Sustainable architecture and quality construction projects

Modern multi-story house in Queenscliff with stone and wood exterior, large balcony, and a well-maintained green lawn with tall trees in the front yard.
Interior view of a modern home with wooden ceiling and wall paneling, stone wall, light hardwood flooring, a white radiator, and a large decorative vase near glass sliding doors showing an outdoor view of trees and sky.

At Keystone Construction and Design, we create beautiful, happy, and healthy homes built to last a lifetime. We specialise in residential construction and thoughtful, high-quality builds.

We love
to build.

Facade of a modern house with wood paneling, a concrete column, a glass front door, and a large window under a flat roof with recessed lighting, under a blue sky.

Sustainable New Homes

  • Solar passive homes designed to maximise natural light and minimise energy consumption

  • Unique homes constructed from rammed earth and other locally sourced, energy-efficient materials

  • Light-filled new homes designed to be accessible, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly

Open-concept living room and kitchen with a view of a deck and trees outside, featuring hanging pendant lights, a ceiling fan, white cabinets, a stainless steel refrigerator, bar stools at a white kitchen island, and colorful throw pillows on a beige sofa.

Custom Renovations

  • High-end custom renovations

  • Well-considered updates to historic, heritage-listed homes

  • Large-scale rural properties, ensuring that beauty and functionality go hand in hand

Our Specialty:

Collaborative Building

Building strong, collaborative relationships with our wonderful clients, which allow us to bring their vision to life through customised building solutions.

Our sustainable approach

Stone house with a gray door, surrounded by green bushes and plants, under a partly cloudy sky.

WHy Sustainability matters:

"The most unsustainable approach to home building is constructing it twice"

We are committed to sustainable building practices by minimising waste at every stage of our projects. This includes careful demolition, designing spaces to optimise material use, and implementing effective waste separation.

Materials We Champion

As carpenters at heart, we have a preference for timber! We also enjoy incorporating rammed earth into our buildings whenever possible. We are typically open to exploring new construction methods and materials; however, the durability and serviceability of a product must always take priority.

Energy Efficiency Focus

The first step toward energy efficiency is considering the size of the property, followed by its orientation. Prioritising solar passive design can significantly reduce energy consumption by strategically placing and shading windows.

"Rammed earth is a great low-carbon material. In most cases, you're using a local gravel that's simply dug from the ground. That forms 95% of the wall! It gets built right on site, so there's very low carbon transport emissions. Rammed earth is beautiful — it adds all this texture and warmth"

Iain Wiebenga
Founder and Director

The Keystone Process

Planning your build? Discover our five step process

  • 1. Scope Initial Design Concept

    We'll conduct a preliminary site visit, then work with your architect or draughtsperson to develop the initial drawings of your new dream home or renovation.

  • 2. Pre-Construction & Collaboration

    We'll assemble your personal team of local Surf Coast building specialists — including a designer, engineer, electrician, plumber, window supplier and energy assessor — and get started! We'll work with you to select the most suitable materials, fixtures and windows for your home. We'll conduct comprehensive site visits and help you navigate a range of essential assessments and consultations.

  • 3. Detailed Plans and Costing Development

    We'll help design a set of accurate and detailed construction plans, work out key costings and begin the process of applying for planning and permits.

  • 4. Refine Plans, Permit and Costing Documentation

    We'll work with you to conduct a detailed review of the plans and costings, and provide expert assistance with finalising and lodging your permit applications.

  • 5. Contract Development

    We'll get everything in writing, including detailed final costings, and go over it all with a fine tooth comb. Once everyone's happy, we'll sign on the dotted line and we're good to go! Time to start building your beautiful new home.

Proudly serving clients across Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Bellarine, Anglesea, Torquay, Newtown, Tawonga, Tawonga South, Mount Beauty and Kiewa Valley regions ·

Proudly serving clients across Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Bellarine, Anglesea, Torquay, Newtown, Tawonga, Tawonga South, Mount Beauty and Kiewa Valley regions ·

Modern kitchen with black cabinetry, white marble countertops, open wooden shelves, under-cabinet lighting, and a ceiling fan.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The duration varies based on the project's size and complexity. Typically, a custom home can take 8–12 months from the start of construction. However, the planning and design phase may add several months before the actual building begins.

    The design phase typically takes 6 to 12 months, depending on local planning regulations. We aim to limit the maximum build duration to 12 months whenever possible.

  • We offer a standard builder's warranty as mandated by local regulations. This typically includes coverage for structural defects for a set number of years. We also provide a workmanship warranty to ensure your satisfaction with the finished product.

  • The permitting process involves two main stages:

    1. Planning Permits: Evaluated for building form, local regulations, and various factors like heritage and bushfire management. Typically handled by the architect or designer in collaboration with the local council.

    2. Building Permits: Completed with a building surveyor. This assesses compliance with engineering, energy efficiency, material selections for bushfire ratings, and waterproofing details.

  • We are eager to provide more "as-built" verifications. One notable option is the Passive House certification, which is the most recognised "as built" verification method. This certification requires integration from the design phase and involves extensive criteria monitored throughout the build.

  • We generally operate under a fixed-price contract, minimising the risk of additional charges for clients, apart from variations, additions, or prime cost/provisional sum items. Any changes in these areas are communicated promptly and clearly to our clients.

  • Absolutely! We enjoy showing clients the progress and discussing how the project is developing. We encourage bi-weekly site visits at scheduled times to facilitate meaningful walkthroughs.

  • While some delays are unavoidable, we strive to work within the project timeline to keep everything on track and minimise disruptions.

“The team at Keystone were a dream to work with. They were efficient, skilled and professional. Iain was always happy to answer any questions and is very knowledgeable and progressive about sustainable construction. He was also amazing with the design process and the whole process was enjoyable and exciting!”

Julie C.
LARGE RENOVATION, FRESHWATER CREEK

Two men standing at a black countertop looking at architectural plans, smiling, indoors with black appliances behind them, one wearing a light green shirt and the other in a black t-shirt and cap.

Ready to Start Your Build?

We specialise in high-quality new home builds and thoughtfully designed custom renovations. Our light-filled new homes and bespoke renovations are designed to be accessible, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly.

Whether you're planning a custom new home or a large-scale renovation across the Surf Coast, Greater Geelong, Bellarine, or Mount Beauty regions, we're here to bring your vision to life through customised building solutions.