A foundation built on steel

For the first five months, he began his business by working from home.

Thirty years on, that very same business now employs more than a dozen staff members plus regular sub-contractors, and builds modern homes across the region — still with the same steel foundations.

The company has also constructed a reputation for building quality homes.

Now, Garry is stepping away from the company — bit by bit — and leaving it in the capable hands of Lewis Homes manager John Dellar.

Garry began his journey working in the building industry in 1974 as an apprentice carpenter and moved from metropolitan Melbourne to Shepparton in 1981, where he registered as a builder in 1983.

In those years, he was faced with a very real problem — termites were bordering on rampant in the area.

Following the banning of certain pesticides and with a dedication to create homes built with integrity, he found what he was looking for in steel frames and the rest was history.

Across 30 years, Lewis Homes has seen many incredible moments — being a major part of families’ lives as they step foot into their forever home and seeing all their hard work on display. But along with the good came some more difficult moments.

“We face new challenges every day like most industries, but houses are forever changing,“ Garry said.

From forthcoming changes given with notice, like the energy rating system lifting a mandatory six stars to seven and other regulation changes, to those unknown — a global pandemic and the rising costs of homes. Each tough day has brought new tactics for the team, a new way to pivot.

Some of the challenges even brought up a familiar feeling for Garry. He said the current difficulties in the trade industry of sourcing materials and supply demands was reminiscent of the late 1990s at the introduction of the GST.

He said in that time, people were buying houses left, right and centre.

“What happened there, you just couldn't get support — we couldn't get material, we couldn't get bricklayers and it’s just like what’s happening now, which is just starting to ease off.”

Aside from introduction of the GST, the company also stayed strong throughout the drought in the 2000s.

“Being steel-framed, a lot of farmers would come to us because they deal with termites every day of the week,” Garry said.

“Sixty per cent of our work was out on farms when the drought hit.”

As times were tough for all — farmers especially — the drought caused Lewis Homes to change direction.

With Lewis Homes’ display homes being based on rural lots, the company had to shift toward an in-town demographic.

“We had to change tactics and move to that part of the market,” Garry said.

With the changes came the discussion — does the company cut costs or keep its extensive list of inclusions? Garry said the answer was clear.

“We did talk about it, whether we go back with the volume builders, do we start at a real low inclusion list?

“But we decided to stay and stick at what we do and where we’re at with quality and standards, that’s one thing we haven’t changed.”

Through it all, the team has stuck together and grown over time.

“I don’t mind a challenge but you need those good people around you,” Garry said.

Lewis Homes continues to take pride in its work, supporting local tradespeople and suppliers to build homes to a high standard.

“That’s what we're all about — building good quality houses and being able to walk around the community with our head up,” Garry said.

“So to me, that’s what it’s all about.

“With the support of our suppliers and sub-contractors, we continue to produce a quality home and look forward to the challenges ahead.“