Collier Homes: ASIC reveals one of Perth’s most well-known builders has gone bust

A well-known Australian residential building company has collapsed.

Collier Homes went into liquidation after more than 60 years in business, with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission revealing on Tuesday that the company would be wound up.

Robert Conry Brauer and Linda Methven Smith from McGrath Nicol have been appointed as liquidators.

Collier’s owner Dario Amara yesterday declined to comment on the demise of his award-winning West Australian company.

But a notice on the company website, either posted or updated this month, pointed to industry challenges since the pandemic hit.

“We try hard to please our customers during these challenging times,” it said.

“The post-COVID stimuli were well-intentioned. However, they created massive supply chain shortages, delays and labour constraints, all translating to unpredictable cost escalation.

The website went on to quote a report released this month.

“CoreLogic economist Kaytlin Ezzy, in her 10 April 2024 report, mentioned that “current building costs are still 27.6 per cent higher than at the start of the pandemic, which is putting significant pressure on builder’s profit margins.”

Mr Amara is a second-generation builder with more than forty years of experience. His company built an award-winning home, North Perth House, which was featured in the Grand Designs series.

The Home Builders Action Group said it was a difficult time for the industry.

“The collapse of Collier Homes is a tragedy,” said chairman Jason Janssen.

“Collier has built quality homes for West Australian families for decades.

“The Home Builders Action Group [HBAG] has been sounding the alarm for many months now, and to witness the end of an industry stalwart is upsetting for everyone.

“ The No Interest Loans Scheme announced in January has still not made a single loan, and unless the Government realises and acts to combat the difficulty confronting small to medium builders as a result of well-intentioned but wrong-headed stimulus grants, HBAG fears there will be many more collapses impacting many more families.”