Company History
Solid Foundations
1982
Prior to the establishment of Ausbuild, the company’s founding Joint Managing Directors, Ron Loney and Graham Bell teamed up with Brian White and became the first Ray White Real Estate franchisees, opening offices at Carina and Capalaba.
1988
Ron and Graham established Ausbuild, with the White family being the third shareholder in the company. Ausbuild traded as Ray White Homes in those early years and proceeded to become one of Brisbane’s leading house builders.
1996
Ausbuild’s development and construction activities were expanded with the establishment of a commercial construction arm, Ray White Constructions. This division specialises in the design and construction of commercial, retail and office projects as well as apartments and townhouses.
2001
Ray White Constructions added autonomy by establishing a separate company, Constructions Pty Ltd headed by Managing Director, Brad Wootten.
2002
In recognition of its growth as a significant housing developer, the company’s trading name of Ray White Homes was changed to the parent company name of Ausbuild. The Ausbuild brand is increasingly recognised in the marketplace and better encompasses all of the group’s activities from contract housing and turn-key home development to apartments and residential land development.
2005
The Ausbuild group established API Nexus and expanded operations into commercial development and funds management activities. The company specialised in medium to large scale public utility, commercial office and apartment and townhouse development.
2006
In 2006, API Nexus formed the company and brand of Auskids Learning Pty Ltd which opened its first Learning Centre at Bunker Road in Victoria Point.
Also this year, Ausbuild was recognised by the industry’s peak group, the Housing Industry Association as the 2006 HIA Queensland Professional Major Builder of the Year. The first of many years that Ausbuild would win this award.
2007
Ausbuild moved to purpose-built brand new premises on the corner of Mt Cotton Road and Pittwin Road North, Capalaba, Queensland, positioning the company for the next 5 to 10 year growth phase.
During 2007 Graham Bell announced his intention to gradually recede from his position within the company, and as such Ron Loney took the newly created position of CEO for the group.
As a result, the next generation of leaders took on senior management and board positions within the company. Matthew Bell was appointed as Sales and Business Development Director whilst Matthew Loney and Michael Loney were appointed as Joint Managing Directors of Ausbuild Land. Ausbuild began developing its generational succession plan which provides ongoing stability for clients, staff and shareholders.
Also in 2007 Ausbuild’s Product Development team stayed ahead of the market with courtyard designs that would fit on narrower blocks.
2008
In 2008, it was recognised that within the White, Loney and Bell families that the following generations were developing their own strengths within the core businesses areas. As such, it was mutually agreed that Ron Loney and Graham Bell would purchase the White family stake in Ausbuild. The White family however, continue their shareholdings within Ray White Constructions.
At a time when the industry standard for energy efficiency rating was 3.5 stars, Ausbuild was at the forefront by making 5 star energy efficiency ratings standard across all designs. Ausbuild was once again awarded the HIA Queensland Professional Builder of the Year.
2009
Graham Bell retired from his position of Executive Director, and assumed the role of Non Executive Director. Graham is still heavily involved in Ausbuild and is an active member of the Board. Ron Loney assumed position of CEO and Group Chairman. Matthew Bell, Matthew and Michael Loney were appointed to Joint Managing Director roles.
Ausbuild was once again awarded the HIA Queensland Professional Builder of the Year and for the first time was recognised as the national best through the HIA Australian Major Professional Builder of the Year award.
2010
In 2010, Ausbuild Project Solutions (APS) was established to work alongside investment, government and developer clients to provide multi-residential built form solutions.
APS offers design and construction services and works with our clients from the initial stages of development approvals to actualise realistic, transparent and deliverable DAs. We leverage our innate understanding and client mindset, to provide competitive tendering resulting in increased tender opportunities and the success rates of those tenders.
Ausbuild believed that many investors and mums and dads raising a family wanted access to some courtyard or private open space that apartments do not provide, and engaged through its wholesale construction division – Ausbuild Project Solutions – to develop a townhouse model that also addressed the need for affordable product. Our Parklane townhouses at Cowie Road, Carseldine were then developed and the 24 townhouses reflect the same high level of design and building quality as any Ausbuild home.
Recognising the needs of investors who have purchased Ausbuild products, and to provide a complete “one stop shop” service, Ausbuild added a property management division to their service mix. Ausbuild Property Management can source an appropriate tenant, manage rent, manage maintenance and achieve maximum possible return on the investment for our clients.
Ausbuild also launched the Lifestyle Range, an entirely new range which is positioned to be more cost-effective to meet the needs of the South East Queensland Regional Plan. The Lifestyle Range sought an innovative affordable housing solution beyond townhouses that would provide a strong presence in this market.
2011
In 2011 Ausbuild launched another townhouse estate under the Ausbuild Project Solutions model – Central Chase. Offering 3 and 4 bedroom townhouses over 12 architecturally designed buildings, Ausbuild enjoyed a sales rate of over 70% sold in five months.
In 2010, Ausbuild set some goals on creating and delivering more affordable housing through innovative design solutions by partnering with the Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA) within the Fitzgibbon Chase development. Through this relationship Ausbuild has been able to deliver on its goals what are arguably Australia’s best affordable housing solutions through progressive design on a wide cross-section of allotment configurations and achieved a variety of price points through product diversity.
In 2011 as a result of this relationship Ausbuild recently launched a range of innovative new home designs to meet the growing demand for affordable properties close to the city. The four new designs released at Fitzgibbon Chase 16km north of the CBD offered an extremely attractive price point ranging from $276,500 to $389,500. The homes are all on individual land titles with block sizes ranging from 72sqm to 250sqm.
A number of new land estates were launched in 2011 including Aspect at Doolandella, Cedar Vue at Upper Kedron, Lawnton Pocket in Lawnton on Brisbane’s north side and the final stage of Eprapah at Victoria Point.
After a 15 year association, Ausbuild CEO Ron Loney made the significant decision in 2011 to separate Ausbuild from Ray White Constructions. To ensure the continuance of Ausbuild’s impressive organic growth, this decision was made after careful consideration of the next steps necessary to further evolve the organisation. Ausbuild continues its longstanding company culture of superior workmanship and quality product within South East Queensland.
