13 August 2022
Local builders showcased excellence and innovation at this year’s Master Builders Mackay & Whitsunday Housing & Construction Awards, with exciting homes, projects and people receiving awards.
Mackay came to life on Saturday, 13 August as the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre hosted the biggest building and construction names at the annual ceremony.
From premium education facilities to resort-style homes and contemporary family homes, this year’s field of entries was impressive.
Fergus Builders swept the pool with six awards on the night, including four awards in the construction category.
The team took out the coveted BUSSQ Builders Super President’s Award for their Richmond project, Cormac.
From the magnificent oversized outdoor area to the stunning living spaces and Hampton’s-inspired kitchen, this home was a standout for the judges.
The spacious walk-in pantry off the kitchen leads into the mudroom, a handy drop zone for school bags and shoes, then onto a large garage complete with a deep freezer nook.
The exceptional standards Woollam Constructions are renowned for saw them win the hotly contested McInnes Wilson Lawyers Project of the Year for Catherine McAuley College.
The Catherine McAuley College project brought new life to a landmark in the Mackay landscape.
The historic former Sugar Research Institute was transformed into a high school complete with refurbed heritage-listed buildings, a three-level science block, and new spaces for sports.
This stunning facility also won the Award for Education Facilities over $10 million.
The other big winner of the night was Icon Building Contractors collecting the House of the Year for Coryle at Grasstree Beach. The sprawling four-bedroom, two-office home also snagged the Individual Home from $650,000 up to $750,000.
Coryule was designed to capture and take in its amazing rural and ocean views. With open plan living, the home flows effortlessly to embrace both indoors and outdoor living.
The Ken & Nola Clark Perpetual Award for Quality Workmanship went to Rick Chelman Builders for Home Among the Gum Trees in Greenmount.
Building homes in remote and bushland settings is something that Rick and his team have specialised in for many years.
The project boasts the very best of innovative products and materials throughout the build.
Jake Christensen from Cotter Builders was awarded Construction Skills Queensland Apprentice of the Year with Ashlee Denyer for Lowcock Builders taking home the Women in Building Award.
Master Builders' Mackay & Whitsunday Regional Manager, Malcolm Hull, congratulated all the winners across the 36 categories.
"Our members have truly lived up to this year's Awards theme, Building Brilliance, which was inspired by them and their work. The projects they've delivered during these challenging times are a testament to their skills and resilience," he said.
“The quality of our winning homes is also second to none and epitomises what living in the Mackay & Whitsunday region is all about.
"It doesn't matter whether they've taken an Award home this year or not. Each of our 2022 entrants is a part of the Master Builders family and helps cement why we're so widely trusted and respected.”
Major winners
Sprawling hillside home is an entertainer’s delight
Winner of the 2022 Mackay & Whitsunday House of the Year - Coryule by Icon Building Contractors
The sprawling hillside home boasts scenic views of the ocean and rural inland.
With open plan living, this four-bedroom, two-office home flows effortlessly to embrace both indoors and outdoor living. In the heart of the home, you will find a spacious kitchen, with large butler’s pantry and built-in cold room.
With its large entertainment room, a built-in bar and powder room, Coryule is the ultimate ‘entertainer’s delight’
Only a few kilometres from the coast and 100 metres above sea level, the building is constructed to C4 classification building codes.
Judges’ comments
“This home has been built with position and lifestyle in mind. From the magnificent games room to the exceptional fit and finish in every facet of the dwelling.”
“Taking full advantage of the views, all rooms and the outdoor entertainment area have been given every consideration of the owners’ needs and requirements.”
“This home is a wonderful achievement for Icon Building Contractors.”
Builders overcome challenges to win with beautiful home
Winner of the 2022 Mackay & Whitsunday BUSSQ Building Super President's Award – Cormac by Fergus Builders
Leading from an oversized outdoor area through corner stacker doors, Cormac boasts a large open living area incorporating a Hampton’s-inspired kitchen complete with shaker-style cabinetry and Smartstone bench tops.
With four spacious bedrooms finished with plush wool carpets, two large bathrooms with a sizable theatre room for family movie nights, this design ticked all the boxes of a growing family.
The Cormac project had to overcome obstacles including COVID-19 lockdowns, wet weather, and challenges with earthworks.
The judges praised the Fergus Builders for the fit, finishes and quality materials on the immaculate project.
Judges’ comments
“Quality workmanship abounds with this project and noticeably on all the Fergus Builders projects.”
“Congratulations to the Fergus team on this immaculate home, a worthy winner of the President’s Award.”
Heritage site gets magnificent makeover
Winner of the 2022 Mackay & Whitsunday McInnes Wilson Lawyers Project of the Year – Catherine McAuley College by Woollam Constructions
Catherine McAuley College saved and brought new life to a landmark in the Mackay landscape. This project involved renovations, heritage requirements, a new building, and a very tight timeline.
The Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton required Woollam Constructions to complete the construction of the high school at the historic former Sugar Research Institute site on Nebo Road.
The new facility included refurbishment and fit-out of three heritage listed buildings, a new three-level science building, a new sports building with basketball courts, football field and new carparks.
The utmost care was taken to honour and conserve original and heritage-listed fixtures including the careful restoration of all original AC Cowls in the ceiling, internal timber doors and glass louvres. In one of the new buildings, bricks from the demolished, pre-existing building were laid in the floor to replicate the outline and location of the original structure.
A specialist marble restoration company was contracted to restore and repolish the building’s marble façade.
Judges’ comments
“Woollam Constructions rose to the occasion with the strict requirements to have this completed on time, ready for the start of the school year.”
“This is infrastructure that will be in place for many years and a fabulous project for the region.”
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