Newcastle Living Magazine

Bespoke Builds

Built by Eli is a Newcastle-based building company specialising in high quality and bespoke builds, with a firm focus on building long-term relationships with clients. Newcastle Living recently spoke to head honcho Eli Conroy about Built by Eli’s history, standout work, and their new Maggie Street development.

How did Built by Eli come about?

After I completed my apprenticeship for a great builder in the Blue Mountains, I wanted to work for myself and build my own company – so the seed was really planted early in my apprenticeship. For me, it was a no-brainer at the time, but obviously there was plenty of work to get the company up and running at 23 years old. 

What is it that sets Built by Eli apart from your competition?

For us, trust is at the heart of what we do. We make sure we’re trusted to price the project, work in or on someone’s home, and to deliver the home to the best standard possible. Builders have got a bad reputation for not being trusted through the process or letting clients down, so we would sooner drop everything to help a client than have them feel like we’re not on their side. 

What’s the best standout project your team has worked on? 

A house in Wickham by Curious Practice called ‘Vikki’s Place’. The brief was to keep everything as raw a finish as possible. So that’s what we did, but by doing so that left little room for error, and made the home one of a kind. It was also the first project that really received good publicity, winning the local Newcastle Architecture Award for best new home. 

About the Maggie Street Development

We hear you’re currently working on Maggie Street Development in Mayfield East, what about this development are you most excited about?

The thing that makes me most excited about the construction of Maggie street is to then use it as a guide for future development in the Newcastle and Hunter region. I want to prove to future clients, community, council and developers that spending extra on design and build costs does pay off and is also ethically the best choice. 

Why did you choose to go with an award-winning architect Curious Practice?

They have thoughtful ideas, a great knowledge of council guidelines and what can be achieved. Knowing the project will only mature with time and sit well on the landscape and streetscape means we have the same vision for the project.