A record-breaking crowd of 900-plus saw Mornington-based family business First Impressions Projects crowned Master Builder of the Year at Crown Palladium tonight.

First Impressions director Robert Rolls and his team were recognised for their work on a spectacularly located, three-storey home in Somers on the Mornington Peninsula.

Shadow Planning Minister David Davis presented the award, also naming Gippsland’s Brooker Builders the Regional Builder of the Year and Sinjen’s Tim Nathan the Young Builder of the Year.

Master Builders CEO Radley de Silva said it was an honour to acknowledge the quality work, dedication and craftsmanship of all of the winners.

“The class of entries this year was exemplary and it is a pleasure to reward the talent, skill and commitment to customer service that First Impressions, Brooker Builders and all of the winners have shown with the winning projects,” he said. “It is also exciting to recognise the up-and-coming talent of Young Builder of the Year Tim Nathan, whose work with Sinjen speaks volumes for the future of our industry.”

This is not the first Master Builders award for Robert Rolls and First Impressions. He was named Young Builder of the Year in 2012. First Impressions also took out the award for the Best Renovation/Addition over $1 million in 2010. The qualified carpenter and architecture student established First Impressions Projects in 1995 to “provide excellence in building and design.”

The winning Somers project features four bedrooms, a theatre room and an infinity pool. All rooms in the house take full advantage of natural light and unhindered views to the sea.

In his comments, judge Neil Evans describes Robert as “impressive and articulate.”

“I liked the way he worked through issues to find solutions,” he said.

Judge Rob McLauchlan was equally glowing saying “every area of the home shows exceptional attention to detail.”

“This is an exceptionally finished home, constructed in the face of a very difficult site and complex design,” Mr McLauchlan said.

First Impressions Projects will now compete in the National Excellence in Building Awards to be held in Hobart on 25 November.

Click here to see all of the winning projects.

Winners of 2017 Excellence in Housing Awards

Master Builder of the Year
First Impressions Projects Pty Ltd
Somers

Regional Builder of the Year
Brooker Builders Pty Ltd
Metung

Young Builder of the Year
Tim Nathan, Sinjen

Best Renovation/Addition under $200,000
Latrobe Valley Building Services Pty Ltd
Traralgon

Best Renovation/Addition $200,000 – $300,000
Latrobe Valley Building Services Pty Ltd
Sale

Best Renovation/Addition $300,000 – $500,000
Grundella Constructions
Cremorne

Best Renovation/Addition $500,000 – $750,000
Delco Developments Pty Ltd
Balaclava

Best Renovation/Addition $750,000 – $1M
Markus Builders Pty Ltd
Richmond

Best Renovation/Addition over $1M
Quality Built
Mount Eliza

Best Renovation/Addition over $1M
ACS Builders
Flemington

Best Display Home under $250,000
Eight Homes
Cranbourne North

Best Display Home $250,000 – $300,000
Henley Properties
Point Cook

Best Display Home $300,000 – $350,000
Simonds Homes
Taylors Hill

Best Display Home $350,000 – $425,000
Arden Homes
Botanic Ridge

Best Display Home $425,000 – $500,000
Q Designer Homes
Torquay

Best Display Home $500,000 – $750,000
Urbanedge Homes
Cranbourne North

Best Display Home $500,000 – $750,000
Arden Homes
Clyde North

Best Display Home over $750,000
Englehart Homes
Balwyn North

Best Custom Home under $300,000
Cameron Construction
Macs Cove

Best Custom Home $300,000 – $400,000
Zaas Homes Pty Ltd
Thornbury

Best Custom Home $400,000 – $500,000
Q Designer Homes
Ocean Grove

Best Custom Home $500,000 – $600,000
Lachlan Fleming Constructions P/L
Woodend

Best Custom Home $600,000 – $800,000
Englehart Homes
Heidelberg Heights

Best Custom Home $800,000 – $1M
Sinjen
Brunswick East

Best Custom Home $1M – $2M
Neumode Design & Construction Pty Ltd
Glen Iris

Special Commendation
Best Custom Home $1M – $2M
Englehart Homes
Balwyn North

Best Custom Home over $2M
First Impression Projects Pty Ltd
Somers

Special Commendation
Best Custom Home over $2M
Visioneer Builders
Harkaway

Best Multi Unit Development – up to 3 units
Centex Homes Pty Ltd
Murrumbeena

Best Multi Unit Development – 4 to 12 units
Marks Group Constructions
Brighton

Best Multi Unit Development – over 12 units
Bayside Construct
Port Melbourne

Best Integrated Housing Development
Pace Development Group
St Kilda

Best Sustainable Home
Croft Wootton Construction Pty Ltd
Somers

Best Kitchen under $40,000
Anderson Homes Pty Ltd
Hawthorn East

Best Kitchen over $40,000
Anderson Homes Pty Ltd
Kew

Best Bathroom under $30,000
Bluestar Living
Balwyn North

Best Kitchen in a Display Home
Glenvill Homes
Elsternwick

Best Bathroom in a Display Home
Verde Homes Pty Ltd
Canterbury