From cutting-edge design and innovation to heritage restoration, the winners of the 2026 Downs & Western Housing & Construction Awards showcased the depth and diversity of talent across the industry.
The highly anticipated event brought together the industry’s best and brightest at Rumours International Convention Centre Toowoomba on Friday, 28 August.
Janke Constructions scored a hat-trick for Toowoomba escarpment beauty, Mountain Springs, including the prestigious BMS Mitre 10 House of the Year Award. Described by the Master Builders judging panel as ‘first-class,’ the high degree of construction difficulty and perfect finishes also earned the Janke Constructions team best Individual Home from $2.5 million up to $3 million and Best Residential Bathroom.
It was a double celebration for JRP Building, winning the BUSSQ Building Super President’s Award, plus Commercial Refurbishment/Renovation from $3 million up to $10 million for MILLBROOK – the stunning transformation of a heritage-listed home that honours the past while delivering a modern-day childcare facility.
A similar symphony of history and cutting-edge education was celebrated as Hutchinson Builders was honoured with both the Erlandson Finance Group Project of the Year Awardand best Education Facilities over $15 million for Toowoomba Grammar School - Design, Engineering and Technology Building – the technically-challenging construction completed within a live school environment.
The Renew Company founder Colin Wilson added to his existing trophy cabinet of Master Builders Housing & Construction Awards, with the Xact Accounting Rising Star Award, in recognition of his quality workmanship and inspiring leadership. Colin and his team also celebrated winning best Individual Home from $600,000 up to $750,000 for custom-built contemporary rural residence, Soliera.
Also in the Individual Awards category, advocating for women in construction, actively contributing to a more inclusive and progressive industry, and leading by example on and off the tools proved a winning combination for Sheniya Bell from BBC Qld, honoured with the Women in Building Award; while mature-aged apprentice carpenter Corey Dioth won the Apprentice of the Year Award, applauded for quality craftsmanship, strong attention to detail, and earning the crucial role of Workplace Health & Safety nominee as a trusted member of the team at Antonio Building.
“It is a great privilege to represent the regional interests of our members at a local and state government level, to support members in their time of need, and to help to educate them as they create new businesses or grow existing ones,” Master Builders Regional Manager – Downs & Western, Linda Rosengreen said.
“These Awards recognise not only the talent of those in our industry, but the hard work, perseverance, and the increased level of high-quality finishes and workmanship year-on-year that goes into bringing every project to life – something that was clear to our 2026 judges, with entries that were both innovative and creative.
“Congratulations to all our entrants and winners. Your outstanding achievements are a credit to you, and I am so honoured to share your journey.”
Major winners
Winner of the 2026 Downs & Western BMS Mitre 10 House of the Year Award – Janke Constructions for Mountain Springs. Perched atop the Toowoomba escarpment, Mountain Springs combines innovation and long-term sustainability. This complex build demanded a high degree of difficulty from Janke Constructions. Extensive structural steel was required to deliver the seven-metre-high external apex, allowing for a dramatic internal vaulted ceiling with exposed beams. Meticulous craftsmanship is evident in the hand-laid French pattern timber and tiles, stonework and intricate blackbutt timberwork, while sustainable systems and recycled materials have resulted in a home with finishes our judges described as first-class.
Winner of the 2026 Downs & Western BUSSQ Building Super President’s Award – JRP Building for MILLBROOK. This transformation of a heritage listed Toowoomba home exemplifies preservation and contemporary construction. JRP Building undertook extensive consultation before meticulously restoring key elements, preserving the character and integrity of the original structure. Through precision construction, the team has seamlessly interwoven past and present to deliver a beautiful and purposeful education environment in line with Montessori principles. A labour of love that successfully tackled challenges and restrictions, our judges hailed Millbrook as a project team JRP should be very proud of.
Winner of the 2026 Downs & Western Erlandson Finance Group Project of the Year Award – Hutchinson Builders for Toowoomba Grammar School - Design, Engineering and Technology Building. Hutchies were engaged by the Toowoomba Grammar School Board of Trustees to deliver a cutting-edge design, engineering and technology facility at the historic school. The team overcame technical challenges including the co-ordination of the large structural steel roof structure with butterfly-shaped layout and squeezing in an offsite-manufactured linking bridge between the old and new buildings, all in a live school environment. A modern, safe and top-quality space, our judges lauded this project as a terrific long-term asset for the school.
All Downs & Western winners
Major winners
- BMS Mitre 10 House of the Year Award – Janke Constructions for Mountain Springs (Redwood)
- Erlandson Finance Group Project of the Year Award – Hutchinson Builders for Toowoomba Grammar School - Design, Engineering and Technology Building (East Toowoomba)
- BUSSQ Building Super President's Award – JRP Building for MILLBROOK (East Toowoomba)
Individual winners
- Apprentice of the Year Award – Corey Dioth from Antonio Building
- Women in Building Award – Sheniya Bell from BBC Qld
- Xact Accounting Rising Star Award – Colin Wilson from The Renew Company
Specialty winners
- Best Residential Bathroom – Janke Constructions for Mountain Springs (Redwood)
- Best Residential Kitchen – MaccaBuilt for Aristella House (Irongate)
- Best Residential Swimming Pool – Rogers Pools for The Pavilion (Middle Ridge)
Housing winners
- Display Home from $500,000 up to $750,000 – Hotondo Homes Toowoomba for Marlow (Highfields)
- Home Renovation Project up to $350,000 – George Built Constructions for Paringa Place (Middle Ridge)
- Home Renovation Project from $350,000 up to $500,000 – George Built Constructions for Dunleigh House (Centenary Heights)
- Home Renovation Project from $500,000 up to $650,000 – JSG Constructions for Eleanor (East Toowoomba)
- Home Renovation Project from $650,000 up to $800,000 – Nicholas Andrew Constructions for Project Lochel (Mount Lofty)
- Home Renovation Project from $800,000 up to $1 million – Flair Built Homes for Lagoon Homestead (Laidley)
- Home Renovation Project from $1 million up to $2 million – Mark Winter Constructions for Rangeville Revival (Rangeville)
- Individual Home up to $450,000 – Gordon Bourke Constructions for Oaklen (Kearneys Spring)
- Individual Home from $450,000 up to $600,000 – Man Homes for Akora Haus (Highfields)
- Individual Home from $600,000 up to $750,000 – The Renew Company for Soliera (Cabarlah)
- Individual Home from $750,000 up to $900,000 – Flair Built Homes for Valley View (Derrymore)
- Individual Home from $900,000 up to $1.25 million – MaccaBuilt for Aristella House (Irongate)
- Individual Home from $1.25 million up to $1.5 million – Urbane Build for Laae Home (Middle Ridge)
- David Turton Memorial Award for Individual Home from $1.5 million up to $2 million – Cavanough Builders for Borghardt Home (Highfields)
- Individual Home from $2 million up to $2.5 million – Lavish Constructions for The Gallery (Mt Lofty)
- Individual Home from $2.5 million up to $3 million – Janke Constructions for Mountain Springs (Redwood)
- Excellence in Home Sustainability & Innovation – Lavish Constructions for Homebush House (Gowrie Junction)
- Best Rural/Remote Project – Lamble Building for The Folly (Ballandean)
- Best Use of Sloping Sites – JSG Constructions for Redwood Estate (Redwood)
- Medium Density up to 3 storeys – 2 to 5 dwellings – Arden Vale Homes for Mackenzie Triplex (East Toowoomba)
- Medium Density up to 3 storeys – over 5 dwellings – Antonio Building for Esme Place (Glenvale)
Construction winners
- Health Facilities up to $20 million – Lavish Constructions for The Forever Dental & Smile Centre (East Toowoomba)
- Health Facilities over $20 million – FKG Group for Millmerran Multipurpose Health Service (Millmerran)
- Education Facilities up to $7 million – Northbuild Construction Qld for Toowoomba Anglican School - Gill Precinct (East Toowoomba)
- Education Facilities from $7 million up to $15 million – Watcon Building Group for Concordia Lutheran College - Junior Campus Stage 1 (Toowoomba)
- Education Facilities over $15 million – Hutchinson Builders for Toowoomba Grammar School - Design, Engineering and Technology Building (East Toowoomba)
- Community Service Facilities – SM & KA Duff Builders for The Wheat Shed (Wallumbilla)
- Community Accommodation – Alliance Building & Construction for SDA Housing | Wilsonton (Wilsonton)
- Social Housing Project – McNab for The Salvation Army Housing Snell Street (Toowoomba)
- Tourism and Leisure Facilities up to $10 million – Bryant Building Contractors for Girraween National Park Visitor Infrastructure (Ballandean)
- Retail Facilities up to $5 million – Newlands Commercial Construction for Goondiwindi Cotton Headquarters (Goondiwindi)
- Retail Facilities over $5 million – NRG Services for Officeworks Toowoomba Precinct Development (Harristown)
- Commercial Refurbishment/Renovation up to $3 million – Alliance Building & Construction for Breast Health Toowoomba | Refurbishment (Toowoomba City)
- Commercial Refurbishment/Renovation from $3 million up to $10 million – JRP Building for MILLBROOK (East Toowoomba)
- Commercial / Industrial Building up to $3 million – Alliance Building & Construction for Jackson Endeavour Project (Plainland)
- Commercial / Industrial Building from $3 million up to $10 million – Newlands Commercial Construction for Morgan Pastoral Office Development (Dalby)
- Commercial / Industrial Building from $10 million up to $25 million – McNab for Novus Precast Manufacturing Facility (Wellcamp)
- Commercial Trade Contractor of the Year – Rubiks Roofing for Heritage Red (Toowoomba City)