The Master Builders have handed out the National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards for 2011, with Grocon and WJ Williams winning the commercial and residential categories respectively.

The Awards are given to outstanding people, teams and firms, and are the highest form of peer-recognition, in the building and construction industry.

According to Master Builders Australia, t he award winners have been through a demanding competitive process, and can very much regard themselves as 'the best of the best'.

Winners of the top four Awards are:

National Commercial Master Builder of the Year: Grocon Pty Ltd, for the AAMI Melbourne Rectangular Stadium: This magnificent venue is Melbourne's first purpose-build sunken bowl rectangular pitch stadium with over 30,000 seats that provide spectators with unobstructed views of the events, due to the absence of pillars and support structures. The design process and construction methodology required for this complex and intricate structure caused Grocon considerable difficulty, which was ultimately overcome by their clever approach to dealing with the various challenges which presented themselves.

National Residential Master Builder of the Year: W J Williams Pty Ltd, for the Palazzo di Venezia (pictured), on the Gold Coast, Queensland: This Italian-inspired home features six Versace-inspired bedrooms and a well-appointed theatre. It also has a large basement garage with a wine cellar and internal lift access to every level. The waterfront pool highlights the owner's interest in wines, featuring a large central grape design tiled on the bottom of the pool. In creating this luxury mansion, W.J. Williams Constructions has exhibited skills more common in classical Europe than sub-tropical Queensland.??

National President's Award: Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd, for the RAAF Base Tindal Redevelopment, near Katherine, Northern Territory: The project involved the general upgrade of facilities of RAAF Base Tindal, near Katherine in the Northern Territory, to meet current and future capabilities of an airbase built in the 1980s. In a remote location, on an operating airbase, Leighton Contractors had to design, construct or renovate over a 100 buildings, and engage and manage subcontractors across a wide range of specialist skills.

National Specialist Contract of the Year: Perth Rigging Company, for the Albany Entertainment Centre, Albany, Western Australia: The project involved the erection of over 470 tonnes of complex steelwork, 140 separate architectural panels, and extensive temporary propping and bracing works to successfully complete this landmark building. The detailing, fabrication and erection of the complex steel framework for the Albany Entertainment Centre is a fine example of what is now possible in contemporary building and construction.

Master Builders Australia acknowledged the support of national Award sponsors: CBUS; ASSA ABLOY; Lockwood; ME Bank; the Federal Department of Health and Ageing; the Queensland Government; Boral; Wood Solutions; Coates Hire; Toyota; OneSteel Reinforcing; Austral Bricks; Crowther Blayne and Associates; Australian Apprentices; Australian Made; and, NATSPEC.

All the winners:

  • National Commercial Master Builder of the Year: Grocon Pty Ltd, Victoria.
  • National Residential Master Builder of the Year: W.J. Williams Constructions Pty Ltd, Queensland;
  • National President’s Award: Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd, NT;
  • National Specialist Contractor of the Year: Perth Rigging Company, WA;
  • National Apprentice of the Year: Rheanna Chenhall, Tasmania;
  • Department of Health and Ageing National Lifestyle Housing for Seniors Award — Purpose Built Detached Dwelling: Retirement Communities Australia, Point Cook, Victoria;
  • Department of Health and Ageing National Lifestyle Housing for Seniors Award — Multi Unit Development: Ravida Properties, Malvern, Victoria;
  • Master Builders National Export Award: Worldpoly, Victoria;
  • Master Builders National Export Award: IFS Construction Services Ltd
  • Wood Solutions National Young Master Builder of the Year: Simon Webber, NSW;
  • Boral National Environment and Energy Efficiency Residential Building Award: Matt Jolley Builder, NSW;
  • Boral National Environment and Energy Efficiency Commercial Building Award: Grocon Pty Ltd, Victoria;
  • National Alterations/Additions/Renovations Award — under $150,000: K F Constructions, Victoria;
  • National Alterations/Additions/Renovations Award — $150,000 to $250,000: Crerar Restoration & Construction, Tasmania;
  • National Alterations/Additions/Renovations Award — $250,000 to $400,000: StepUP Constructions, NSW;
  • National Alterations/Additions/Renovations Award — over $400,000: Pimas Gale Construction, NSW;
  • National Display Home — under $250,000: Masterton Homes, NSW;
  • National Display Home — $250,000 to $500,000: Rawson Homes Pty Ltd, NSW;
  • National Display Home — over $500,000: Enterprise Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd, Victoria;
  • Assa Abloy National Project Home — under $350,000: South Coast Constructions, South Australia;
  • Assa Abloy National Project Home — $350,000 to $500,000: C J Henderson Builders, Victoria;
  • Assa Abloy National Project Home — $500,000 to $1 million: Simon Higham Building Pty Ltd, Queensland;
  • ME Bank National Project Home — $1 million to $2 million: Chase Building Group Pty Ltd, ACT;
  • ME Bank National Project Home — over $2 million: Millenium Homes QLD, Queensland;
  • Cbus National Medium Density — 2 to 5 Dwellings: Concept Design & Construction, Victoria;
  • Cbus National Medium Density — over 5 Dwellings: Kell & Rigby, NSW;
  • Cbus National High Rise Apartment Building (over 3 storeys): Grocon Constructors (QLD) Pty Ltd, Queensland;
  • National Workplace Health and Safety Award: Hansen Yuncken Pty Ltd, NSW;
  • National Commercial/Industrial Construction Award — under $5 million: Inten Constructions Pty Ltd, NSW;
  • National Commercial/Industrial Construction Award — $5 million to $10 million: Olympia Group (NSW) Pty Ltd, NSW;
  • National Commercial/Industrial Construction Award — $10 million to $20 million: Perkins Builders, WA;
  • National Commercial/Industrial Construction Award — $20 million to $50 million: Fairbrother Pty Ltd, Tasmania;
  • National Commercial/Industrial Construction Award — $50 million to $100 million: Hansen Yuncken Pty Ltd, Tasmania;
  • National Commercial/Industrial Construction Award — over $100 million: Grocon Pty Ltd, Victoria;
  • Toyota National Civil/Infrastructure Award — under $25 million: Advance Civil Engineering Pty Ltd, NT;
  • Toyota National Civil/Infrastructure Award — over $25 million: Leighton Abigroup Joint Venture, Queensland;
  • National Public Buildings Award under — $5 million: Commercial Industrial Contractors Pty Ltd, NSW;
  • National Public Buildings Award — $5 million to $10 million: ISIS Group Australia Pty Ltd, South Australia;
  • National Public Buildings Award — $10 million to $50 million: Lend Lease, NSW;
  • National Public Buildings Award — over $50 million: A W Edwards Pty Ltd, NSW.