Meet Dave, your friendly local builder, dedicated to helping Highlanders bring their dream homes to life.
Dave’s been in the building industry for a mighty long time, but not quite as long as he’s been with his lovely wife Renee. The pair met in High School and have been in love ever since.
And when the chance to expand their building presence in the Southern Highlands came up, they jumped at it and opened Wattle Court.
Together with their family, they have big plans for the future of Highlands homes. We were lucky enough to sit down with Dave to hear all about his life and work in our community.
Join us for a chat.
1 :: G’day Dave, firstly, what brought you and Renee to the Southern Highlands?
I grew up down on the coast but started getting work up here in the Highlands. Then, the opportunity came up to set up a business here, so we moved about 18 years ago. We’ve settled in quite well and this is home now. We love the relaxed country lifestyle, with the city still pretty close.
2 :: And how did you get started in the building industry?
I started in the building industry right after school, doing labouring work for a builder. I enjoyed it and kept pressuring him to put me through a trade, and he did. I’ve been in the industry since I was 18, so that’s over 30 years now.
Like any builder, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster ride, but it’s an exciting career. If you love what you do, then you never really work a day in your life.
I’ve gone from being on the tools to being in the office, handling more paperwork now, but I still love getting out there, seeing a house come together, and making sure the client is happy.
3 :: What were you doing before the launch of Wattle Court?
We were managing a different building business and were eager to expand and grow. That’s when the opportunity to open Wattle Court came up. Now, with a larger area and more growth opportunities, we’re all very excited.
4 :: So are we! And it’s a whole family business, is that right?
Yep! Renee and I have been together since high school, even before I started building. She supported me through my apprenticeship and has learned a lot about the industry over the years. We realised we made a great team, and together we built this family business.
Now our sons who are 24 and 27 are part of the team as well as my brother and my brother-in-law.
That’s also why we’ve decided to take this new step, to give them a head start in something they can grow with and help build the new brand. It’s really great to be able to involve them in this adventure.
5 :: And what’s it like working all together?
It’s great. We’re a close family and get along well. We love hanging out together after work and chatting about ways to help the business grow. We wouldn’t want it any other way.
6 :: Tell us more about what makes Wattle Court so awesome.
At Wattle Court, we offer new home builds as well as custom builds and even knockdown rebuilds. Our new build designs have innovative layouts, modern features, and customisable spaces that cater to Highlanders’ preferences and needs.
We’ve also got custom builds where we can sit down and create something special for you.
We love turning people’s ideas into the perfect living spaces that fit their lives just right.
We’ve been in the Highlands for a long time and have learned a lot about what works here. We know the unique climate and how homes need to be built with Highlands weather in mind.
We know the ins and outs, and we have good connections within the community. We’re here to help and make the building process as smooth as possible for our clients.
We’re local and focused on delivering a quality product at a competitive price.
7 :: Now that Wattle Court has officially launched in the Highlands, how are you feeling?
We’re all so pumped! We’re ready to get the ball rolling. We’ve finalised everything and the website is up and running. We are ready to start pricing and building homes. We even have a few display homes in the pipeline, which should be opening in 2025.
8 :: And you know we’ve gotta ask, what do you love most about living and working in the Highlands?
I love the quiet and relaxed atmosphere. It’s nice to go to a coffee shop in the morning or go out for breakfast. Just being able to sit back and enjoy what the Southern Highlands has to offer is wonderful.
Oliver Brown is a favourite for coffee, and the staff are always friendly. We also enjoy going out for dinners at one of the local spots like Onesta Cucina.
9 :: And what do you and the family like to do in your free time…. If you get any?
Haha, yeah, spare time’s a luxury these days. But when we do get a break, we head out to our family farm. We love chilling by the fire and chatting, and usually, the whole crew will turn up.
Sounds lovely!
Thanks so much for chatting with us today Dave.
At Wattle Court, clients work directly with their builders from start to finish. The family team are there to answer your questions quickly and make sure your vision comes to life with
top-notch craftsmanship and care.
Dave, Renee and the whole crew are ready to make your home dreams come true so reach out to them to get the ball rolling.
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