In late 2019, 86 year old Peter lost his home in the Gold Coast hinterland to the bushfires. He had lived there for 31 years. An avid butterfly collector, he also lost a precious butterfly collection from New Guinea in the fires.

“A modular house was the quickest way to get in, and I was keen to get in,”

“It’s an incredible process. Here’s a house... 12 metres long or something ... and the posts it goes on, they’re all there and it all fits and they just bolt it up and say ‘well, there’s the house’.”

Within seven months, Peter was living back on his property in his new house.

“It’s incredible how quickly it goes here and how quickly they build it in Warwick.”

Compared to his old home, there were a few modifications.

“I had the windows increased in size (to take advantage of the view) and Westbuilt obviously knew what they were doing. Light coloured floors, light roof – it’s a light house. I don’t like to go into a cave,” he said.

The home is a BAL 40 House, which is the second highest bushfire rating, designed to protect buildings from fire, windborne embers and secondary fires triggered by those embers. Everything on the outside of the home is non-flammable.

The home also has thermal glass, which keeps the house snug and cool, and quiet.

“You don’t even know if its raining! You’ve got to put your hand out the window,” Peter said.

Would he recommend Westbuilt homes?

“I would have NO hesitation in recommending them to anybody.”