Jamie Carroll said he was shocked at taking out four awards. Photo: Facebook.
A Wagga builder has picked up four major industry awards for constructing an eight-star home for former The Block contestant and interior designer Katrina Simmonds.
Jamie Carroll Constructions was recognised at the 2026 HIA Riverina Housing Awards for the Lake Albert home, taking out:
- Riverina Home of the Year
- Custom Built Home of the Year
- Custom Built Home $750,000 to $1 million
- GreenSmart Sustainable Home.
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) awards recognise excellence across the residential building industry, including construction, design, renovations and sustainability.
“We had no idea what we’d achieve when we started this project,” owner Jamie Carroll said.
“We nabbed the GreenSmart Award, which we were aiming for given it was an energy-efficient home, but to get the other three was a real shock.
“We are humbled to get the recognition for the work behind it.”
The home was built on the Lake Albert Manors. Photo: katrinaleedesigns.com.
Mr Carroll said Ms Simmonds approached him to build her dream home after hearing about his reputation.
The result was a home designed to be both stylish and highly energy efficient, achieving an 8.3-star NatHERS rating.
NatHERS is Australia’s national system for measuring the energy efficiency of homes. In simple terms, an eight-star home is designed to stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer, reducing the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling.
“To build an eight-star home, you have to design a home to maximise your solar heat source, which decreases your energy use to heat and cool the house during the season,” he said.
“They’re ideal for Wagga, which has the extremes of frosty winters and 40-degree summers.”
The home’s performance was considered from the early design stage, with the main living areas oriented north and the house shaped around two courtyards to allow natural light and airflow through the home.
Ms Simmonds said the 8.3-star rating was the result of decisions made from the beginning of the project.
“That did not happen by accident,” she wrote on her website.
“It came from decisions we made right back at the floor plan stage, things like orientating the main living areas north and shaping the home around two courtyards so light and air could move through it properly.”
She praised Mr Carroll for working with her throughout the project.
“Thank you for genuinely partnering with me on this rather than just building to a plan,” she wrote.
Mr Carroll also thanked James McRorie from Fine Eye Designs for his help on the project.
The 33-year-old father of four was born and bred in Wagga and began his carpentry apprenticeship in 2012 before working in residential building.
He started Jamie Carroll Constructions eight years ago. The four-person business, which includes two carpenters and an apprentice, specialises in custom-built homes.
Mr Carroll said the awards had given his small business a chance to showcase what could be achieved locally.
“We really want to expand the high-performance market in this town,” he said.
“We are working on another eight-star home in Lake Albert.”
He encouraged young people considering a career in the building industry to spend time learning the trade before going out on their own.
“Stay with your employer for as long as possible to learn all the ins and outs of building, trade work and running a business before you step out to take on your own operations,” he said.
For Ms Simmonds, the project comes 15 years after she appeared on The Block with her sister Amie Godde. The pair renovated a house in Richmond during the 2011 season, but their property passed in at auction and was eventually sold for its $860,000 reserve.
She has since built a career in interior design and renovation.
HIA Executive Director – ACT and Southern NSW Geordan Murray said the awards demonstrated the depth of talent across the Riverina’s residential building industry.
“The quality of this year’s winning projects demonstrates the depth of talent we have across the Riverina,” Mr Murray said.
“From highly energy-efficient homes and carefully integrated renovations to outstanding kitchens and bathrooms, these projects showcase the craftsmanship and attention to detail that HIA members bring to their work.”
He congratulated the builders, designers, tradespeople, suppliers and clients involved in the winning projects.
