Jenkins Residential is a family-owned builder in Lake Macquarie and Newcastle, and a three-time finalist in the 2026 HIA Hunter Housing and Kitchen & Bathroom Awards. Our Merewether renovation is a finalist in three categories: Renovation/Addition Project $1 million to $2 million, Outdoor Project up to $300,000 and Bathroom of the Year $30,000 to $35,000.
The home began as a Californian bungalow with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It is now a four-bedroom, three-bathroom family home. The original character stays at the front, while a modern rear extension adds a master suite, main bathroom, laundry, entertainer's kitchen and a light-filled living and dining area. Outside, a pool, landscaped backyard and covered alfresco area extend the living space.
The 2026 nominations follow two finalist placings in the 2025 HIA Hunter Region awards, for our renovation and addition projects in Hamilton and Belmont North. That makes five HIA finalist placings in two years.
Tom and Prue Jenkins founded the business in 2015. Tom is the principal builder, with more than 25 years in construction, and Prue is the interior designer. "Tom and I always work with homeowners before the plans are final, so the build and the interior design are settled together," Prue says.
What sits behind our award-nominated work
Our 2026 HIA Hunter Awards finalist categories
Award-nominated builders across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
We build architectural homes, extensions, additions and renovations, including knockdown rebuilds, second-storey and loft additions, and secondary dwellings such as granny flats and pool houses, with interior design offered in-house.
In Newcastle we regularly work in Merewether, Hamilton, Hamilton South, The Junction and Mayfield. In Lake Macquarie we regularly work in Belmont, Belmont North, Charlestown, Whitebridge, Valentine and Warners Bay. Read more about our work as a Newcastle builder and a Lake Macquarie builder.
Frequently asked questions
Jenkins Residential is an award-nominated builder with five HIA finalist placings. Our Merewether renovation is a finalist in three categories of the 2026 HIA Hunter Housing and Kitchen & Bathroom Awards, and our Hamilton and Belmont North projects were finalists in the 2025 HIA Hunter Region awards.
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) runs annual awards that recognise excellence in residential building, renovation, kitchen and bathroom work. The Hunter awards cover builders across the Hunter region, including Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.
Our Merewether renovation and extension of a Californian bungalow. It is a finalist in Renovation/Addition Project $1 million to $2 million, Outdoor Project up to $300,000 and Bathroom of the Year $30,000 to $35,000.
Yes. Prue Jenkins is our in-house interior designer. She works with you on materials, finishes, colours and spatial planning before the plans are final, so the build and the interior design are settled together.
Yes. Clients are involved from concept to handover, with regular site meetings and clear communication throughout. You deal directly with Tom and Prue, not an account manager.
Yes. Jenkins Residential is a fully licensed building company (Licence No. 309564C) with all required home building insurance, and every project is covered by a comprehensive HIA contract.
Yes, read our articles here:
- Guide to Home Extensions in Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- Extending Your Home in Lake Macquarie: A Builder's Guide
- BASIX Requirements for Building in Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- Architectural Materials for Newcastle & Lake Macquarie Custom Homes
- How to Design a Family-Friendly Home in Newcastle: 5 Essential Tips
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Jenkins Residential completed our extension and renovations on time, budget, with the results going above expectations. The Jenkins management was experienced, skilled and proactive with our project. Their team of trades from design to construction were proficient, polite & experienced and a pleasure to have on site.
We throughly recommend Jenkins Residential and their team.
Jenkins Residential recently completed our home renovation in Belmont North, and we couldn’t be happier with the result. From start to finish, their communication was outstanding, keeping us informed and involved at every stage.
The quality of workmanship and recommended materials were second to none, with every detail finished to the highest standard. Their team of tradespeople were skilled, reliable, and a pleasure to have on-site. What truly set Jenkins Residential apart was their genuine care and interest in our project – they treated our home as if it were their own.
We highly recommend Jenkins Residential to anyone looking for a builder who delivers exceptional results with integrity and professionalism.
We engaged the Jenkins team to renovate our 1920s bungalow and couldn’t be happier with the result.
Tom was easy to work with and kept us informed and involved through the entire build. His ability to problem solve on the go whilst maintaining a high end finish ensured the timeframe and budget were kept on track.
Tom and the team at Jenkins Residential were a pleasure to work with and helped to reduce the stress of building.
We would highly recommend meeting Tom and Prue when considering your own renovation or building project.
Tom has worked on two separate houses for my family and I. Both times he was punctual, explained things in a way we could understand & was on budget.
Tom took the hassle out of the projects by managing all the other trades and keeping constant communication.
Tom completed an extensive renovation on our property in Mayfield and was fantastic to deal with throughout the whole process. Tom was able to solve problems on the run, was on time and on budget (no unexpected cost variations that are common with builders). The craftsmanship was outstanding and the finished product reflected that.
We had Tom complete work on our California Bungalow in Merewether. Tom and the team were unflustered when uncovering the inevitable issues found in old houses and worked to quickly rectify them with minimal fuss. The workmanship was 10 out of 10, with Tom ensuring all work completed was true to the original character of the house.
Tom and the team did an amazing job. The whole process from quote to completion was seamless. The job was completed both on time and on budget. Tom’s recommendations were bang on and we could not be any happier with the finished product. I have no problems in highly recommending Jenkins Residential, in fact I already have put some friends in contact with the team.
Tom and his team have completed numerous projects for us & have done a great job. We are very happy with the outcomes, the teams of tradesmen he brings together to work with on the projects & his manner in dealing with any issues. All outcomes have been very positive.
As a perfectionist myself, his work was excellent and finished to a high standard. His price is competitive with other builders. I would recommend Tom to my family and friends for building and carpentry work.
He was punctual each day and communicated throughout the job to achieve a quality long lasting result that we were instantly happy with. I have recommend Jenkins Residential to friends and family.