Our company, Industry Superannuation Services Pty Ltd, purchased land in
Our company next purchased the two blocks of land next to the town houses that we had built and together with Freeman Constructions designed and built for four houses. These town houses were also sold as "Spec Houses" through O'Meara Real Estate in Yarrawonga.
I did most of the floor and wall tiling for these town houses and it was when working on one of the property's that I got a call from my sister Muriel to say that my father had collapsed and had been taken to hospital. Unfortunately, he died before we got to Melbourne.
Domestic Builder
Developer and River Country Homes
When we settled in
Yarrawonga I asked Gary Freeman whether he would be interested in a partnership
arrangement with E F Rowlands & Associates Pty Ltd, the trustee company of
the Rowlands Family Trust to build spec house in Yarrawonga/Mulwala. We agreed
that our family trust would purchase suitable properties and then enter into an
exclusive arrangement where all building work would be carried out by Freeman
Constructions. Ed and Ruth Rowlands would design the houses and give drafts to
Gary for his architect to complete the construction drawings. Where possible I
would help in doing work such as tiling, painting, etc.
Our next venture was on the adjacent double block where we built four town houses. Two by the Rowlands Family Trust and one by Freeman Constructions. Some pictures are below.
Three Town Houses on Hovell Street, Yarrawonga
In the meantime, my wife’s stepmother whose maiden name was Frances O’Kaine of Katamatite, after the death of her husband decided to sell the family house in Melbourne and return to Yarrawonga. A suitable block was purchased in Shannon Court, Yarrawonga and we built a house for her, largely similar to our house in River Road, pictured below.
When my daughter Jacqueline who was working in England returned to Australia and got a job in Sydney, she decided to build and have and investment property in Yarrawonga. On one of her visits to town she bought a block of land in Harley Court, Yarrawonga and we built a house for her as shown below.
We had formed a company named River Country Homes Pty Ltd and started building houses under this name, until Gary Freeman and his wife decided to relocate the family to Bendigo. I completed a crash course in the Building Regulations, etc and the Victorian Building Commission, based on my previous experience awarded me a “Domestic Builder Manager” license.
My son Phillip obtained
a “National Builders Group” franchise. NBG was a sales organization that
advertised a range of house designs and when all the paperwork was completed
passed the client to River Country Homes for a building contract. The deposit
paid to NBG was retained by them and progress payments thereafter were paid to
RCH. We leased property in Melaleuca Street, Yarrawonga and established an
office and materials display area.
River Country Homes Office and Product Display
When Phillip decided to relocate to Wodonga and my son Chris joined us from Melbourne, we also built houses for our own customers, some of which are also shown below.
River Country Homes Pty
Ltd and River Country Homes (NSW) Pty Ltd continued constructing homes for customers,
including Display Homes for the National Builders Group until NBG decided to
sell their existing display home in Wodonga and requested River Country Homes
to build a new one. Building Contracts were exchanged and construction
commenced in 2010. We had heard rumors that NBG was in financial difficulties due
to the credit squeeze, but the Managing director assured us that it was a temporary
problem that was in the process of being solved.
All was well, until RCH
found that getting progress payments from NBG was taking longer than usual. We
spoke to the Managing Director and went to Melbourne to discuss the situation
as the RCH cash flow position was being affected.
The NBG Managing
Director offered to sell the property to RCH on the understanding that the Wodonga
display home would be finished. Contracts of sale at the agreed valuation were entered
into, new finance was obtained by RCH and the display home completed in
December 2011.
When RCH solicitors
went to settle the Contract of Sale of the property on the nominated date, we
understand that the Westpac Bank refused to settle the contract. RCH was
advised to take possession of the property, change the locks and refuse NBG or
the Westpac Bank entry.
During March 2012, we
were informed that an Administrator had been appointed to NBG and the financial
problems would be resolved.
Shortly thereafter NBG
went into liquidation.
RCH then stated trading
as National Builders Northeast and continued to use the display home for it’s
own clients.
