Long before “affordable housing” became the buzzword it is today, Bob Winnel AM was championing the right and opportunity for lower income earners to purchase their own home.
“I had just built my own house and became aware of the kind of issues facing the construction industry,” the former public servant recalls. “My wife and I started a business called R and B Extensions in 1974. We did a whole range of extensions throughout Canberra, and that led to doing work in the broader industry, growing organically from there. Our first major project was 26 townhouses in Giralang, then six townhouses in Chapman.”
At the time, land could be purchased directly from the government and sometimes even over the counter. However, this was also a time of industrial turmoil. “In the 1980s there was industrial lawlessness on a big scale,” Bob recalls. “The Builders Labourers Federation was in the process of being deregistered, and MBA members were really feeling the pressure of union misconduct. I’d been a member virtually from the start of our business and I offered to take on the CEO’s role at the MBA because our members needed support.”
Bob went on to serve as President and is now a Life Member. He helped to found MBA Land, with the original shareholders largely drawn from MBA members. That enterprise later became The Village Building Company. The name “Village Building Company” was deliberately chosen to reflect the company’s mission to not only service land and build houses, but to create communities or villages.
Affordable housing means smaller blocks, modest freestanding homes and townhouses. “There was a lot of opposition from the Planning Authority to townhouses, and we worked to change the acceptability of denser development,” Bob recalls. “When we were doing Palmerston in the ACT, we introduced a far higher proportion of small lots,” says Bob.
“While this approach was considered unconventional at the time, it went on to set a benchmark for affordability and we provided the majority of Canberra’s accessible housing for nearly a decade. We did a development at West Macgregor where we built 1,400-1,500 true affordable homes, small freestanding houses on individual blocks.”
After 28 years of building the company’s legacy, Bob stood down as Managing Director in 2016. Current CEO Vince Whiteside describes the company’s philosophy as visionary. “Now that all of the major cities are running out of greenfield sites, there will have to be significant densification to house people. This doesn’t just mean apartments, but also means allowing two or three dwellings on blocks that previously only permitted one. This densification is something that Village has been pursuing and championing since its inception,” says Vince.
Joining the Company as Chief Financial Officer in 1993, Vince has been with Village for 32 of its 37 years. “For us, affordability means delivering quality homes at a price that is accessible to more people. While we do seek to offer a range of housing types to appeal to a broad range of lifestyles and budgets, our focus has always been on the more affordable end of the market,” Vince explains. “We were a pioneer in advocating for smaller block sizes, which lowered the price point of our house-and-land packages and helped make home ownership more attainable. We are passionate about the importance of home ownership and the security and stability that it brings to both families and individuals.”
The Village Building Company also partnered with the ACT Government on multiple projects. “We did six or seven joint ventures with the ACT Government before they took the decision to bring land development fully back in-house,” Vince recalls. “That was when we decided to pursue sites across the border in Queanbeyan-Palerang. We were already in Brisbane and Wollongong and have since completed projects in Sydney and Melbourne.”
From the beginning, connections between the MBA and The Village Building Company have been integral to Village’s success. MBA advocacy has not only supported Village, but also helped shape a stronger, more sustainable construction industry. “The MBA gives a voice to an industry under pressure – by sticking together, you survive,” Bob says.
Vince agrees: “Their advocacy has been invaluable. They partnered with us on the South Jerrabomberra Display Village, and the MBA awards bring recognition from both the public and industry.” By championing better industry standards and providing platforms for collaboration and recognition, the MBA has played a pivotal role in enabling Village to grow into the successful company it is today.
Looking ahead, the mission for affordability remains the same. “There’s strong demand from young people and families if you can reduce the price point without compromising quality. We’ve always sought to behave in an honest, fair and ethical manner with all of our stakeholders including our staff, shareholders, customers, contractors, consultants and financiers. I have no doubt that this ethical behaviour has been a significant factor in our Company’s longevity,” Vince says.
