Strathnairn Charity House

The Strathnairn Charity House SOLD at auction for $1,596,600

Officially opened on 2 March by Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry, the Strathnairn Charity House is a thoughtful collaboration between a committed builder and passionate team led by Ginninderry and Master Builders Australia (ACT) with proceeds from the sale going to four local charities.

The House

This four-bedroom home is a benchmark in efficiency, flexibility, sweeping proportions and bespoke detailing. Double fronted with dual living arrangements, serious sustainable credentials; the home is an elegant response to site, climate and ideally malleable to multiple family configurations, occasions, possibilities. Comprising three bathrooms, two car garage and two kitchens to accommodate intergenerational living, the CK Architecture-designed home is truly one to behold.

Photo credit: Kiernan May

From Then to Now...

It’s the house that heart built: a premium charity home in the suburb in Strathnairn, built thanks to the very generous support and collaboration of local businesses, with the home then auctioned off with the proceeds supporting local community organisations in West Belconnen.

And the charity house did even more good: it also provided a platform to promote the growing participation of women in the construction sector.

“From a design and construction point of view, the project will be led by a female architect and builder but, more importantly, every trade we use will have a female apprentice, and participants on the Master Builder’s ACT & Ginninderry’s successful SPARK Women in Trades program will also use the project as a live training site,” explained Kane Constructions ACT General Manager Jo Farrell during the inception phase of the build.

From the very first ideas back in early 2021, to the hammer coming down at auction just recently, here’s how it all came together:

12 MARCH 2021: Charity project launches

To kick things off, the Ginninderry Joint Venture and Master Builders ACT (MBA) collaborated on the design and construction, while a growing list of MBA members, led by KANE Constructions, volunteered to donate (or provide low cost) materials and labour.
The local charity recipients from the sale of the house were also locked in. Proceeds from the sale would be donated to Hands Across Canberra for distribution to Pegasus Riding for the Disabled, Karinya House and Canberra City Care Charnwood.
JULY 2021: Laying the foundations

Building commenced with JAG Pumping and Boral Concrete pouring the structural slab, setting the literal foundation for the project.
OCTOBER 2021: Building continues

After some delays due to COVID-19 lockdowns in the ACT, construction recommenced.
NOVEMBER 2021: Frame goes up

The home really started taking shape, with the steel frames and roof trusses installed thanks to Steel Trusses Tech.
MARCH 2022: The cherry on top

The house got its modern, long-span roofline, with raised clerestory area, thanks to the dedicated efforts and donations of Lysaght and Delnas Metal Roofing.
FEBRUARY 2023: Home hits the market

Thanks to one million dollars worth of donated materials and labour from Master Builders ACT members, the home was complete and ready for inspections (click here to see the full list of generous contributors). It was no small feat, with the construction period having to contend with a pandemic, a La Niña weather event, plus the cost of building supplies skyrocketing.
The finished architecturally designed home includes four bedrooms, three bathrooms, plenty of customised and bespoke features, and a stunning facade which stands out in Strathnairn.
MARCH 2023: A new owner and plenty of happy charities

After an entertaining 1.5 hour auction on March 25, existing Strathnairn residents Naresh and Pavithra were the lucky buyers of the charity house, paying $1,596,600. And they weren’t the only big winners. Proceeds from the sale of the home were then donated to Hands Across Canberra, who distributed the funds to local charities Pegasus Riding for the Disabled, Karinya House and Canberra City Care Charnwood.
According to Hands Across Canberra CEO Peter Gordon, the impact of auction proceeds on the selected charities, and the communities they serve, will be significant.

From the ground up...

About the Project

MBA members, led by Jo Farrell from Kane Constructions, have donated close to $1 million in materials and labour to bring the dream into reality. Proceeds from the sale of the house will be donated to Hands Across Canberra for distribution to three local charities: Pegasus Riding for the Disabled, Karinya House and Canberra City Care.

The project has seen close to 60 subcontractors across a multitude of industries, most of whom have donated their time to deliver the quality home that represents the best of local industry.

Promoting Women in Construction

The Strathnairn charity house project will have a specific focus on facilitating opportunities for women in construction.

From a design and construction point of view, the project will be led by a female architect and builder but more importantly every trade used will have a female apprentice and participants on Ginninderry’s successful SPARK Women in Trades program will also use the project as a live training site.

Supporting Local Charities

Proceeds from the sale of the charity house will benefit four local charities including Hands Across Canberra, Pegasus Riding for the Disabled, Karinya House and Canberra City Care Charnwood.