Housing & Construction Awards

Celebrating the best and brightest in
Queensland’s building and construction industry

Master Builders Housing & Construction Awards celebrate the best and brightest in Queensland’s building and construction industry.

From apprentices to trade contractors, and small family businesses to the biggest names in the building and construction industry, there's an award to suit everyone.

Nominations for the 2024 Housing & Construction Awards open on Wednesday, 6 December 2023. 

SEE 2023 WINNERS ENTERING THE AWARDS


2024 Housing & Construction Awards

Nominations for the 2024 Housing & Construction Awards open from Wednesday, 6 December 2023 until March/April 2024 depending on the region. Nominations are eligible for entry to the 2024 Awards if they reached practical completion and been inspected by the certifier no earlier than 1 January 2023, and no later than 1 March 2024.

Winners are announced at each Regional Awards, which take place from July to August, eligible winners from Regional Awards make up the nominees for the Queensland Awards, held annually in October.

Eligible winners from the Queensland Awards are then nominated for the Master Builders Australia National Excellence in Building & Construction Awards Program, against winners from other state and territory Master Builders Associations.


Key dates 2024

EventEntries openEntries closeJudging period (tbc, subject to change)Preliminary Awards date
Brisbane Housing & Construction AwardsWednesday, 6 December 2023Monday, 18 March 20248 April to 10 May 2024Friday, 19 July 2024
Sunshine Coast Housing & Construction AwardsWednesday, 6 December 2023Friday, 22 March 20248 April to 10 May 2024Friday, 26 July 2024
Wide Bay Burnett Housing & Construction AwardsWednesday, 6 December 2023Thursday, 28 March 20248 April to 10 May 2024Saturday, 27 July 2024
Gold Coast Housing & Construction AwardsWednesday, 6 December 2023Friday, 5 April 20247 to 31 May 2024Friday, 2 August 2024
Far North Queensland Housing & Construction AwardsWednesday, 6 December 2023Friday, 19 April 20246 May to 3 June 2024Friday, 9 August 2024
North Queensland Housing & Construction AwardsWednesday, 6 December 2023Friday, 12 April 20246 May to 3 June 2024Saturday, 10 August 2024
Central Queensland Housing & Construction AwardsWednesday, 6 December 2023Friday, 19 April 202413 May to 7 June 2024Friday, 16 August 2024
Mackay & Whitsunday Housing & Construction AwardsWednesday, 6 December 2023Friday, 26 April 202420 to 24 May 2024Saturday, 17 August 2024
Downs & Western Housing & Construction AwardsWednesday, 6 December 2023Friday, 12 April 202429 April to 17 May 2024Friday, 23 August 2024
Queensland Housing & Construction Awards---Saturday, 19 October 2024
National Housing & Construction Awards---TBC

ENTERING THE AWARDS


Award ceremonies

Join us as we celebrate the best and brightest in the building and construction industry at our Housing & Construction Awards across the state. Tickets will go on sale in 2024.


Winners

See the 2023 and previous winners, here:

Brisbane winners Gold Coast WinnersDowns & Western Winners Far North Queensland Winners North Queensland Winners Central Queensland WinnersMackay & Whitsunday Winners Sunshine Coast Winners Wide Bay Burnett Winners National Winners


FAQs

How do I enter?

Nominations for the 2024 Housing & Construction Awards open on Thursday, 7 December 2024. Please refer to our Entry Handbook for category and criteria information. Enter the awards here.

When/where are winners announced?

Winners for each region are announced at the corresponding region's Housing & Construction Award night and from there, winners of eligible categories from each region face off at the Queensland Awards. Eligible Winners of the Queensland Awards are then nominated at the Master Builders Australia National Awards. Please note that not all Queensland winners move forward to the National Awards – only those in eligible categories. Check our Award ceremonies section to see when the next Award ceremonies are being held.

How can I buy tickets to Award events?

Tickets go on sale for the 2024 Awards in mid-May 2024. Check our Award ceremonies section to see when the next Award ceremonies are being held and for ticket links.

I won an award, how do I get extra trophies?

If you're a winner, additional trophies can be ordered after the award ceremony; however, name or wording changes cannot be made, except in the case where an error has been made to the entrant’s name or project.

Please contact Master Builders for additional trophy orders.


History of the Awards

As the Awards celebrate their 38th year in 2024, Master Builders Housing & Construction Awards continue to attract thousands of quality entries from across the state.

Master Builders Housing & Construction Awards program has become one of Queensland’s most prestigious industry events since its inception in 1987.

1980s

Initially known as the Housing Awards Competition, the inaugural ceremony saw the House of the Year award taken out by Brisbane building company, Ownit Homes Pty Ltd for a two-storey, upmarket home on Brisbane’s southside.

The following year, Master Builders announced that the competition would be expanded to cover both the housing and commercial industrial fields and would become known as the Housing & Construction Awards. The competition was run in conjunction with the Housing and Construction Conference ’88, which was part of Brisbane’s Expo ’88 program.

Over 500 guests attended the 1988 Housing & Construction Awards presentation at Conrad International Hotel and Jupiter’s Casino on the Gold Coast. The House of the Year award went to Confitt Constructions Pty Ltd, while Hampton Interiors won the Restoration award for its work on the Transcontinental Hotel in Brisbane.

The 1988 Building Project of the Year award was taken out by Brisbane’s new $75 million domestic air terminal, constructed by Barclay Bros. Ltd. In announcing the award, then Master Builders’ President Ces Fritz said the project was “a landmark for Brisbane”. Seven years later, in 1995, the same award was won by Civic and Civic for the Brisbane International Airport Terminal.

Word had begun to spread by 1989, with more than 80 entries received. A Raby Bay home built by Brisbane-based builder Dobson and Corry won House of the Year and the Sheraton Mirage resort on the Gold Coast took out Building Project of the Year for Watkins Pacific Qld Pty Ltd.

1987 cover

1987 magazine

First ever house of the year, 19871987 House of the Year1988 cover1988 magazine 1989 cover1989 magazine

1988 Project of the Year

1988 Project of the Year and Construction award winners

1990s

In 1990, a Master Builders Apprentice of the Year award was introduced and continues today to attract quality entries. The categories of Rising Star and Women in Building were included more recently.

Further expansion in 1993 saw the inclusion of regional presentations with the inaugural Master Builders Regional Housing & Construction Awards. The Awards were featured in a state-wide program on Sunshine Television the following year, further promoting the high standards in our industry.

1990 H&C mag cover

1990 magazine

1995 H&C mag cover1995 magazine  1999 H&C mag cover1999 magazine1980-1990s trophy

1980-1990s trophy

1998 HOTY

1998 House of the Year

2000s

In the 2000s we saw the introduction of two of the most now-coveted awards - Rising Star and Women in Building along with our first awards for environmental impact. In this decade, some of Queensland's modern landmarks won Master Builders Housing & Construction Awards. Brisbane icons such as Lang Park - known as Suncorp Stadium and the Millennium Arts project - known as Southbank's Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) and State Library, and the Sunshine Coast's Australia Zoo Crocoseum too.

2001 AwardsGOMA 2007

2000

To kickstart the new millennium, House of the Year went to Denis Ritchie Builder Pty Ltd (Gold Coast) for his Broadbeach Waters home.

Watpac Australia won Queensland 2000 Project of the Year, for Stage Five of the Brisbane Cricket Ground Redevelopment (Brisbane). This included 15-bay, Southern Grandstand and cantilever structure over Stanley Street.

The Queensland 2000 Apprentice of the Year was awarded to Jeff Adams (Wide Bay Burnett) and his employers, Brown & Clark Homes Pty Ltd took home the  Apprentice of the Year Employer award.

2001

Queensland's 2001 House of the Year went to Barclay Mowlem, for the spectacular one-of-a-kind residence at Redcliffe (Brisbane), while Queensland Project of the Year was awarded to Bovis Lend Lease for the RAAF Base at Amberley (Brisbane). This project was notable as many of the buildings, while industrial in nature, depended on highly specialised fit outs and design, to provide the best possible facilities for the home of the F-111's.

Simon Bridger, won the Queensland Apprentice of the Year and also won Master Builders' National Apprentice of the Year as well.

2002

In 2002, the Queensland House of the Year was won by David Earl Homes for their Mooloola Island Residence (Sunshine Coast), and Project of the Year was taken home by Theiss Pty Ltd for the extensive Holy Spirit Northside Hospital in Brisbane.

Queensland's Apprentice of the Year in 2002 was a special prize was presented to the recipient, Christopher Drinnan, who thanks to the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI Queensland) won a working trip to Italy to further study his chosen trade under a master craftsman. His Apprentice of the Year Employer was Sunshine Coast Group Training Company.

2003

The 2003 Queensland Housing & Construction Awards were held on Friday, 10 October 2003 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Project of the Year was won by Rapcivic Contractors for Skyline Tower (Gold Coast), part of the Chevron Renaissance precinct. House of the Year went to DCA Project Services (Aust) Pty Ltd for their impressive home on Clear Island Waters (Gold Coast). The President’s Award was taken home by Arden Vale Homes Pty Ltd for their Mediterranean style home.

The 2003 Queensland Apprentice of the Year was awarded to Daniel Cooper, and his employer Hutchinson Builders took out the Apprentice of the Year Employer Award.

2004

In 2004, the Queensland House of the Year was won by Doohan Developments Pty Ltd, and President’s Award taken home by Corbett Homes Pty Ltd (Central Queensland). The Queensland Project of the Year was Brisbane's Lang Park Redevelopment Joint Venture (Suncorp Stadium) won by Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd and Watpac Australia Pty Ltd.

The State Apprentice of the Year was awarded to the Gold Coast's Leon Stevens, with Yes JC Pty Ltd T/as 4C Construction awarded the Apprentice Employer of the Year.

2005

It was a night of Gold Coast gongs, with House of the Year, Chateau Joyeux by W J Williams Construction Pty Ltd, located on the Gold Coast, along with the Project of the Year won by Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd for the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre and Apprentice of the Year was won by Gold Coaster, Lisa Finch, with Apprentice Employer of the Year awarded to Group Training Australia.

The State President's Award in 2005 went to David John Gallagher from Far North Queensland.

2006

In 2006, the Queensland President's Award was awarded to Les McDermott Homes Pty Ltd and house of the year went to House of the Year 2006 – Neater Constructions (Q) Pty Ltd. The Project of the Year was taken home by Barclay Mowlem Construction Limited for Saville Hotel & Apartments in Brisbane's Southbank.

The Queensland Apprentice of the Year was Steven Glover and his Apprentice Employer of the Year was Golden West Employment Solutions.

2007

2007 saw the Queensland President's Award go to Millennium Homes Qld, and House of the Year to Sharpe Development Group for Mandalay Coral Gardens, now known as Aqua, a luxurious home in Airlie Beach (North Queensland) with its own yacht parking, helipad, private beach and direct access to the Great Barrier Reef - hard to top! The house also won the National House of the Year.

The Queensland Project of the Year was won by Bovis Lend Lease for the Millennium Arts Queensland Cultural Centre - the Brisbane staples of the GoMA and State library.

Queensland's Apprentice of the Year was Nathan McCracken and his Apprentice Employer of the Year was Acclaim Apprentice & Trainees.

2008

Project of the Year was awarded to Matrix Residential Projects for Reflection Tower Two located in Coolangatta (Gold Coast) and the President's Award went to PJ Burns Builders Pty Ltd.

House of the Year – K & F Tesch Pty Ltd for Mali Mali (Far North Queensland) which also won National House of the Year too. The house is a Balinese-inspired home nestled atop a hill with panoramic views of rainforests and the ocean.

The 2008 Queensland Apprentice of the Year was won by Travis Woods, and his Apprentice Employer of the Year was Hutchinson Builders. The first Queensland winner of the Rising Star Award went to H2 Homes Pty Ltd and first Queensland Women in Building award winner was Samantha Sheppard.

2009

2009's Queensland House of the Year was awarded to Knowlman McDonald McMillan, with Project of the Year going to Matrix North Qld Pty Ltd for their suite of luxurious holiday apartments in Port Douglas, Coconut Grove (Far North Queensland).

The Queensland President's Award was awarded to Kleidon Masterbuilt Homes for Eliza–Breeze, a Bundaberg home owned by the builders themselves, so good it's the basis for their Eliza-Breeze 415 home plan.

The 2009 Queensland Individual awards were Rising Star Award to Smart Homes, Women in Building Award to Di Henshall, Apprentice of the Year to Christopher Weaver and his Apprentice Employer of the Year to Acclaim Apprentices and Trainees.

2010s

2019 magazine 2019 Excellence in Building Queensland

2018 magazine cover2018 Excellence in Building Queensland2017 magazine cover2017 Excellence in Building Queensland

2016 magazine cover 2016 Excellence in Building Queensland


2015

La Spina Homes’ luxuriously breathtaking Port Douglas home was awarded 2015 State House of the Year, while Lend Lease Building took home the 2015 State Project of the Year for their  Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in South Brisbane. Valeco Homes’ Freemantle Display Home at North Lakes won the President’s Award.

In 2015 the Queensland Apprentice of the Year was Lauren Cockburn of Hutchinson Builders, while the Rising Star Award was taken home by Cameron McDouall from Acute Builders Pty Ltd. The Women in Building Award was won by Lee-ann Pitcher from Recs Pty Ltd. Read the 2015 Excellence in Building magazine.

2014

DRM Design & Construction’s Sunshine Coast home was awarded State House of the Year, while Lend Lease Building proudly took home 2014 State Project of the Year for their Gold Coast University Hospital. H2 Constructions QLD’s The Bach display home won the President’s Award.

Queensland's 2014 Rising Star Award went to John Plozza from Pro–View Homes Pty Ltd, and the Women in Building Award was won by Julie Nutting. The Apprentice of the Year was Jayden Sharp, with Apprentice Employer of the Year, Murphy Builders Qld Pty Ltd.

2013

At the 2013 Queensland Awards, Project of the Year went to Lend Lease for the Brisbane Supreme and District Court. Robilliard won House of the Year for a Sunshine Coast home, and Ownit Homes took out the President’s Award for ‘The Mirage’ home in Brisbane.

Queensland's Rising Star Award winner was Paul Harms, PJH Constructions, Women in Building Award went to Yvonne Pengilly, and Apprentice of the Year was awarded to Lachlan James Kenman, with Apprentice Employer of the Year to Mark L Buchanan from the Sunshine Coast.

2012

In 2012, the Queensland House of the Year went to B B N Constructions for Immanuel House. Project of the Year was taken home by Brookfield Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd for the Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences and President’s Award went to Cutuli Building & Carpentry Pty Ltd.

Queensland individual awards were Rising Star Award winner Patrick Winter, Women in Building Award went to Bridget Taylor, and Apprentice of the Year was Matthew Hall with Apprentice Employer of the Year was Murchie Constructions Pty Ltd.

2011

Watpac Construction (Qld) Pty Ltd was honoured with the Queensland Project of the Year award, as well as winning the Health & Education Facilities over $30 million category. W.J. Williams Constructions Pty Ltd took out the House of the Year honours for Palazzo di Venezia on Sovereign Island, which also won the Individual Home over $4 million category. The President's Award was won by Intro Ducing Effects Pty Ltd t/a Colin J Clark Essentially Residential.

Queensland's Apprentice of the Year was David Despot; Apprentice Employer of the Year was Price Constructions (Gladstone) Pty Ltd; Women in Building Award was Tracy Steinhardt and Rising Star Award was Ken Ogilvie.

2010

Bovis Lend Lease was honoured by taking out the 2010 State Project of the Year award for Robina Town Centre Northern Malls Redevelopment. The 2010 State House of the Year award went to Braeden Constructions Pty Ltd for a pavilion-style home on Cooroy Mountain. The home also won the Individual Home over $3 million category. The President’s Award winner was CLM Homes for an open plan Belgian Gardens home set on the foothills of Castle Hill in North Queensland.

The Queensland Apprentice of the Year award was presented to Jake Farley from the Gold Coast. Jake was recognised for his personal skills, attention to detail and his ‘get-up-and-go’ attitude. And Austen Ritchie Builder Pty Ltd was honoured by taking out the Apprentice Employer of the Year award.

SEE 2010'S WINNERS

2020s

The 2020's started with the life-changing COVID-19 pandemic, which saw our first ever live-streamed awards. Depending on restrictions, nominees and winners gathered in their workplaces and homes, and accepted awards via delivery or visiting their regional offices after the awards.

2021 saw the return to in-person events, with the Awards celebrating their 35th year in 2022.

2020 magazine cover

2020 Excellence in Building Queensland

2021 magazine cover2021 Excellence in Building Queensland 2022 magazine cover2022 Showcase Queensland2023 Showcase Queensland

SEE 2020'S WINNERS

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