(photo: Leigh & Team Onsite)
For over 40 years Leigh Murphy and his family have been building homes for other families, creating housing options for every sized household that reflect the best elements of the Sunshine Coast region’s lifestyle.
Leigh remains one of three Directors of the company and as 2019 comes to a close he is looking forward to another Christmas by the beach and remembers how it all began.
“I first registered my own building company in 1975 and I was really struck by all the opportunities at the Coast to live by the water or with mountain views and how much demand, even then, there was from people wanting to move here,” Leigh said.
“There has always been a hum here, I’ve seen generations of families wanting to relocate to enjoy the lifestyle and bring up their children in a healthy, sunny and friendly place – I see my own children grown up now and developing their own businesses by also sharing that dream with the clients they build homes for – it’s pretty satisfying to see.”
“We built homes from Mooloolaba to Caloundra and the hinterland and I often drive past some of them and still see their homeowners; it’s been especially rewarding to be part of creating new communities that are now a big part of the local landscape, like the thriving area around the Kawana hospital.”
Fellow Director and Leigh’s daughter, Brooke Bastien, went to school at Immanuel Lutheran College and can sum up the reason she moved into the family business and got her own builder’s licence.
Brooke & Ben
“I’m passionate about managing projects and making a difference; I’ve had a lot of volunteer experience overseas in disaster and humanitarian relief coordinating others and delivery of donations to local people in Vanuatu after it was devastated by Cyclone Pam in 2015 and that clarified for me how projects of all kinds and sizes require focus, management and also understanding of the human need for it,” Brooke said.
“Building a home or a commercial or industrial project takes the same attention to detail to achieve its purpose ultimately – I enjoy that and interacting with clients as a shared effort in delivering their ideas.”
The Murphy group has construction divisions in residential, investment, commercial and property development sectors and is building projects across Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. Eco-friendly and sustainable development, as well as diversification are the major focuses for the company and the team closely monitors and incorporates market and industry trends into all they do.
Dad’s Office
The Murphy team have built some of the Coast’s best-known landmarks but it’s the community and charity-based projects that they enjoy most.
“One of the most rewarding facets of our building approach is to work directly with not-for-profit groups to realise their vision; we invested more than time and in-kind support in building and project managing Murphy House for STEPS Pathways College in Caloundra – it’s now home to young adults with a range of disabilities learning life skills for independent living and each of their apartments is purpose-built for their needs,” Brooke said.
“Currently we are completing the new Daniel House, a centre for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation to provide its Walk Tall counselling services for hundreds of children and families, and that’s another labour of love for us all.”
There are more community and charity projects already in planning that will also put the Sunshine Coast region on the map for innovative construction with a social conscience.
Leigh Murphy says he did not set out to leave his mark on the Sunshine Coast, only to contribute to the region’s reputation for excellent builders and high quality construction.
“It’s been a real journey for us as a family and I’m proud of all we have done, together, and to provide homes for other families that they love, where they’ll raise their own families and make their own memories,” he said.
“We are all already looking ahead to 2019 and the things we can achieve – it’s going to be another milestone year for us I reckon.”
