Stanley’s historic Bond Store has been named the winner of the Restoration/Renovation – Heritage Listed or Period Building – Commercial Award at the 2026 Master Builders Tasmania Awards for Excellence, held in early September 2026 in Hobart.
The win recognises the work of builder Jai Quilliam Building and forms part of a broader night celebrating the best construction projects across the state.
The Master Builders Tasmania Awards for Excellence is one of the state’s longest-running industry events, bringing together builders, tradespeople and specialist contractors from Hobart, Launceston, the North West and beyond to celebrate a year of building and renovation work.
Categories span everything from new residential builds and large scale commercial developments to heritage restorations, apprenticeship achievements and specialist trade contributions, with winners then eligible to progress to the national awards program.
Among this year’s standout performers was Fairbrother Construction, which picked up four awards on the night.
The company was recognised for its soil and water management work on the WTC Hotel, its delivery of the new Brighton High School in the $50 million to $100 million category, its Glenorchy social housing project in the medium density construction category, and a Unique Achievement in Construction award for its work on Procreate.
Fairbrother has long been one of Tasmania’s most decorated construction firms at the state awards, having previously taken out national honours for projects including the Mona Pharos development.
The Bond Store itself has a history stretching back to 1859, when it was built as a stone produce store for the Van Diemen’s Land Company beneath Stanley’s Nut, the striking volcanic plug that has long defined the town’s coastline on Tasmania’s North West.
The building has since been carefully restored and adapted into two luxury waterfront apartments, with the 18-month project involving complex fire safety upgrades, new openings cut through basalt walls up to 660mm thick, and extensive traditional stonemasonry to protect the original stonework, beams and character of the structure.
Jai Quilliam of Jai Quilliam Building said the recognition capped off a project the team was proud to have been part of.
“We’re proud of the care and craftsmanship our entire team and specialist trades brought to the project, and incredibly honoured to have that work recognised with this award,” said Quilliam.
Bond Store owner Tracey Jacobs paid tribute to everyone involved in the restoration.
“Thank you for giving the Bond Store its future while respecting everything that came before it,” said Jacobs.
The Tasmanian win now sends the project to the national stage.
Jai Quilliam Building and the Bond Store will compete in the Master Builders Australia National Excellence in Building & Construction Awards, where state and territory finalists are assessed by the National Awards Judging Panel.
The national ceremony will be held on Friday, 27 November 2026 at The Star Brisbane, with the Bond Store contesting the National Commercial Historical Restoration/Renovation Award category.
The Master Builders Australia National Excellence Awards draw finalists from every state and territory each year, showcasing the country’s best building and construction work across residential, commercial and heritage categories.
The Bond Store restoration involved a team of specialists beyond the head contractor, including design work from David Denman + Associates, stonemasonry by Josh O’Connor, joinery by Smithton Joinery, and owners Julian and Tracey Jacobs, who oversaw the project’s return to public and private use on Stanley’s historic waterfront.