Kiama’s Lime Building Group has won an unprecedented nine times at the 2025 Master Builders Association Regional Excellence in Building Awards, the most successful night in the company’s 15-year history.

The business is led by local builder Joel Stewart and specialises in custom luxury home construction across the South Coast and Southern Highlands, with projects ranging from Wollongong to Mollymook.

“I normally win one [award] every year that we go … I don't think I've won nine in my whole career,” Joel said.

The awards won by Lime Building Group included major categories such as Master Builder of the Year 2025, Best Contract Home Over $6 Million, Best Contract Home $5 to 6 million, Best Kitchen Project $100,000 to $200,000, Best Bathroom Project $50,000 to $75,000, and Best Swimming Pool over $500,000 as well as Best Residential Fit-Out, Best Outdoor Living Area Project, Best House Additions, Alterations & Renovations $2 Million to $3 Million.

“It makes me really happy because it wasn't just one house that won. It was four different projects we'd done,” he said.

“It really shows that we've got a really strong team to be able to win so many awards across so many different categories.”

'The Autumn House' by Lime Building Group

In an industry that is becoming increasingly reliant on subcontractors, Lime Building Group operates with over 50 full-time employees and many of them have been with Joel for 7-10 years.

“To deliver what we're doing, you've got to run that model, which is how they used to run building companies 10 or 20 years ago,” he said.

Joel said it can be difficult when hurdles happen, like when there's multiple days of rain - he can’t simply send his workers home, he needs to find work for them.

But the payoff of this is consistency and continuous improvement as a team.

“It's like, ‘hey guys, last time we did that, we did pretty well, but next time I reckon we can do it better.’ And then we just keep learning and evolving with that,” he said.

Growing up in Foxground helped Joel develop an understanding of rural infrastructure that serves him well when they work on larger properties in the area.

Joel’s vision remains the same from when the business started, delivering quality projects without compromise.

“If we do something we're not happy with, we just pull it down and do it again. And if it costs me money, the boys just know that we just do it again and I'll wear the cost,” he said.

Lime Building Group will now head to The Master Builders Association of NSW Excellence Awards in September as finalists, where they’ll be up against elite builders across the state.