No Place Like Home with Roebuck Concepts
A home is more than bricks and mortar—it has its own story, and one local builder is taking their clients’ dreams to new heights! Jodie Cameron unearths the passion behind their bespoke and bold designs…
Home is where the heart is – and is one of the biggest investments you will ever make – so finding a builder who can turn your dreams into reality can be a challenge… until you meet Tom Roebuck from Roebuck Concepts. Tom is your man for all things bespoke, and once you have witnessed one of his architecturally designed homes, you’ll understand that a love of fine craftsmanship and stunning design runs in his veins.
Hailing from County Derry in Northern Ireland, Tom was born with an eye for design, and studied in England before moving over the border to Scotland. This is where he met his Scottish wife Louise, who is Roebuck Concepts Chief Financial Controller aka ‘the boss’. With a Design Degree in his toolbelt, Tom lived the creative life as a furniture designer and builder before making the switch to construction before he and Louise moved their young family to Australia in 2012.
“We decided it was the right time, so we took the plunge and landed in Western Australia,” Tom said.
“But the landscape wasn’t what we had envisaged, and I struggled to get a leg up in construction so we decided to travel and see more of the country.
“I have always been passionate about clever, functional and beautiful design, so when we arrived in Peregian Beach in 2016, we recognised the market and the architecture was far more interesting than anywhere we had been.”
So the Roebucks set about laying solid foundations – pardon the pun – and Tom began cementing his reputation in the competitive construction game. Even as a one man show, Tom was kept busy with carpentry work until they received their first real break renovating a million-dollar home for a dear friend.
“When we arrived on the coast, I didn’t even know where the Mitre 10 was,” Tom chuckled. “I did a lot of small jobs for a good year when by complete chance, a friend I met when backpacking in Sydney 25 years earlier, had moved to the Sunshine Coast and wanted to renovate a house. They asked us to find them a property, and totally trusted us with our first big job.”
With one major project in their portfolio, Tom and Louise created a sales brochure and from there leveraged up by purchasing a house on Grandview Drive in Yaroomba – the street name quite literally speaks for itself – with the intention of flipping it. But six years on and the family is still living the dream in their ‘fancy’ house on the hill.
“When you are renovating to sell, it’s different to how you build your final home. We never intended to live in this house – it’s far too fancy for us; and with three active boys, let’s just say the parents’ retreat has never really been a retreat,” Tom laughed. “After coming out of the GFC relatively unscathed, we knew that building beautiful homes in sought-after locations was a sure way to get our work in front of the right architects – so after renovating, we held an open day.”
House envy is a real thing, and with their renovated home causing waves along Grandview Drive it wasn’t long before they started picking up work around the iconic hills of Coolum Beach. One might call it the ‘Roebuck Effect’ as their unique designs gained traction; making Roebuck Concepts literally a household name.
Servicing the northern end of the Sunshine Coast, and through the Hinterland, whether it’s a custom new home build or full home renovation from conception to completion, Tom and his team of skilled craftsmen create quality homes that not only stand out, but are uniquely yours – a place where memories are made. After nine years building a portfolio of multi-million dollar premium homes, Tom has built a reputation for quality. “My guys treat every job with passion and precision, and I personally manage all our projects ensuring every detail is thoughtfully executed,” he said.
Roebuck Concepts seamlessly takes care of the entire process. “Our first step is to discuss the client’s vision to define the project scope, timeframe and budget, then introducing them to one of our trusted architect partners. Many people don’t realise that it’s in their interest to engage a builder first so we can support them through the design process to ensure their project comes within their budget,” Tom explained.
“We’ve partnered with several local architects on new home builds and the results have been amazing.
We recently finished a full home renovation in Pelican Waters with Reitsma & Associates. It was a fantastic collaboration; we completely transformed the interior into a modern new space and the client couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”
No two homes that Roebuck Concepts builds are the same. “We consider a client’s unique style, the block, position and budget. Our guys are master craftsmen and our homes are not cookie-cutter; we love problem solving to find creative solutions for our clients,” Tom said.
Whether it’s intricate timber columns, a sunken lounge to maximise views, beautiful bulkheads to create a focal point, or sustainable solutions for the Sunshine Coast environment – you dream and they will build it!
Transforming tired old houses into modern new spaces that celebrate style and individuality is their forte – and no idea is too outrageous.
“We love exploring new concepts and helping visualise a design suited to your lifestyle, whether it’s a completely new modern and functional kitchen or bathroom, jaw-dropping deck or impressive stairwell,” Tom enthused.
And building bespoke, architecturally designed new homes is at the core of what Roebuck Concepts loves to do. “We recently completed an impressive Noosa home built over three levels with Noosa River views with the Aboda Design Group. It featured stone cladding to the façade, a five-metre high ceiling with a large pendant light, a hardwood staircase, a galley kitchen with large island bench and feature stone top, and Tasmanian Oak flooring,” he added.
“We’re currently working on a new home build in Cotton Tree with K Architecture. We’re really excited about this one – it will be a very modern build – a definite standout feature.”
Tom says that every project they work on is as unique as their clients. “We love creating a fabulous space that not only suits their needs and expectations, but that we are proud to hand them the keys to and witness the sheer joy on their faces,” he said.
The future is bright for Roebuck Concepts – let them scaffold your dreams into a stand-out place to call home!
