Master Builders Association awards: Luxury Dalkeith mansion crowned home of the year in a class of its own

One of the key winners in the Master Builders Association annual awards has highlighted the labour shortage as the industry’s biggest challenge. Tony Tomizzi of the eponymous building company — which took out the award for Residential Home of the Year at the MBA’s gala event at the weekend — said it was “extremely difficult” to recruit the appropriate trades in the current environment. But he said his loyal team, including tradies who had worked with him for 25 years, gave his company the edge that helped it secure one of the night’s two top gongs. Highlighting how he inspires loyalty among trades, he said it was about mutual co-operation. “I get in with them and help lay bricks and set it out,” he said. “We all help each other.” Tony Tomizzi Homes won for an opulent western suburbs residence, which also won the category for contract homes priced from $4 million to $6m, pipping projects by BD Partington Building Contractors and Dlux Builders. Inspired by the timeless architecture of The University of Western Australia and Parliament House, the luxury Dalkeith residence was described by judges as flawless, with even the bolts along the roofline perfectly aligned. The home’s grand features include hand-laid Croatian stonework, meticulously finished interiors and a cutting-edge geothermal system providing efficient climate control for the home and pool. But while the labour shortage is a well-cited problem in WA, Mr Tomizzi said he was optimistic about the industry’s future, based on the quality of apprentices coming through the system. Multiplex was crowned for delivering the Commercial Project of the Year, for its work on The Grove apartment complex in Claremont. It was also recognised in other categories for its Murdoch Square development. The massive Claremont project includes 228 residences and five commercial tenancies, as well as pools, spas and saunas. The new MBA chief executive Matt Moran said the awards had been streamlined this year, allowing regional members to compete on equal footing with their metropolitan counterparts. MBA WA board member and chief judge Rob Shaw said the awards were an opportunity to celebrate the people and projects that made WA’s building sector world-class, saying every winner was “outstanding”. “The projects that were before us this year showcased an extraordinary breadth of talent — from large-scale commercial developments to finely detailed residential work,” Mr Shaw said. “They highlight the skill, resilience and ingenuity of builders who are not only shaping our built environment but also contributing to stronger, more sustainable communities. “The judging process we undertook was rigorous; it was conducted with independence, integrity and deep respect for the craft. It has been a privilege to see first-hand the craftsmanship and professionalism that drives our industry forward.”