14 May 2025
LOCAL BUILDERS proved you don’t need to be in a metropolis to shine at this year’s Master Builders Downs & Western Housing & Construction Awards.
More than 40 builders, projects and individuals were honoured at the livestreamed Awards ceremony on Friday, 24 July, which saw projects from as far as Stanthorpe, Warwick, St George and Roma recognised.
Toowoomba builders, Janke Constructions, wowed the judges with their Verve Home project, taking out the top honour of House of the Year. This beautiful escarpment home was also awarded best Individual Home $1.26 million – $2 million, as well as the award for Best Use of Sloping Sites, highlighting its nature as a true design and construction feat.
Hutchinson Builders were onto a winner when they built the brand new Performing Arts Centre at Centenary Heights Public High School, taking out the Project of the Year award, as well as the Education Facilities up to $10 million category. Their St Vincent’s Maternity Ward Refurbishment also scored them the award for Health Facilities up to $20 million, while their Roma Saleyards and Wilsonton Shopping Centre Refurbishment projects took home the Community Service Facilities and Retail Facilities over $5 million categories, respectively.
Urbane Builders were the other big winners on the night, with their Ora House project winning the President’s Award and Individual Home up to $250,000.
Master Builders’ Downs & Western Regional Manager, Linda Rosengreen, congratulated all the winners across the 45 categories.
“In the current climate of uncertainty, it’s never been more important to recognise and celebrate excellence, create some positivity and champion our local industry,” Mrs Rosengreen said.
“Despite the pandemic seeing our Housing & Construction Awards program carried out online for the first time, the unique nature of the entries and the sheer number we received proved our industry’s determination.
“From state-of-the-art educational amenities and training facilities for nationally-recognised brands, to stunning renovations and modern home builds, this year’s entries covered it all.
“It’s a true testament to the quality and range of building that happens in and around the Downs & Western region.
“Winning an award this year, despite the stresses that COVID-19 has placed on our industry, shows that our builders are resilient and can continue to shine, even when times are tough.”
Major winners
A building for the generations of tomorrow
Winner of the 2020 Downs & Western Project of the Year – CHSHS Performing Arts Centre by Hutchinson Builders
This project is an amazing addition to the Centenary Heights State High School. The new Performing Arts Centre comes complete with a 350m² auditorium, plus state-of-the-art audio-visual features for students to learn technical stills in theatre lighting, audio mixing and amplification, a recording room, media editing annexe and learning practice areas.
Other key features include operable walls, retractable seating, motorized screens and projectors, a spring timber floor and decorative wall acoustic panels.
This multi-purpose building will be an asset to the school for generations to come.
Judges’ comments:
“An incredible amount of detail contained within this impressive building makes this entry stand out. The end product presents a fully functional school facility with an attractive and detailed facade. The performance space with retractable seating and the ability to be separated into various areas by full height acoustic walls makes this building highly flexible in its use.”
“A modern, tech savvy project. High quality design and construction completed within a live school environment. Additional complexity with WHS requirements and innovative use of materials and slide away partitions in theatre area. Great addition to this State High School.”
“The building undertaken was a great design and the quality was second to none.”
Escarpment living at its best
Winner of the 2020 Downs & Western House of the Year – Verve Home by Janke Constructions Pty Ltd
Verve Home is an amazing architecturally designed and engineered home that sits atop a substantially sloping site.
Whilst large in size and modern in design, from the street perspective, this unobtrusive home blends seamlessly into its natural landscape.
The build presented many challenges with the slopes alone making it a design marvel as well as a construction feat.
Inclusive of energy efficiency installations and innovative technical products, Verve Home is escarpment living at its absolute best and is a testament to Janke Constructions and their team.
Judges’ comments:
“What a house! The attention to detail and difficulty of construction makes this house a stand-out. The site had up to 35 degrees slope on it making construction extremely difficult, but the finished product is unbelievable. The house makes use of the slope and the use of different construction materials on the facade combined with the level of detail to the internal finishes showcase the builder’s remarkable skills.”
Stylish and affordable living at a budget price
Winner of the 2020 Downs & Western President’s Award – Ora House by Urbane Build Pty Ltd
This compact and charming home represents a quality build at an affordable price within reach of first home buyers.
This small lot home is ideal for a young family or professional couple and boasts modern and stylish fittings.
From engineered timber flooring, floor to ceiling tiles, stone bench tops, an oversized barn sliding door, plantation shutters and an exposed aggregate driveway, this home has all the trimmings, without the expensive price tag.
Urbane Build are known for providing modern, stylish and affordable living at a budget price and they have certainly delivered with this beautiful home.
Judges’ comments:
“This house provides a stylish liveable home on a small budget. The builder was able to incorporate some high-end design ideas but present them in a scaled down version in a high-quality manner.”
“Great home and excellent value for money.
“Modern and stylish design.”
“Suitable for a young family or professional couple.”
All Downs & Western winners
Construction
- Health Facilities up to $20 million – J. Hutchinson Pty Ltd T/A Hutchinson Builders for St Vincent’s Maternity Ward Refurbishment (Toowoomba)
- Education Facilities up to $10 million – J. Hutchinson Pty Ltd T/A Hutchinson Builders for CHSHS Performing Arts Centre (Toowoomba)
- Sporting Facilities – Northbuild Construction Qld Pty Ltd for The Glennie School - Health and Fitness Centre and Learn to Swim Pool (Toowoomba)
- Community Service Facilities – J. Hutchinson Pty Ltd T/A Hutchinson Builders for Roma Saleyards (Roma)
- Retail Facilities over $5 million – J. Hutchinson Pty Ltd T/A Hutchinson Builders for Wilsonton Shopping Centre Refurbishment (Wilsonton)
- Tourism and Leisure Facilities up to $10 million – McNab NQ Pty Ltd for The Arbour Toowoomba
- Commercial Building up to $5 million – Newlands Commercial Construction Pty Ltd for Qantas Training Facility (Wellcamp)
- Commercial Building $5 million – $50 million – Newlands Commercial Construction Pty Ltd for The Goods Shed (Toowoomba)
- Industrial Building up to $5 million – Northbuild Construction Qld Pty Ltd for Toowoomba TAFE Block O Agriculture Centre of Excellence (Toowoomba)
- Industrial Building over $5 million – Newlands Commercial Construction Pty Ltd for Boomaroo Nursery (Southbrook)
- Community Accommodation for Aged Care and Nursing Homes – Paynters Pty Ltd for Beauaraba Living – Memory Support House (Pittsworth)
- Refurbishment/Renovation up to $750,000 – JRP Building Services Pty Ltd for HDR Workshop Solutions (Torrington)
- Refurbishment/Renovation over $750,000 – Lavish Constructions Pty Ltd for Skate City Redevelopment (Kearneys Spring)
- Excellence in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Management – Newlands Commercial Construction Pty Ltd for Amaroo Environmental Education Centre Eco Classroom (Klienton)
Housing
- Home Renovation/Remodelling Project up to $275,000 – BBC Qld Pty Ltd for The Contrary (Mt Lofty)
- Home Renovation/Remodelling Project $276,000 – $575,000 – WJT Builders Pty Ltd for Holy House (Rangeville)
- Home Renovation/Remodelling Project $576,000 – $1 million – GHC Building Solutions for Wahroonga House (Stanthorpe)
- Home Renovation/Remodelling Project over $1 million – Askonstructions Pty Ltd T/A Hotondo Homes Toowoomba for Darling Heights Parents Retreat (Darling Heights)
- Display Home $451,000 – $550,000 – Malpress Homes Pty Ltd for Eclipse (Middle Ridge)
- Individual Home up to $250,000 – Urbane Build Pty Ltd for Ora House (East Toowoomba)
- Individual Home $251,000 – $350,000 – Stroud Homes Toowoomba QLD Pty Ltd for 100FIT (Pierces Creek)
- Individual Home $351,000 – $450,000 – Urbane Build Pty Ltd for Keira House (Blue Mountain Heights)
- Individual Home $451,000 – $550,000 – Tim Smith Constructions Queensland Pty Ltd for Project Willow (Highfields)
- Individual Home $551,000 – $650,000 – Highfields Builder Pty Ltd for Cooby Classic (Meringandan)
- Individual Home $651,000 – $750,000 – JSG Constructions Pty Ltd for Hentschel Home (Allora)
- Individual Home $751,000 - $950,000 – Antonio Building Pty Ltd for Jubilee Views (Prince Henry Heights)
- Individual Home $951,000 – $1.25 million – Betros Constructions Pty Ltd for McStay Residence (Middle Ridge)
- Individual Home $1.26 million – $2 million – Janke Constructions Pty Ltd ATF Janke Family Trust for Verve Home (Prince Henry Heights)
- Individual Home over $2 million – Winzim Investments Pty Ltd T/A Mark Winter Constructions for Astronave House (Toowoomba)
- Best Use of Sloping Sites – Janke Constructions Pty Ltd ATF Janke Family Trust for Verve Home (Prince Henry Heights)
- Medium Density up to 3 Storeys – 2 to 5 Dwellings – Lavish Constructions Pty Ltd for Three Drummond (Rangeville)
- Medium Density up to 3 storeys – over 5 Dwellings – Schriek Building Group Pty Ltd for Jewel Middle Ridge (Middle Ridge)
- Best Rural and Remote Home – S&S Timmer Constructions Pty Ltd for Bright Home (St George)
Specialty
- Best Residential Bathroom – Askonstructions Pty Ltd T/A Hotondo Homes Toowoomba for Darling Heights Parents Retreat (Darling Heights)
- Best Residential Kitchen – Downs Designer Homes Pty Ltd for Darlana House
- Best Residential Swimming Pool – Betros Constructions Pty Ltd for McStay Residence (Middle Ridge)
Individual
- Residential Trade Contractor of the Year – Weston Kitchens and Bathrooms Pty Ltd for Darlana House (Highfields)
- Commercial Trade Contractor of the Year – NRG Electrical (Qld) Pty Ltd for Integria Healthcare Warwick Pharmaceutical Warehouse (Warwick)
- Apprentice of the Year – Mitchell Wren from Highfields Builder
- David Turton Memorial Award – Peter Malpress from Malpress Homes Pty Ltd
- Rising Star – Tim Smith from Tim Smith Constructions Queensland
- Women in Building – Emily Weeks from BBC Qld
Major
- President's Award – Urbane Build Pty Ltd for Ora House (East Toowoomba)
- Project of the Year – J. Hutchinson Pty Ltd T/A Hutchinson Builders for CHSHS Performing Arts Centre (Toowoomba)
- House of the Year – Janke Constructions Pty Ltd ATF Janke Family Trust for Verve Home (Prince Henry Heights)
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Christine Buzzard, Digital Communications Advisor at christine.buzzard@mbqld.com.au or 3225 6418
Julie Russell, Manager Communications & Media at julie.russell@mbqld.com.au or 3225 6436
Melissa Seiler, Communications Advisor at melissa.seiler@mbqld.com.au or 3225 6424
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