With good reason, the Austinmer Beach House was named the Supreme Winner of the Think Brick Australia Reuse category in 2012.

The charming renovated property is located in the ‘Northern Coastal Villages’ of the Northern Illawarra, as part of the Wollongong. It houses two self contained two bedroom apartments and a one bedroom garden room – cosy homes away from home for visitors to the area.

Recycled bricks are a key feature in the structure with the Think Brick judges praising the bricks for unifying the house with its environment, making it feel like one continuous landscape.

Bricks were also a natural choice for saving on electricity, due to their high thermal mass – keeping the summer sun at bay and providing a barrier to chilly winter sea breezes.

The building also got the nod thanks to the implementation of recycling of construction waste for use at both the Austinmer and other sites. Materials were selected for their recycled content, low embodied energy, impact on biodiversity and durable good looks in the face of an unforgiving coastal environment.

There were a few hiccups on the way to the win, such as the discoveries of unexpected water sewer mains and buried asbestos. But with the skilled management of passionate sustainable builder Matt Jolley and an expert team of designers and architects, these obstacles were overcome to produce award-winning boutique accommodation.

For enquiries regarding our sustainability policies or initiatives please contact us on 02 98307800.