The Construction Source Australia

Welcome to the latest issue of Construction Source Australia, the magazine that highlights the best in building and building products across the country. The company on our cover, McHugh Steel, is a prime example – they are family-owned steel manufacturing and building supply company based in Bundaberg, Queensland. From their locally owned-factory, they have been producing high quality steel solutions for well over 30 years. These days, they service a wide variety of residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural clients. Demi Pressler-McHugh, the COO and second generation leader, talked to us about their history and versatility. In our talk with Demi, we also discussed some of the company’s recent landmark projects, including their work on Budget Car & Truck Rental Depot in Kensington, which won the category for ‘Retail Facilities up to $5 million’ at 2025 MBA Wide Bay Burnett Housing & Construction Awards. Demi described that award as “recognition of the level of detail, coordination, and effort that goes into all our projects.” Meanwhile, in the custom home sector, this issue also features industry leaders in My Style Homes and Portrait Custom Homes. The former is a Cairns’ most-awarded builder, specializing in homes built to the highest quality and specifications and tailored to Far North Queensland’s climate. The latter is a Perth-based builder of luxury homes and renovations, known for their customercentred, transparent approach and ability to solve technical challenges. We caught up with the leaders of both companies and talked about their passion for using local products. We also highlighted some of their recent industry-acclaimed projects, including one that won the HIA’s coveted ‘Australian People’s Choice Home of the Year.’ For those stories – and many more like them, about other award-winning and innovative builders – just keep reading. All the best, The Editorial Team We will keep adding business units that enhance our offering and separate us from our competition. “ ” Editor From The Dear Reader,

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The Construction Source Australia With a readership exceeding 136,000 senior executives, The Construction Source Australia takes immense pride in providing an enticing platform to amplify your message to the most pivotal audience – your valued customers. Whether your aim is to promote an exciting new condo development, attract crucial financial investments for upcoming projects, or establish a commanding brand presence, we’re here to assist you every step of the way. To explore opportunities for featuring your company or showcasing your latest project in The Construction Source Australia, please reach out to our Group Publisher. Jermaine Poulsen e:info@theconstructionsource.com.au The Construction Source Australia Suite 11.01, Level 11, 175 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia info@theconstructionsource.com.au ABN: 42 976 059 923 Executive Publisher Jermaine Poulsen COO Alexandra Box Editor in Chief Zach Janes Director of Operations Jacqueline Van Belois Business Development Managers Cheryl Ezinicki Production Manager Brennan Midghall Digital Strategist Pranim Thapa

JULY 2026 Industry INNOVATIONS Product of the Month The Kights Scanner MCHUGH STEEL Complete steel solutions MY STYLE HOMES Green initiatives are go for My Style Homes ALEXANDER INTERIORS PTY LTD. A reputation for quality PORTRAIT CUSTOM HOMES Building relationships WALKOM CONSTRUCTIONS Challenges welcome at Walkom Constructions DESTINATION LIVING Melbourne’s Destination Living providing a unique approach to building homes IN THIS ISSUE JULY 2026 MCHUGH STEEL MY STYLE HOMES

JULY 2026 Aluminum expected to accelerate worldwide adoption of electric and self-driving vehicles Material takes on an ever-widening role in tomorrow’s vehicles For more than a decade, concerns about fuel efficiency have been encouraging OEMS to replace steel with aluminum on vehicle bodies, doors, trunks, hoods, bumpers, crash boxes, brakes, cables and wheels. With the advent of electric and autonomous vehicles, OEMs worldwide are discovering new uses for aluminum. The need for battery casings and heat exchangers in electric vehicles, combined with autonomous vehicles’ demands for high visibility and structural integrity, is expected to exponentially increase the use of sheet aluminum in tomorrow’s cars, trucks and buses. Supporting the transition to battery-powered vehicles Four major design challenges confront OEMs in their transition to electric vehicles. Extending vehicle range Improving battery and passenger safety Increasing passenger comfort Optimizing cooling systems for lithium-ion batteries The substitution of sheet aluminum for steel helps resolve OEM concerns. Industry INNOVATIONS

The Construction Source Australia The lighter the vehicle, the longer its range. According to Ducker Worldwide, aluminum is expected to contribute more than half of the anticipated vehicle mass reduction demanded by electric vehicles (EVs) to extend range. Ducker reports that in North America alone, aluminum content in EVs will increase to nearly 565 pounds (256 kilgrams) per vehicle by 2028. The larger the vehicle, the heavier the battery and casing required to optimize the EV’s range. It is the larger EVs, i.e., sedans, SUVs, taxis, trucks and buses, that will realize the greatest benefits from a steel-to-aluminum conversion. In the U.S., a vehicle’s gross weight determines which class of commercial driver’s license (CDL) will be required. Without lightweighting, some EVs could demand a higher-class license or additional endorsements due to the added weight of the battery. In older European cities like Brussels or London, some bridges and tunnels only allow vehicles up to 3.5 tons in weight, a target that is very difficult to meet for larger EVs without lightweighting. For heavier material transport EVs such as trucks, weight reduction enables an increased payload, providing a significant monetary benefit. Generally, the larger the vehicle, the higher the payback. Particularly relevant for larger human transport EVs such as buses and taxis, the weight reduction made possible through aluminum provides the added benefit of reduced CO2 emissions and improved air quality, of value not only to vehicle operators, but to the communities they serve. The thermal and anti-corrosion properties of aluminum make it ideal for battery frames. Sea-water resistant, highly formable, highly surfaced aluminum alloys provide the strength necessary to pass side-impact crashworthiness testing, protecting passengers and the battery should impact occur. Casing floor plates made out of aluminum are not only strong, but also capable of resisting corrosion related to weather exposure. These characteristics enable aluminum battery casings to resist weather-related deterioration and impact from road debris, minimizing the risk of related fires and further securing passenger safety. Optimizing battery and human safety Extending range Dispersing heat The batteries used in EVs produce energy while charging and decharging, requiring the use of heat exchangers to dissipate heat. But the types of heat exchangers used in vehicle air conditioning systems are inadequate to meet this new challenge. Aluminum clad brazing (which connects multiple layers of aluminum together to disperse heat) requires heating in a controlled atmosphere (e.g., a vacuum) to achieve optimum joining. Aluminum heat exchangers designed specifically to meet the challenges presented by electric vehicles can use as many as five types of aluminum sandwiched together, with the layers providing gradient properties to optimize cooling. These specialized processes and materials address OEM concerns, ensuring adequate dissipation of the heat generated by battery-powered vehicles. An experienced aluminum processing partner can help OEMs specify the right process and alloys to meet specific vehicle temperature thresholds, ideally working side by side with OEM engineers early in the design process to maximize the performance of electric vehicles. IT IS THE LARGER EVS, I.E, SEDANS, SUVS, TAXIS, TRUCKS AND BUSES, THAT WILL REALIZE THE GREATEST BENEFITS FROM A STEEL -TO-ALUMINUM CONVERSION .

JULY 2026 The luxury sedan market will likely be the first to transition to self-driving electric vehicles. Passenger comfort and safety, and an expansive view of the surrounding environment, are expected to be top priorities for this market. The hefty B pillars used in conventional vehicles to meet structural requirements for crashworthiness are undesirable in a self-driving scenario. To enable large windows and an unobstructed view without sacrificing passenger safety, lightweight aluminum will be the strong material of choice. Supporting the eventual transition to autonomous vehicles In addition to the design challenges presented by EVs, society’s demand for sustainable solutions will likely continue to be a driver in the transition to aluminum-lightweighted vehicles. A Forschungsgesellschaft Kraftfahrwesen mbH Aachen (fka) study, using a Volkswagen Golf as its reference vehicle, determined that an electric aluminum-based vehicle could meet the same safety standards as its steelbased equivalent, while emitting 1.5 tons less greenhouse gases over its lifecycle, taking into consideration production, a total driving distance of more than 93,000 miles (150,000 kilometers) and eventual recycling. Ongoing environmental concerns Conclusion Aluminum alloys are ideally suited to the design challenges presented by electric and autonomous vehicles. By aligning with aluminum partners deeply experienced in developing processes and alloys to meet demanding performance requirements, transportation vehicle OEMs are accelerating the pace of EV and self-driving vehicle adoption throughout North America. .

The Construction Source Australia

JULY 2026 Business World Australia

The Construction Source Australia Business Worl d Australia

Complete steel solutions

JULY 2026

McHugh Steel is a family-owned steel manufacturing and building supply company based in Bundaberg, Queensland. From their locally owned-factory, they have been producing high quality steel solutions for a wide range of industries and clients for well over 30 years. These days, they specialize in custom steel structures, roll-forming, and structural framing for residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural needs, and they are set apart in the market by their quality craftsmanship, local expertise, and ongoing customer support. “At McHugh Steel, we are proud of our legacy as a family-owned and operated business,” says Demi Pressler-McHugh, COO. “Together, our leadership team embodies the principles of hard work, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to excellence, steering the company toward delivering exceptional service and products to our clients.” The company was originally founded in 1992 by Robert McHugh and Sonja Pressler-McHugh, originally under the name Outback Sheds. Over the years, the business has evolved from a shed and roofing contractor into a much broader steel solutions provider. Demi personally grew up around the business, so she witnessed that evolution firsthand – she credits it to “a focus on quality, strong relationships, and continuously adapting to what the market needs.” Today, McHugh Steel operates out of Bundaberg with multiple facilities, including a dedicated steel framing factory, and they service projects across Queensland. Their capabilities are vast, and include: steel fabrication and structural THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

JULY 2026 supply; roofing, fascia and guttering systems; steel framing, trusses, and prefabricated building components; sheds, carports, garages, and patios; and modular and re-locatable buildings. In terms of project size, McHugh Steel is currently set up to deliver everything from small custom builds through to large-scale developments, with recent examples including hospitals, childcare facilities, and food centres. According to Demi, clients of all kinds choose McHugh for the same reasons – including the quality of their work, the reliability of their service, and their ability to customize their products to meet their clients’ needs. “What sets us apart is that we don’t just supply steel,” she says. “We provide complete solutions, from design through to delivery and installation.” As a result, McHugh Steel has been able to build some very strong and lasting relationships with clients and contractors. According to Demi, some of those relationships go all the way back to the early 90s. To this day, she says the majority of the company’s work comes from repeat business and referrals. The company also fosters similar loyalty in house. Demi says they have grown a lot in recent years, which means they have a lot of newer team members, but they also have team members that go back almost 20 years. “We’re a family business, and that really defines our culture. We’ve grown significantly over the years – now employing a large and diverse team –but we’ve worked hard to maintain that closeknit, supportive environment. There’s a strong focus on safety, development, and making sure people feel valued. We want people to build longterm careers with us, not just jobs.” McHugh Steel’s supplier relationships are also longstanding. Demi describes those relationships as “absolutely critical to our business.” “We work closely with key suppliers of materials like COLORBOND® and ZINCALUME® steel, and we’ve built strong, long-term relationships across subcontractors and service providers. Those partnerships allow us to maintain consistent quality and reliability across our projects, which ultimately flows through to better outcomes for our clients.”

THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

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Recently, McHugh Steel played a key role in the delivery of Budget Car & Truck Rental Depot in Kensington – a project that won the category for ‘Retail Facilities up to $5 million’ at 2025 MBA Wide Bay Burnett Housing & Construction Awards. “Projects like that really highlight what we do well – coordinating across trades, delivering on tight timeframes, and maintaining quality across both fabrication and installation,” Demi explains. “And winning the MBA award for Retail Facilities up to $5 million was a great achievement for our team,” she adds. “It’s recognition of the level of detail, coordination, and effort that goes into our projects. For us, it reinforces the standards we set internally and the outcomes we aim to deliver consistently.” Beyond that, McHugh Steel has recently worked on a wide range of Room to grow THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

projects, including commercial retail builds, education facilities, and fast-food developments like Red Rooster and Oporto locally. They currently have a strong pipeline of both residential and commercial projects, and they are continuing to move into areas like modular construction as well. Looking ahead, Demi says they are now focused on continuing to scale and innovate. The company recently expanded their steel framing capabilities with a new factory that significantly increased their production capacity, and “that’s going to be a big driver of growth for us,” Demi says. Moving forward, the company also intends to continue investing and adopting new technology. In recent years, they have already invested heavily advanced manufacturing, including roll forming technology and systems like FRAMECAD and ENDURO, which allow them to produce highly accurate, prefabricated steel frames and significantly improve build times. In addition, they have implemented things like 3D shed design tools for customers, which allows them to visualize and customize projects before they even start fabrication. “Technology is a big focus for us, particularly as we continue to scale,” Demi says. “We’re always looking to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and deliver more accurate outcome – and technology helps us do that.” Ultimately, Demi says the company’s “primary goal” is to ensure they have a successful business that can support their team – which now includes roughly 140 people. They want to make sure “they always have somewhere to turn up.” “That’s what we’re really all about,” she says. “That and giving the customers the kind of product they are really after. Those are the fundamentals for us. As long as we do those things I think the world is really our oyster and we can end up anywhere.” JULY 2026

THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA For more on McHugh Steel and their range of services, and to get in touch with Demi and the rest of his expert team, visit http://mchughsteel.com.au/

Green initiatives are go for

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MyStyle Homes is a small home building company proudly playing on the national stage. In recent years, the independently-owned Cairns-based builder has won multiple national awards, and built a reputation across Queensland for their perfectionism and attention to detail. Moving forward, Grant Hartwig and Heather Ghidella – the founding directors and owners of the company – intend to continue bolstering their reputation and continue winning industry awards. They mean to do that by delivering homes that meet the individual needs of their clients while exceeding their quality expectations. Grant Hartwig has 36 years in the industry. Starting in north east Victoria in 1981, he completed a carpentry and joinery apprenticeship through the Victorian Master Builders Association. He was awarded the Apprentice of the Year award in his second year and was runner up in his final year. Over his 16 years in the industry, Grant has been the construction manager of large commercial projects, hospitals, schools and supermarkets throughout regional Victoria. Heather Ghidella’s is an experienced home designer whose work has been repeatedly awardrecognized. She and Grant teamed up about six years ago after recognizing an uncaptured niche in the market. “We recognized that people needed to be listened to and heard in the building industry and this has resulted in designing livable homes,” she says. “People come with their ideas and we make them happen.” “This attention to the client reflects in the designs, innovation and quality of homes we build,” says their son Harry, who has worked with MyStyle for the past five years. He started as an apprentice carpenter and has now moved into the office where he is learning about estimating. The company focusses on single and double storey homes and duplexes, taking on jobs up to two hours north and south of Cairns. “We’ve done a few multi million-dollar projects, and we THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

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recently did a beautiful double story house on a big farm property,” says Harry. Harry’s personal favourite pick is a display home at Palm Cove’s Ocean’s Edge Estate. “Our display homes are defining the future of tropical living in far north Queensland,” says Harry. “This particular display home is a two storey that backs onto the rainforest.” Harry teamed with his mother to help design this house. She meets the clients and takes the ideas and make them work. Harry believes their company’s memberships with Master Builders and HIA are very helpful when it comes to answering their questions and helping out as best they can. Crossing all the T’s and dotting all the I’s has paid off for MyStyle, who has been recognized with multiple awards over the years. Heather received Master Builders Far North Queensland Women in Building Award in 2014. That same year her MyMystique home design won the Master Builders Far North Queensland Presidents Award. “The award motivated us to continue to inspire people to dream about building their new home,” she says. In 2020 My Style won three national awards including the Australian People’s Choice Home of the Year as well as the national Best Kitchen Design and Best Bathroom Design awards. Most recently they received eight awards for projects in 2023. Many of the accolades given to MyStyle have been for their excellence in sustainability. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

MyStyle Homes is proud to be part of the HIA GreenSmart program ensuring they educate and empower the MyStyle Homes team with upto-date information on practical, affordable and durable environmental solutions for residential design and construction. As one of Australia’s first professional green building initiatives, the program offers MyStyle Homes the opportunity to develop new skills and acquire green credentials, and get access to news and opportunities to help promote the GreenSmart building movement. GreenSmart Builders and GreenSmart professionals are businesses and individuals who have completed the HIA GreenSmart Professional Training and will focus on key GreenSmart elements. An HIA GreenSmart® House will improve the water and energy efficiency of the home reducing energy bills and costs, create healthier homes for occupants, provide options to make the home more adaptable for all stages of life, reduce waste from the building process, and improve site management during construction, according to Harry. “MyStyle Homes’ GreenSmart professional accredited team has researched all the best sustainable and eco-friendly product options and combined this with innovative architectural design,” says Harry. “We have challenged our local supply chain to deliver sustainable products to create the ultimate Far North ‘GreenSmart’ home solution.” More and more customers are looking for sustainability. It’s a drawing point for people JULY 2026

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to come to MyStyle Homes when they see their sustainable designs. “It all starts in the design process,” he says. The client’s land is one of the most important parts of building a new home. It will determine so many things from size, single or double storey, design, energy efficiency and even colour depending on where the land is. “It’s hard for us to start without a block in mind so this would be step one. We consider how the house is going to sit on the property, how it will face the sun in the morning and afternoon. Adding special films and tints on windows and different glass products all help. Different solar packages and batteries in the houses. As well as being eco-friendly, MyStyle also incorporates home automation. Their whole display house in Palm Cove is automated. “It is something that I find amazing,” says Harry. All the solar panels are hooked into a battery and they work together. Rain sensors on the roof shut the windows on the top story of the house automatically when there’s precipitation. The house’s lights turn on and off by cellphone. These specialized features can only be completed with the right materials from trusted suppliers. “MyStyle has developed the ability to generate and maintain relationships with a wide range of people, from clients to suppliers and team members,” says Harry. “It is these factors which have contributed to our ongoing success.” Suppliers MyStyle supports include well-known names such as Corinthian Doors, Hoppens Carpets, Bradnams Windows and Doors, CCW Cabinetworks and Harvey Norman and Reece Plumbing. These suppliers understand the high demands put on them by MyStyle Homes and are up to the challenge. “We are renowned for being perfectionists with exceptional attention to detail and believe that care and attention do not cost any more but are priceless in achieving a superior quality home,” says Harry. Harry plans on continuing his estimating education as part of the family business, which he plans on sticking with for a long time. “Fingers crossed in the future that I’ll continue from my parents and keep the company going.” JULY 2026

For more about SJC Engineering’s services and capabilities, and to get in touch with Chris, Skye, and their team, visit https://sjcengineering.com.au/ THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

A reputation for quality

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Alexander Interiors is an award winning, industry leading interior fitout specialist in retail, airport retail, medical, commercial, and complete project management. Based in Sydney, they embrace their clients’ desire for the highest quality materials and workmanship and create world class working environments throughout Australia. Managing director Craig Watkinson started Alexander Interiors in 1998 while he was completing his university degree. In the years since, he says they have worked hard every day to “build a reputation for achieving high quality and working closely with clients to achieve their desired outcomes.” Craig describes his team as small close knit and versatile being able to handle 30 builds a year. “We’re big enough to handle large complex projects and small enough to care about every job we do, no matter the scale or dollar value.” Alexander Interiors does a lot of work in the major capital cities, for major brands. In the past they’ve done projects up to $4.5 million, with the majority in the $500,000 to $1.5 million range. Their team of four project managers can run multiple projects at any one time. “Providing our clients with peace of mind, and confidence in having chosen us to deliver their store is at the forefront of our work ethos,” says Craig. “Having successfully completed many projects over the years, we are able to provide many valuable benefits which go beyond just shopfitting.” One of Alexander Interiors’ recent projects was for Mecca at Mosman in Sydney, Australia’s largest prestige beauty retailer serving over four million customers every year through their network of 100-plus stores. For them Alexander Interiors delivered “a beautiful shop, with many different features and details which needed a huge amount of time and effect to execute correctly,” says Craig. As well as working with Mecca, Alexander has been carrying out MaxMara shop fits for the past two THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

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decades. During that time Alexander Interiors has effectively interpreted the MaxMara, MAX&Co. and Marina Rinaldi store designs – all with differing aesthetic and architectural values. The brand designs and produces drawings overseas and Alexander’s are responsible to source locally supplied materials to facilitate these designs Keeping up on trends and what’s important to these long-term clients would not be possible without Alexander Interiors’ involvement with the Interior Fitters Association (IFA). Craig Watkinson has taken on multiple leadership roles in that organization, including Past Chair of the IFA Professional Conduct Committee, Past New South Wales President (twice) and Past National President IFA. He is also a member of the Master Builders Association. Over their years in the IFA, Alexander Interiors has been one of the most awarded companies for various projects they’ve done. Their Project Manager Scott Cameron was the 2007/2008 Market Walkley ‘Dux of Class Award’. With 30 years in the shopfitting industry, Project Manager Peter Dries was the recipient of the Icon of the Industry award by IFA. Even though they follow tried and true methods in shopfitting, the company isn’t afraid of adjusting methods for the future. “We’ve just introducing a new estimating and project management software,” says Craig. “Technology hasn’t been a part of the things we’ve embraced in the past, however a shift to reinvigorate the company and bring in younger people has required the introduction of new technologies.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Alexander Interiors’ suppliers make each of their fitouts move more smoothly, says Craig. “They are very important to us. We have a number of sub-contractors we’ve used for 20 years in Sydney and Melbourne. They know how we work and we know the quality of what they produce. This is imperative to us and the client.” Also key to the success of their fitouts is the diligence of the company’s staff, which numbers about 15 people. “Our project managers are meticulous in their preparation and planning, and passionate about delivering projects on time, with zero tolerance to fitout defects,” says Craig. “We’ve retained and grown a very good clientele over the years. We have a high retention rate and I think the thing that stands out is our attention to detail and to focus on finding solutions to problems and dealing with them at the early stages before issues can’t be fixed. I think we do it better than our competitors.” Craig says his clients will always receive friendly, professional and high-quality service from the Alexander Interiors team. “Our customers’ ideas are always welcome, strengthening our commitment to customer satisfaction, innovation and growth.” Alexander Interiors also believes in giving back to their community. Craig has participated in the last two CEO Sleepouts, a fundraising event held by Vinnies to raise funds that will help provide people experiencing homelessness with vital access to food, accommodation, education and health services. Funds raised also assist those going through rough times to overcome poverty in the long term. In June 2018, Craig’s Sleepout raised $15,000, and in June 2019, Craig individually raised more than $19,000, with his team raising more than $50,000. They also sponsored a child in Ghana for a number of years through Plan Australia. E: admin@csrfabrications.com.au | P: 02 4711 5444 Commercial, Architectural & Retail Custom Metal Work www.csrfabrications.com.au Commercial, Architectural & Retail Custom Metal Work E: admin@csrfabrications.com.au P: 02 4711 5444 www.csrfabrications.com.au JULY 2026

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Traditionally, retail shops are refitted every seven years, says Craig. A lot of what’s removed goes to landfill, but there’s much more focus now on recycling and sustainability in the industry, says Craig. “Alexander Interiors is committed to the environment. We are continually looking at ways to minimise waste and recycle wherever possible to reduce the impact on the environment.” Sustainability and eco-friendly fitouts will drive the fitout market into the future, according to Craig. While New South Wales, and in particular Sydney, leads the way trends shaping the interior fitout market, each Australian region represents unique advantages and challenges. Interior fit out businesses such as Alexander Interiors who are adept at understanding these regional nuances are well positioned to thrive in these modern markets. “The business will be in a very strong position in the next five years,” Craig says. “We’re bringing in younger staff to reinvigorate the company with a more vibrant workforce.” Craig says that working with tight time frames is all part of the job. “As Australia’s financial and commercial hub, Sydney is a busy market for interior fitouts. We might have only two weeks to price a job, but we have people available to do that. It can be intense but rewarding at the end of the day when you are putting together a beautiful retail site.” Moving toward sustainability T. 1800 027 882 | E. admin@abbotdesign.com.au W. www.abbotdesign.com.au Australia Wide Structural and Civil Engineering Services, Retail, Fit Out, Signs and Events, Residential Renovations and New Builds and Temporary Structures JULY 2026

For more information about Alexander Interiors, contact them at www.alexanderinteriors.com.au THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

PORTRAIT CUSTOM HOMES Building relationships

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Portrait Custom Homes is a Perth-based custom home builder and project manager backed by many years of professional experience in their local industry. Though the company was established only eight years ago, owner Rob Hyde’s involvement in the construction trade goes back much further. After obtaining his quantity surveying degree and construction management degree, he established a business in South Africa, then immigrated to Australia. “I started from scratch, and secured a few projects and did them well,” Rob recalls. “We won design awards for the architect that worked with us, and caught the notice of local designers. We’ve steadily built up our reputation and now most of our work comes from architects, but it took a lot of hard work for the first six-to-seven years to gain that reputation.” Now after eight years in Perth, Portrait Custom Homes is the preferred building partner of many architect clients. Rob is currently working with a dedicated few so he can do a really good job for them. “We’re full for this year and booking for 2025,” he says. “I’m reluctant to grow too quickly. We have a very good handle on our current projects. We’re in the service industry. We don’t provide a product that you can pick off a shelf. That’s really important to us. The customer defines the product and we provide the service to get them there.” A lot of companies have standard designs, says Rob. “A lot of other builders provide a more offthe-shelf product. For us, the house design grows and develops over the course of the project. We manage that change, and convey that change through to our trades and the vendors who supply us and do our work.” Rob gives as an example a recent project on Grove Street in North Fremantle. The double story, brick heritage building boasts a lot of timber features and is situated near the ocean, thus providing a lot of lovely outlooks. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

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This North Fremantle house is a protected heritage building. “We completely rebuilt the inside and refurbished the front facade, including the original jarrah board work, which had to be removed, stripped of the old lead-based paint and repainted,” says Rob. “It’s a brand new, modern home made from an old Fremantle house. An atrium in the middle of the house gives the feeling that this home is environmentally aware, says Rob, with the outside seamlessly melding into the inside. Trees and plants work like evaporative cooling systems, absorbing heat during the day. In the evening, they lose moisture with evaporation from the leaves, cooling the surrounding air. “This works well in a courtyard or atrium,” says Rob. “The tree in this courtyard is deciduous. In summer it will bush out, giving lots of shade in the hot summer months and in winter when the leaves drop, it lets the sun through. Also, with North Fremantle being so close to the sea, the atrium provides a natural area that isn’t shaken by the elements. It’s wind free, so you can keep your windows and sliding windows open all the time.” Some of the internal cladding on this project is called paper rock, made with layers of resin and paper – dark black with a glossy finish. The stairwells and balustrades are raw and galvanised steel, finished by polishing and sealing. “We used rammed earth in the undercroft to give a natural feeling that has its own beauty,” says Rob. “It is a fantastic insulator which works well in climates (like down south) where there are big temperature differences. It can absorb heat in the THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

day ready to release on a cold night.” Portrait Homes used locally sourced materials on this project as much as possible. “There’s more of an environmental push today towards using local materials. An added advantage of using local products is you can get things quicker,” says Rob. With the quantity of projects coming their way, Portrait Homes needs an efficient project management system. They have chosen Procore to manage all their stakeholders through an online portal. “Everyone has the necessary information at their fingertips all the time,” says Rob. “We load all the drawings and instructions up and if there’s any missing information, we can request it and it’s all recorded. A lot of our projects aren’t simple straight up and down houses you can build in your sleep. There’s a lot of technical information that we can put on, so for example the electricians have the most recent version of the drawings at their fingertips.” The strength of Procore is as a communication tool, so everyone is working in real time, says Rob. “Before Procore if I got a revised drawing by email, I’d have to send it out to all the different vendors individually. If I forgot to send it to the door manufacturer, they may end up making the doors the wrong size.” Procore enables everyone to avoid errors and manage change, and answer questions from Precision Homes’ vendors, thus ensuring everyone’s on the same page with a current set of drawings. The program also aids in communications with their clients. “We take images from time to time as well and tag the client, for example, to ask them what colour they want a wall, or how they want tiles aligned,” says Rob. 2/62 Destiny Way Wangara WA 6065 P: (08) 6243 1756 E: info@knpelectrics.com.au W: www.knpelectrics.com.au KNP electrics and air are a Perth electrical contractor that strive to provide the highest quality work in both residential & commercial areas. With over 15 years experience in the industry having worked in the custom homes areas for the last 8 years. JULY 2026

Trust and respect are the keys to building a successful homebuilding business, according to Rob. “To build people’s trust in everything we do, we aim to do in a respectful manner,” he says. “That is the cornerstone. Between myself and my supervisor Justin we have 50+ years of experience. We try to pass that on to our people and teach them our way of thinking and how to approach different problems. Quite rewarding for me to grow our people and give them new skills. That’s one of the exciting things for me.” Portrait Homes doesn’t have a lot of direct staff, relying mainly on subcontractors. “We don’t have a lot of people. We sub-contract all of our work out to specialists and manage the quality and information they receive,” says Rob. “We make it our business to ensure our trades can be efficient and they don’t have to wait for things. Whether it’s scaffolding, materials or information, we get them what they need. It’s important that we make it worthwhile for them to work for us, People and culture THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

and they feel good about the project. That way when we call them and ask them to work with us on another project they are pleased to do so.” “We’re mindful that we’re only as good as our suppliers and vendors and put a lot of effort into it,” says Rob. We’re basically enablers. We enable them to bring out the best in them in terms of design, productivity and quality.” This relationship building between themselves, clients and suppliers and everyone doing their best job serves Precision Custom Homes best, rather than targeted media campaigns. “Quick growth isn’t always ideal. We want to focus on our projects and do them well,” says Rob. “Working through the designers and architects provides us with a constant stream of work. If the project goes well, that’s a reflection on them and encourages repeat business.” For now, Rob says they are very comfortable with the amount of work they are doing and the clients they are working for – and he’s not interested in doing more work just for the sake of it. “We don’t want our feet to leave the ground. We’ll never grow large,” he explains. “We will always have only five-to-seven projects on the go. We can manage that really well and make sure quality is good.” The company will only consider growing, Rob concludes, if they can find the right team members to facilitate that growth. “I’m determined not to grow if it means taking on the wrong people. If I find the people that can help us grow, then we’ll grow that first and take on more projects, but we will never sacrifice quality by having the wrong people do the work and make mistakes. Our growth will continue to be slow as we look for qualified people. We prefer to take on more discerning projects rather than cookie cutter type projects.” JULY 2026

For more information on Portrait Custom Homes, their services, and their past projects – and to get in touch with Rob and his team – visit their webpage https://www.portraitcustomhomes.com.au/ THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Challenges welcome at Walkom Constructions

JULY 2026

Chris Walkom has spent 20 years in the construction business, but his last 11 years leading his own company have been the most fulfilling. “I was working in London doing renovations, basements and the like, and fell in love with the challenge of old buildings and bringing new life to them,” he says. He moved to Newcastle, NSW in 2015 and noted no one was specializing in renovations and extensions there, which led him to create his own company, Walkom Constructions. Very quickly, they took on some projects that “put the company on the map” locally. “We started out doing decks and small renovations to older houses. Since then, we’ve evolved to take on projects between $750,000 to $3 million,” says Chris. These days, their primary builds are large scale structural builds and additions and custom new builds. Most of the work are in the inner areas of Newcastle, but they have the capacity to do single large builds around Hunter Valley and the Central Coast. One of these special projects Chris calls the ‘Church Street rebuild’, completed six months ago. He describes it as a large complex renovation and extension in Newcastle overlooking the harbour. “It was a double brick building with heritage features and a cantilever roof, on a hilly site with a ten-metre fall across the depth of the property,” he says. “It was extremely technical with a lot of high-end finishes including a complete stripping of the inside of the ground floor.” They endured setbacks during the 12-month project including an eight-week period of off and on heavy rain. “I enjoyed figuring out the complexities of the structure, constraints around the site and how to access and work with the existing structure,” says Chris. “There was a high level of detail in the finishing which called for meticulous planning and execution.” Capitalizing on the view was a big part of this project, necessitating the addition of large windows and sliding doors. Chris chose an THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

external cladding with a new product on it to make it maintenance free. They added parquetry floors, and used some of materials the client had purchased to integrate into the design. “A big challenge was the curved tile wall in bathroom, with a skylight. We had to get all the falls right in that bathroom. It was complex but the team nailed it,” said Chris. Combined with the cantilever roof and attic spaces they created; the result was an awesome view across Newcastle Harbor. Successfully completing projects like that one earned Chris and his company a lot of credibility in and around Newcastle. “We get a lot of glowing reviews on social media,” he says. “We work with different architects to deliver on complex projects, and we’re the only building company in Newcastle to have a four-point guarantee.” The breakdown of these four points are: • The project will be completed on time. • The project will be defect free. • The client will have 24-7 access online to the project online, which is important for clients who don’t live near the site. • An extended warranty is offered. “We have those things in place to show how we back ourselves and back our work,” says Chris. “It sets us apart from other builders. We also have a process to help people in the lead up to the project, so we’re also their consultant from the very early days, before we start building and before they start with an architect or designer.” JULY 2026

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“We do our work best with honesty and transparency,” he continues. “Bad news doesn’t get better with time. We’re open with communication and clearly identify what the next steps in the process are. Walkom Constructions builds trust in that we’re doing what we say we’re going to do.” This client trust results in many referrals to Walkom Constructions. “Typically, what we’re building for our clients is a forever home,” says Chris. “We have had some repeat customers doing another investment property or office renovation, but mostly we get a lot of calls from people referred by their friends.” Trust also extends from Walkom Constructions to their subcontractors; the majority of whom Chris has worked with for four-plus years. “We understand what to expect from them and vice versa. They align with what we want to do, and we work through the challenges of each project together,” he says. The relationships with their major suppliers go back even further. “We’ve had some for ten years,” says Chris. “This has been important when we’re navigating through price increases over the last two years. Communicating with our accounts manager and our suppliers has minimized the impact of price increases and project delays which benefits the customer.” They also have good relationships with some local architects and designers who support them when they bring people through design process. “With the amount of work we have, we service a couple sub-contractors in the same space. One Welcome to Winnings Explore state-of-the-art home solutions from world-leading brands at Winnings. Be inspired and experience unrivalled service, as our dedicated team caters to your specific needs. Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Newcastle | Canberra | Perth JULY 2026

may be more suitable to a particular project than another,” says Chris. “We take that into account, which keeps our pricing competitive and gives it value.” While Walkom Constructions supports their suppliers and contractors, they also take great care in supporting their staff. The company employs 21 people, covering a mixture of project managers, forepersons, carpenters, apprentices, accounts and administration. “We’re big on support, especially mental health in the workplace,” says Chris. “The team does a Hero of the Week shout out for someone who has done a little bit extra, and I offer something for the Hero of the Month. We push each other to be better and keep each other accountable by being open and transparent by our goals and targets we need to hit. It’s energizing and exciting because of the opportunities that have arisen and the career progression of our people.” “I have a good relationship with my direct staff,” says Chris. “I do one on one catch-ups with them every week. I like being around people who are going to make you better.” Chris emphasizes how important his team is to the company’s success. He says that without them, “none of this would be possible.” “I’m proud of the culture that the team has built and proud of the effort they put in day in and day out to not only become better at their job but a better person in life. None of what we have achieved is possible without each individual in the team. The team is what makes coming to work so enjoyable.” Having such a strong team, Chris says, has also resulted in the company receiving several awards, including the HIA Hunter Area Professional Small Builder award three years in a row. They have additionally won multiple renovation, extension and outdoor project awards all with the HIA, as well as a small business management award. Chris says that all credit for that industry recognition belongs to his employees. “The awards aren’t really validation for me,” he says. “It’s for the team, so that they understand they’re part of an industry leading business, and it shows the value of their contributions. I want them to know that everything they do is driving us forward and improving the industry.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AUSTRALIA

Walkom Constructions embraces new technology, such as 3D scanning and mapping. Chris cites the Church Street rebuild as an example, where this technology ensured the structure was absolutely perfect due to the closeness to the salt water. “It was necessary because we were limited as to the coatings we could use on the steel, and it was a huge achievement for the team.” “We’ve implemented tools around the client platform for all of our projects, so the client can see their project daily,” says Chris. “They always know what the completion and handover date will be, the total costs and what’s been paid and compliance specifications. “We couldn’t do without it.” The company also uses a software program for implementing safe work practices for the job site. “It ensures everyone goes home at the end of the day.” The next step for Chris is to look into AI. “There are exciting New tech means more accuracy and less lag time JULY 2026

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opportunities with it, like having an architect’s concept design done in AI to ensure the job complies with government regulations,” says Chris. Along with providing a better product and experience, Walkom Constructions is environmentally responsible. “Our biggest thing is reducing waste,” says Chris. “We do whatever we can during demolitions and we recycle, sort, and reuse whatever we can throughout the job. It extends to how we do our estimates so there isn’t extra product to dispose of at the end of the job.” This reduces the impact of impact of manufacturing on the environment. “We’re also big on providing information on how to make the home more energy efficient through and after the build,” says Chris. “We’re always looking to go further with better quality insulation, glazing in the windows, solar panels, anything we can do to reduce the carbon footprint of the house operations once the build is done.” The concept of responsibility to do everything a little bit better is leading Walkom Constructions into the future. “Everything we do centres around creating a better building system,” says Chris. “We constantly evaluate, improve and continue with our work cycle. It’s a never-ending goal. We always want to do better.” “We will definitely grow in the next five years,” he says about the company’s future. “We’re bringing in new people and continually training existing staff. We hope to grow 20 per cent per year. We are looking for more opportunity which will support more people and more people’s families. We’re focussed on what we could do next and are building the team around that.” Chris would like to have the opportunity to work with someone to build a different, challenging space to an existing estate in the region, saying there are some beautiful spaces that have a lot of potential. “Maybe some custom new builds too,” he says. “Everything else we do now, we just want more of a challenge.” JULY 2026

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