The Strathnairn Charity House is the new property on the block, but it’s much more than your average home.
The ‘house that hearts built’ has been designed and constructed predominantly by women, built with almost $1 million of donated materials and labour from Master Builders ACT (MBA) members. Proceeds of the sale will be given to Hands Across Canberra to distribute to three local charities.
Along with an energy efficiency rating of 7.3, the charity house has four generous bedrooms, two kitchens, three bathrooms, a study, and an outdoor entertainment area in Ginninderry’s Strathnairn suburb.
Pegasus Riding for the Disabled, Karinya House, and Canberra City Care Charnwood are the beneficiaries of the proceeds and MBA CEO Michael Hopkins said it’s a “powerful example of how the construction sector can work together to create significant community impact”.
Electricians Caitlin Maggs and Sally Waters were stoked to see the lights and power switch on in the charity house and feel lucky to have the opportunity to be involved in the project.
“It was such an incredible experience to work with this many women on site,” Ms Maggs said.
“’It’s something we’ve never experienced before, and it’s made for a really nice community as well. We’ve made a lot of good friends here.”
Ms Maggs would love to see more female-focused job sites and credited lead builder Kane Constructions general manager Jo Farrell for being an “absolute rockstar” and inspiration for young women in construction.
Ms Waters said having predominately women on the job site improved communication between the tradies and “softened the environment”.
The woman of the hour, Jo Farrell, acknowledged the project was constructed predominantly by women but said plenty of her male peers offered their support.
“We said this house would be designed, built and sold by women and it has, by a group of tenacious, fearless, and determined women,” Ms Farrell said.
“But it’s also been built by some truly magnificent male allies, the types of men who have shaped my career for the past 27 years in construction, the types of men who keep the balance in a sometimes unforgiving and very unwelcoming industry.
“A female architect and builder led the project, but, more importantly, most subcontractors and trades used were either owned or staffed by women. The successful MBA and SPARK Ginninderry JobTrainer Women in Trades Program also used the project as a live training site.”
Construction began on 12 March 2021 and Ms Farrell smiled while admitting she was confident the project would be completed within 12 months.
Seven hundred and twenty days later, she’s ecstatic the house is finally ready for sale.
ACT Minister for Women and Housing and Suburban Development, Yvette Berry, said the official opening of the charity house is the beginning of celebrations for International Women’s Day on 8 March.
Ms Berry said the project is a “wonderful demonstration of participation in the construction industry” and shows the ACT is working to encourage women and girls to take up careers in construction.
“We know that there are some challenges around making sure that people take up that career and we know that there’s 50 per cent of the workforce that have been waiting for that opportunity and now we’re being able to give it to them, and through a project like this one with 80 per cent participation of women on the project …,” she said.
Ginninderry project director, Steve Harding, said the home overlooking the Brindabellas is a “fitting reflection of the passion of the team”.
Mr Harding said the quality and design of the split-level home was outstanding, and with 330sqm of living space, it offers plenty of potential for the lucky new owners.
The Strathnairn Charity House will host open homes from Saturday 4 March and will be auctioned on Saturday 25 March by five leading female agents across Canberra’s real estate industry.
