to $550,000.

 

The home features four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a powder room, office space and nail art room, rumpus room, large open kitchen with butler’s pantry with sink and second dishwasher, living space, huge laundry and large patio.

On the exterior of the home, James Hardie Linea weatherboard was used with detailed gables, shadows and textures lifting the white-on-white look.

Rockhampton Alcohol & Other Drug Residential Rehabilitation Facility by Woollam Constructions won Health Facilities up to $20 million at the Master Builders Queensland Awards.

 

National building company Woollams Construction took home the state gold as the best in state for the alcohol and other drug rehabilitation centre on the outskirts of Rockhampton.

The $13.4 million 42-bed facility completed in October 2021 was designed by MODE and is operated by Lives Lived Well.

The purpose-built facility has 32 beds for residential rehabilitation, eight beds for withdrawal treatment, two family units, an administration building and therapy, support and recreation facilities.

Originally published as CQ builders win big at Master Builders state awards