McDonald Jones Homes founder and owner Bill McDonald has been awarded the highest honour possible by the Housing Industry of Australia, the 2015 Sir Phillip Lynch Award of Excellence.

 

The award pays tribute to Mr McDonald’s vast achievements including his leadership, innovation and generosity. It honours a person in the housing industry who has provided innovative and valuable contributions to the industry.

 

Bill started his building career as an apprentice carpenter in Newcastle in 1965. After two decades on the tools Mr McDonald started his own business. McDonald Jones Homes is now the largest volume builder in New South Wales and one of the fastest growing building companies in Australia following recent expansions into the ACT and Queensland.

 

Mr McDonald said the organisation has enjoyed success during many industry downturns over the years. McDonald Jones continues to expand, last year launching a sister business Mojo Homes, which started building its first home in May. The business also now has display home sites in New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland.

 

Despite this success, one of his most outstanding and enduring contributions is Mr McDonald’s community work. This includes the establishment of the McDonald Jones Charitable Foundation, which generously supports the work of the Maitland Hospital Foundation, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and the Hunter Medical Research Institute.

 

Mr McDonald is a life member of the HIA. He joined the association over 25 years ago. He has served on the Newcastle Branch Committee and the Hunter Regional Executive Committee. Mr McDonald was the region’s inaugural president, a role he held for seven years. Under his presidency membership grew from around 750 to over 2,500 members.