Precision craftsmanship, exceptional attention to detail, and landmark construction have come up trumps among fierce competition at the 40th annual Master Builders Queensland Housing & Construction Awards. Marking the crescendo of the Awards season, the 2026 crop of regional winners gathered for a glamourous black-tie evening at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on Saturday, 17 October.
Tyson Building Group added another four Awards to their five-trophy haul at the Sunshine Coast Awards, crowned with the Queensland Colorbond House of the Year Award for luxurious riverside residence, Azura. The Mooloolaba masterpiece also won Royale Cabinets Best Residential Kitchen, Best Residential Swimming Pool and best Individual Home over $10 million. Featuring a dramatic roofline, organically curved forms and a seamless relationship with the water’s edge, the three-storey home is anchored by a sculptural staircase that curves through its centre. Additional features include a passenger lift, and a basement built around 1.8 metres below high-tide level, housing a car lift, gym and cellar.
Also doing the Sunshine Coast proud was St Andrews Constructions, taking home the prized BUSSQ Building Super President’s Award for BABYLON. This showstopping canal-front home in the heart of Noosa Sound required careful planning of every detail, with the team overcoming below water-level construction to deliver an entertainer’s paradise, boasting a wine cellar, and a media room likened to an underground New York jazz bar, among its many enviable features.
With its unforgettable rippled glass façade echoing the waters of the adjacent Brisbane River, the city’s newest landmark, Glasshouse Theatre, earned Lendlease Construction the coveted Xact Accounting Project of the Year Award, along with best Tourism & Leisure Facilities over $10 million. The process behind the installation of its breathtaking rippled glass façade was an Australian first, with Lendlease hailed as ‘overcoming every possible element of difficulty’ across the five-year-long construction program.
In the Individual Awards category, knowledge and ability beyond his years saw the Gold Coast’s Harrison Tooth from Davey Constructions earn the Apprentice of the Year Award. The Mackay & Whitsunday region boasted the other two winners: respected and trusted tradesman and business owner Trent Deen from Stroud Homes Mackay won the KIA Australia Rising Star Award, while Fergus Builders’ Residential Manager Amanda Wilson was applauded for her outstanding leadership and mentoring of others in the industry with the Women in Building Award.
Hutchinson Builders walked away with the highest number of gongs on the night, winning six Awards, including the new category of Prefabricated and Modular Commercial Project for Normanton Hospital.
“From stunning homes to world-class schools, hospitals and community infrastructure, our builders and tradies have fittingly pushed the boundaries of what was possible in this, the milestone 40th year of our Housing & Construction Awards program,” Master Builders CEO and Awards Ambassador, Sue-Ann Fresneda, said.
“Our 2026 celebrations have paid homage to the rich history of our prestigious Awards program, as well as honouring those shaping the industry today. Each home and project entered has set new benchmarks for construction quality, liveability and sustainability. Our individual category entrants ranged from fresh faces showing leadership beyond their years, to women smashing the glass ceiling, and rising stars setting the pace, spotlighting why our industry is such a great place to carve out a career.
“On behalf of Master Builders, congratulations to all our entrants and winners. Your outstanding achievements are a credit to you, and we are so honoured to share your journey. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next year.”
The eligible winners from the Queensland Housing & Construction Awards will have the chance to be recognised on the national stage at Master Builders Australia’s National Excellence in Building & Construction Awards 2026, to be held in Brisbane on 27 November.
Major winners
Winner of the 2026 Queensland Colorbond House of the Year – Tyson Building Group for Azura. Azura is an exceptional riverfront residence distinguished by its extraordinary craftsmanship and innovation. Beneath its elegant form lies a highly complex building, which required exceptional precision, coordination and technical expertise by Tyson Building Group. Extensive curved slabs, walls, ceilings and bespoke joinery display meticulous execution across all trades. The seamless integration of natural stone, lime plaster and American Walnut showcase remarkable attention to detail – while the habitable basement built well below the high tide mark is a defining construction achievement.
Winner of the 2026 Queensland BUSSQ Building Super President’s Award – St Andrews Constructions for BABYLON. Nestled in the heart of Noosa Sound, this exceptional residence seamlessly blends contemporary luxury with its natural coastal surroundings. Constructed from concrete and blockwork, softened by natural timber, stone and extensive landscaping, the home showcases outstanding craftsmanship. St Andrews Constructions expertly navigated the challenge of construction below the waterline, while secret-fixing of the battens and cladding have delivered a seamless finish. The canal-front entertaining spaces and the bespoke ‘Ark’ retreat elevate this breathtaking home into a truly outstanding residential achievement.
Winner of the 2026 Queensland Xact Accounting Project of the Year Award – Lendlease Construction for Glasshouse Theatre. As our judges put it: the Glasshouse Theatre is a snapshot of the future of construction. Our panel marveled at Lendlease having overcome ‘every possible element of difficulty’ during the five-year build. Delivery of the breathtaking rippled glass façade gracing the exterior of the 1500-seat venue required a year of meticulous planning before its six-month installation – the first of its kind in Australia. A concrete, precast and steel superstructure was constructed to support the auditorium and foyer structures reaching across the precinct, completing this iconic cultural landmark.
All Queensland winners
Major winners
- BUSSQ Building Super President's Award - St Andrews Constructions for BABYLON (Sunshine Coast)
- Xact Accounting Project of the Year Award – Lendlease Construction for Glasshouse Theatre
(Brisbane) - Colorbond House of the Year Award – Tyson Building Group for Azura (Sunshine Coast)
Individual winners
- Apprentice of the Year Award – Harrison Tooth from Davey Constructions (Gold Coast)
- Kia Australia Rising Star Award – Trent Deen from Stroud Homes Mackay (Mackay & Whitsunday)
- Women in Building Award – Amanda Wilson from Fergus Builders (Mackay & Whitsunday)
Specialty winners
- Best Residential Bathroom – Morris Constructions QLD for ANCORA (Mackay & Whitsunday)
- Royale Cabinets Best Residential Kitchen – Tyson Building Group for Azura (Sunshine Coast)
- Best Residential Swimming Pool – Tyson Building Group for Azura (Sunshine Coast)
Housing winners
- Display Home up to $500,000 – Vantage Building Group for The Vinto Terrace (Sunshine Coast)
- Display Home from $500,000 up to $750,000 – Stroud Homes Wide Bay for Stanford Coral Cove (Wide Bay Burnett)
- James Hardie Display Home from $750,000 up to $1 million – Vivid Home Builders for Regency 321 (Wide Bay Burnett)
- Display Home over $1 million – Arcadia Homes for Casa Luna (Brisbane)
- Home Renovation Project up to $350,000 – Cotter Builders for Marian House (Mackay & Whitsunday)
- Home Renovation Project from $350,000 up to $500,000 – George Built Constructions for Dunleigh House (Downs & Western)
- Home Renovation Project from $500,000 up to $650,000 – Luna Constructions for Tinbeerwah Getaway (Sunshine Coast)
- Home Renovation Project from $650,000 up to $800,000 – Roebuck Concepts for Columba (Sunshine Coast)
- Home Renovation Project from $800,000 up to $1 million – Saunders Building Company for Vista (Brisbane)
- Home Renovation Project from $1 million up to $2 million – Cali Developers for Mayfield House (Brisbane)
- Home Renovation Project over $2 million – Saunders Building Company for Kent (Brisbane)
- Individual Home up to $450,000 – Langrell Constructions for Stoney Treehouse (Far North Queensland)
- Individual Home from $450,000 up to $600,000 – Freshwater Designer Builders for Kamerunga 235 (Far North Queensland)
- Individual Home from $600,000 up to $750,000 – Tristan Bugeja Building for The Emerald Retreat (Far North Queensland)
- Individual Home from $750,000 up to $900,000 – qldBUILT for Maclamond (Sunshine Coast)
- Individual Home from $900,000 up to $1.25 million – Troy Ware Constructions for Kalinya House (Sunshine Coast)
- Individual Home from $1.25 million up to $1.5 million – TyStyle for Fort Residence (Sunshine Coast)
- Individual Home from $1.5 million up to $2 million – ProductivBuilds for Voliere (Gold Coast)
- Individual Home from $2 million up to $2.5 million – CRJ Designer Homes for Verona House (Wide Bay Burnett)
- Individual Home from $2.5 million up to $3 million – Elora Constructions for The Boulevard (Sunshine Coast)
- Individual Home from $3 million up to $4 million – PJH CONSTRUCTIONS AUSTRALIA for Wingspan (Gold Coast)
- Individual Home from $4 million up to $5 million – Graya Construction for Horizon (Brisbane)
- Individual Home from $5 million up to $10 million – Enclave Constructions for Archelia (Gold Coast)
- Individual Home over $10 million – Tyson Building Group for Azura (Sunshine Coast)
- Medium Density up to 3 storeys – 2 to 5 dwellings – GTO Building for Plover Strip Villas (Sunshine Coast)
- Medium Density up to 3 storeys – over 5 dwellings – AMD Quality Constructions for Como Residences (Brisbane)
- FTA Pile Prefabricated and Modular Housing Project – Saltair for Doonan Deluxe (Sunshine Coast)
- Truecore Best Use of Steel Frame Housing – Pinnacle Projects for Formosa Residence (Brisbane)
- Best Use of Sloping Sites – Resolve Construction for Villa Alcyone (Gold Coast)
- Weathertex Excellence in Home Sustainability & Innovation – KCA Constructions FNQ for The Elements Design (Far North Queensland)
- Residential Trade Contractor of the Year – Sublime Projects for The Brisbane House (Brisbane)
Construction winners
- Health Facilities up to $20 million – Graphic Building Company for Lumus Imaging Meadowbrook (Brisbane)
- Health Facilities over $20 million – McNab for Maroochy Private Hospital (Sunshine Coast)
- Education Facilities up to $7 million – Corella Construction for Harmony Early Education Bardon (Brisbane)
- Education Facilities from $7 million up to $15 million – Hutchinson Builders for Plais Early Learning (Brisbane)
- Education Facilities over $15 million – BESIX Watpac for JCU The Yeinie Building (Far North Queensland)
- Sporting Facilities – T.F Woollam & Son for Bundaberg Aquatic Centre (Wide Bay Burnett)
- Community Accommodation – Paynters for Mercy Haven Residential Aged Care Facility (Central Queensland)
- Community Service Facilities – Hutchinson Builders for QAS Gold Coast Operations Centre (Gold Coast)
- Social Housing Project – BADGE Constructions (Qld) for Coast2Bay Banya Social Housing (Sunshine Coast)
- Apartment Renovation – tekDB for Merlo (Brisbane)
- Tourism and Leisure Facilities up to $10 million – SHAPE Australia (Qld) for Grand View Hotel Refurbishment (Brisbane)
- Tourism and Leisure Facilities over $10 million – Lendlease Construction for Glasshouse Theatre (Brisbane)
- Retail Facilities up to $5 million – Kyson Commercial for Aunty on Wandoo (Brisbane)
- Retail Facilities over $5 million – Ashley Cooper Construction for Frenchville Sports Club - Redevelopment (Central Queensland)
- Commercial Fitout up to $5 million – FDC Construction & Fitout (QLD) for Wotton Kearney (Brisbane)
- Commercial Fitout from $5 million up to $10 million – SHAPE Australia (Qld) for Norton Rose Fulbright Brisbane Fitout (Brisbane)
- Commercial Fitout over $10 million – SHAPE Australia (Qld) for Senex Multi Level Office Fitout (Brisbane)
- Commercial / Industrial Building up to $3 million – Alliance Building & Construction for Jackson Endeavour Project (Downs & Western)
- Commercial / Industrial Building from $3 million up to $10 million – McNab for Surf Life Saving Queensland Gold Coast Headquarters (Gold Coast)
- Commercial / Industrial Building from $10 million up to $25 million – McNab for Novus Precast Manufacturing Facility (Downs & Western)
- Commercial / Industrial Building from $25 million up to $50 million – Hutchinson Builders for Townsville Northshore Retail Precinct (North Queensland)
- Commercial / Industrial Building over $50 million – Hutchinson Builders for 205 North Quay (Brisbane)
- Residential Building (high-rise over 3 storeys) up to $20 million – EVBUILT for Prominence (Gold Coast)
- Residential Building (high-rise over 3 storeys) from $20 million up to $50 million – Graya Multi-Res for Kloud (Gold Coast)
- Residential Building (high-rise over 3 storeys) over $50 million – MIRVAC CONSTRUCTIONS (QLD) for QUAY Waterfront Newstead (Brisbane)
- Commercial Refurbishment/Renovation up to $3 million – DR Moore Constructions for Lexus of Rockhampton (Central Queensland)
- Commercial Refurbishment/Renovation from $3 million up to $10 million – Armada Built for Little Lane - New Farm (Brisbane)
- Commercial Refurbishment/Renovation from $10 million up to $25 million – Aite Group for 7161 – Lady Norman (Brisbane)
- Commercial Refurbishment/Renovation from $25 million up to $50 million – Hutchinson Builders for Library+ Caloundra (Sunshine Coast)
- Excellence in Workplace Health & Safety – IDC Construct for SafeSite System (Wide Bay Burnett)
- Prefabricated and Modular Commercial Project – Hutchinson Builders for Normanton Hospital (Far North Queensland)
- Commercial Trade Contractor of the Year – Parker Precision for Wat Thai Buddharam (Brisbane)