What’s Happening?
The Mackay and Whitsunday region’s leading builders, tradespeople and projects were honoured at the 2026 Housing and Construction Awards. The awards were presented at Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre on 15 August 2026.
The event celebrated homes, renovations, public facilities, commercial buildings and tourism developments shaped by the region’s coastal setting.
Morris Constructions QLD won House of the Year for Ancora in Airlie Beach. Meanwhile, Hamilton Island Constructions No 1 received Project of the Year for The Sundays.
Fergus Builders rounded out the major winners with the BUSSQ Building Super President’s Award for Azura Place in Glenella.
Why It Matters
These awards recognise far more than the appearance of each completed project. They also recognise years of planning, difficult sites, coastal weather and live working environments.
Builders and tradies had to maintain safety and quality while meeting strict time and budget requirements. Remote locations and unexpected issues uncovered during construction added further pressure to several projects.
Recognition also covered schools, health facilities, community spaces, offices, retail developments and major tourism infrastructure. This reflects the wide role local builders play across the region.
Local Impact
The winners represent communities across Mackay, Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island, Glenella, Eimeo, Bowen, Moranbah and the Northern Beaches.
Projects ranged from individual houses and renovations to health, education, retail, community and tourism facilities. Housing winners also covered numerous price ranges, sloping sites, modular construction and medium-density developments.
The Sundays adds a luxury tourism asset to Hamilton Island after an ageing beachfront building was redeveloped. Other recognised projects support local education, healthcare, community services and commercial activity.
By the Numbers
- Three years went into Ancora, including one year of planning and two years of construction.
- Seven awards went to Fergus Builders for the second consecutive year across individual, housing, education and commercial categories.
- Four trophies went to Cotter Builders for its work on Solaire, Marian House and Dolphin Heads.
Zoom In
Ancora Claims House of the Year
The judging panel’s response to Ancora was simple: “WOW, WOW, WOW.”
The Airlie Beach residence features a cantilevered front entertaining deck with a flyover roof. It also includes off-form concrete walls, polished floors and custom-fabricated coastal cladding. Abell and the Morris Constructions team spent one year planning the home and two years constructing it. New building methods, controls and data systems helped the team deliver a consistent finish.
Ancora secured House of the Year, Best Residential Bathroom and Individual Home from $4 million to $5 million. Gangemi Cabinet Makers was also recognised for its work on Ancora. The business received Residential Trade Contractor of the Year.
The Sundays Transforms Beachfront Site
The Sundays changed a deteriorated 1980s beachfront structure into Hamilton Island’s newest luxury boutique hotel.
Work was completed within an operating resort, requiring careful planning and precise finishing. Demolition exposed further difficulties, while the island location added logistical demands. The construction team used specialised methods and careful technical work to address those conditions. The project set a strong standard for adaptive reuse.
Strong craftsmanship and high-quality finishes also earned praise from judges. The finished hotel provides a major tourism asset for the Whitsundays. Hamilton Island Constructions No 1 received the McInnes Wilson Lawyers Project of the Year Award. The project also won Tourism and Leisure Facilities over $10 million.
Fergus Builders Secures Seven Awards
Azura Place combines a crisp contemporary facade with stone detailing and warm timber accents.
Its open-plan living area features high ceilings and abundant natural light. An internal stone feature continues through to the outdoor entertaining area.
Fergus Builders worked with the client to balance individual character with broad appeal. That work earned the BUSSQ Building Super President’s Award. Amanda Wilson also received the Women in Building Award after progressing through Fergus Builders for 14 years. She became Residential Manager and was recognised for her leadership and mentoring of other women.
The Fergus team also won awards for Catherine McAuley College Stage 3 and the St Patrick’s Mercy Campus Hall Refurbishment. Further wins came for the Gardian Office Fitout, Whitehaven in Beaconsfield and Pandanus House in Eimeo.
Stroud Homes Recognises Future Leaders
Stroud Homes Mackay collected the other two individual honours.
Trent Deen, who was Apprentice of the Year in 2012, received the Rising Star Award. His commitment to quality and trusted reputation were central to the recognition. Caleb Quinn received Apprentice of the Year for sharing his knowledge with younger colleagues. He was also praised for treating every project like his own home.
Judges said “the future of the industry is in good hands with young apprentices like Caleb.”
More Multiple Winners
Cotter Builders secured Best Residential Kitchen and an individual home award for Solaire at Mackay Harbour.
The company also received renovation awards for Marian House and Dolphin Heads.
Executive Living Homes won Best Residential Swimming Pool for Bindaree Station at Devereux Creek. The project also won Individual Home from $1.5 million to $2 million.
Brad Dobie, Master Builders Regional Manager for Mackay and Whitsunday, praised the effort behind each project. “There is definitely a wow factor to all this year’s entries and winning homes and projects. But it’s the hours of planning, dealing with challenging sites and weather conditions, working in live environments and delivering top-quality work safely and on time and budget that we really commend our builders and tradies for.”
“The last 12 months have thrown plenty of challenges our way. But as these Awards show, our industry is resilient. We’re continuing to advocate with a government that is listening to us to reset productivity, grow our workforce, hit the housing targets and build the projects our communities need. It’s an exciting time to be a part of this industry, and I am proud to support our members as they achieve outstanding things. Congratulations to all our 2026 entrants and winners.”
Zoom Out
The awards followed a difficult 12 months for builders and tradespeople across the region.
Despite those conditions, local businesses completed major homes, tourism developments, schools, health works and community facilities.
The results also underline the industry’s focus on productivity, workforce growth and regional housing delivery.
What To Look For Next?
Master Builders will continue working with government on productivity, workforce growth, housing targets and necessary community projects.
For local firms, the focus remains on safe and timely work despite weather, remote locations and active worksites.
All Mackay and Whitsunday Winners
Major Winners
- House of the Year Award – Morris Constructions QLD for Ancora, Airlie Beach
- McInnes Wilson Lawyers Project of the Year Award – Hamilton Island Constructions No 1 for The Sundays, Hamilton Island
- BUSSQ Building Super President’s Award – Fergus Builders for Azura Place, Glenella
Individual Winners
- Apprentice of the Year Award – Caleb Quinn from Stroud Homes Mackay
- Women in Building Award – Amanda Wilson from Fergus Builders
- Rising Star Award – Trent Deen from Stroud Homes Mackay
Specialty Winners
- Best Residential Bathroom – Morris Constructions QLD for Ancora, Airlie Beach
- Best Residential Kitchen – Cotter Builders for Solaire, Mackay Harbour
- Best Residential Swimming Pool – Executive Living Homes for BINDAREE STATION, Devereux Creek
Housing Winners
- Display Home from $500,000 to $750,000 – Triumph Enterprises for Vida 256, Shoal Point
- Home Renovation Project up to $350,000 – Cotter Builders for Marian House, Marian
- Home Renovation Project from $350,000 to $500,000 – Cotter Builders for Dolphin Heads, Dolphin Heads
- Home Renovation Project from $500,000 to $650,000 – G.J Gardner Homes Mackay for Leap Vista, Coningsby
- Individual Home up to $450,000 – Triumph Enterprises for Sage & Stone, Bakers Creek
- Individual Home from $450,000 to $600,000 – Fergus Builders for Whitehaven, Beaconsfield
- Individual Home from $600,000 to $750,000 – Moloko Homes for The Oleander Residence, Cannon Valley
- Individual Home from $750,000 to $900,000 – G.J Gardner Homes Mackay for Mountain Views 308, Richmond
- Individual Home from $900,000 to $1.25 million – Jorgensen Builders for Longman 362, Erakala
- Individual Home from $1.25 million to $1.5 million – Cotter Builders for Solaire, Mackay Harbour
- Individual Home from $1.5 million to $2 million – Executive Living Homes for BINDAREE STATION, Devereux Creek
- Individual Home from $2 million to $2.5 million – Fergus Builders for Pandanus House, Eimeo
- Individual Home from $4 million to $5 million – Morris Constructions QLD for Ancora, Airlie Beach
- Prefabricated and Modular Housing Project – DC Constructions (NQ) for Mandalay Airlie Beach, Mandalay
- Best Use of Sloping Sites – NV Builders for DKF, Glenella
- Medium Density up to 3 storeys, 2 to 5 dwellings – Lowcock Builders for Yaringa Units, Bowen
- Medium Density up to 3 storeys, over 5 dwellings – Triumph Enterprises for Solana Mackay, Rural View
- Residential Trade Contractor of the Year – Gangemi Cabinet Makers for Ancora, Airlie Beach
Construction Winners
- Health Facilities up to $20 million – Crusade Developments for ATSICHS Building Extension, Mackay
- Education Facilities up to $7 million – WHF Constructions for Pioneer State High School Hospitality Refurbishment, Andergrove
- Education Facilities from $7 million to $15 million – Fergus Builders for Catherine McAuley College Stage 3, Mackay
- Community Service Facilities – T.F Woollam & Son for Moranbah Community Centre Redevelopment, Moranbah
- Retail Facilities up to $5 million – WHF Constructions for Hungry Jacks, Andergrove Lakes
- Tourism and Leisure Facilities over $10 million – Hamilton Island Constructions No 1 for The Sundays, Hamilton Island
- Commercial / Industrial Building up to $3 million – Lowcock Builders for VaultX Storage, Bowen
- Commercial / Industrial Building from $3 million to $10 million – Moggy’s Industries for 22 Silverton, Paget
- Commercial Refurbishment/Renovation from $3 million to $10 million – Fergus Builders for St Patrick’s Mercy Campus Hall Refurbishment, South Mackay
- Commercial Refurbishment/Renovation from $10 million to $25 million – WHF Constructions for Northern Beaches Bowls Club Alterations and Additions, Rural View
- Commercial Fitout up to $5 million – Fergus Builders for Gardian Office Fitout, Mackay
- Commercial Fitout over $10 million – WHF Constructions for Northern Beaches Bowls Club Alterations and Additions, Rural View
- Commercial Trade Contractor of the Year – Coral Coast Plastering for Mercy Campus Multipurpose Hall and MDD Spaces, Mackay
