From the Coast to the Community; A Celebration of Building Excellence

A striking coastal home on Zilzie Cliff, a revitalised sailing club, and a state-of-the-art trade training facility topped the honours at the 2025 Master Builders Central Queensland Housing & Construction Awards.

Held at Rockhampton Leagues Club on 8 August, the awards night drew the region’s best builders, trades, and suppliers to recognise the year’s most outstanding projects and the people behind them.

Master Builders Regional Manager Dean Phillips summed up the night: “These Awards are a great opportunity for everyone to sit back and congratulate themselves on the incredible work they’ve done over the last 12 months. The calibre of entries proves we are well and truly up to the task.”

The House that Stole the Show

DR Moore Constructions walked away with five awards, led by House of the Year for The Saramoa. Perched high on Zilzie Cliff, the three-level home demanded precision from the start with off-site manufactured steel components installed without margin for error.

The project also took home:

• Best Individual Home from $2.5M to $3M
  
• Best Use of Sloping Sites
  
• Best Residential Swimming Pool
  
• Best Residential Kitchen
  

With features like an angular knife-edge pool, commercial-grade cold room and freezer, and energy-efficient systems, The Saramoa is more than a home, it’s a benchmark in coastal construction.

Projects of Regional Impact

Paynters claimed the McInnes Wilson Lawyers Project of the Year for the transformation of the Keppel Bay Sailing Club, a project delivered through two cyclones and during the club’s own regatta season. The team also took home awards for:

• Tourism & Leisure Facilities over $10M
  
• Commercial Refurbishment/Renovation up to $5M for Rockhampton Leagues Club upgrades
  
• Health Facilities up to $20M for the Capricorn Coast Renal Services Extension and Essential Energy Building
  

WHF Constructions earned the BUSSQ Building Super President’s Award for their work on the CQU North Rockhampton trade training facility, a modern, functional space for carpentry, joinery, plumbing, and masonry apprentices.

Recognising the People Who Build the Industry

Jones Building Group swept the Individual Awards:

• Apprentice of the Year – Kye Sutton
  
• Rising Star – Douglas Jones
  
• Women in Building – Valerie Piquet
  

Phillips also highlighted the pipeline of work ahead for Central Queensland, from the Athlete Village for the 2032 Games to major community and education facilities. “We’ve got exciting and challenging times ahead for our industry,” he said.

Full List of 2025 Central Queensland Winners

Major Winners

• House of the Year – DR Moore Constructions for The Saramoa (Zilzie)
  
• McInnes Wilson Lawyers Project of the Year – Paynters for Keppel Bay Sailing Club (Yeppoon)
  
• BUSSQ Building Super President’s Award – WHF Constructions for CQU North Rockhampton – New Facility (Norman Gardens)
  

Individual Winners

• Apprentice of the Year – Kye Sutton, Jones Building Group
  
• Women in Building – Valerie Piquet, Jones Building Group
  
• Rising Star – Douglas Jones, Jones Building Group
  

Specialty Awards

• Best Residential Bathroom – Lyke Homes for SavageForbes Coastal Home (Barmaryee)
  
• Best Residential Kitchen – DR Moore Constructions for The Saramoa (Zilzie)
  
• Best Residential Swimming Pool – DR Moore Constructions for The Saramoa (Zilzie)
  

Housing Awards

• Display Home $600k–$800k – Stroud Homes Rockhampton for Wildflower 216 (Parkhurst)
  
• Home Renovation $300k–$450k – C J Bell for West View (West Gladstone)
  
• Home Renovation $450k–$600k – BCM Building for Hamilton (Hamilton Creek)
  
• Home Renovation $750k–$1M – C J Bell for West Renovation (Gladstone)
  
• Individual Home $400k–$550k – Corbett Homes for Ritz Novo 180 (Emerald)
  
• Individual Home $550k–$700k – Lyke Homes for The Sir Davidson Project (Kinka Beach)
  
• Individual Home $700k–$850k – Darrin Price Constructions for Walker (Calliope)
  
• Individual Home $850k–$1M – Wolf Constructions QLD for Rossmoya Build (The Caves)
  
• Individual Home $1M–$1.5M – Corbett Homes for Casa Bella Vista (Lammermoor)
  
• Individual Home $1.5M–$2M – Swebworthy Constructions for Inverness View (Inverness)
  
• Individual Home $2.5M–$3M – DR Moore Constructions for The Saramoa (Zilzie)
  
• Truecore Best Use of Steel Frame Housing – Stroud Homes Rockhampton for The Shouse (Bungundarra)
  
• Best Use of Sloping Sites – DR Moore Constructions for The Saramoa (Zilzie)
  
• Excellence in Construction Quality – Lyke Homes for SavageForbes Coastal Home (Barmaryee)
  

Construction Awards

• Health Facilities up to $20M – Paynters for Capricorn Coast Renal Services Extension and Essential Energy Building (Hidden Valley)
  
• Education Facilities up to $10M – Swebworthy Constructions for Coastal Kids (Taranganba)
  
• Education Facilities over $10M – Hutchinson Builders for Rockhampton Special School New GLA’s and ITD Building (Rockhampton)
  
• Sporting Facilities – TP Aquatic Constructions for Mount Morgan Aquatic Centre (Mount Morgan)
  
• Community Service Facilities – T.F Woollam & Son for North Rockhampton Ambulance Station & Central Regional Office (Parkhurst)
  
• Community Accommodation – Hutchinson Builders for Denison Street Apartments (Rockhampton)
  
• Tourism & Leisure Facilities up to $10M – Diversified Building Services (Qld) for Moura Museum and Library (Moura)
  
• Tourism & Leisure Facilities over $10M – Paynters for Keppel Bay Sailing Club (Yeppoon)
  
• Retail Facilities up to $5M – Hutchinson Builders for Hungry Jacks Gracemere (Gracemere)
  
• Retail Facilities over $5M – Hutchinson Builders for GyG & Banjo’s Bakery (Rockhampton)
  
• Commercial Refurbishment/Renovation up to $5M – Paynters for Rockhampton Leagues Club – Gaming and Level 1 Alterations and Additions (Rockhampton)
  
• Commercial Refurbishment/Renovation $15M–$30M – Mettle for Peppers Yaralla (Gladstone)
  
  

The TGB Take

Good builders know these awards aren’t just about silverware, they’re about setting the standard for what’s possible in our region. Whether it’s delivering under pressure, working in tough conditions, or training the next generation, every winner has shown that quality, trust, and persistence still matter most.

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Author: TGB Editorial