Newcastle Herald

Graph Building - 20 Years of E

Award-winning excellenceAdvertising Feature

Graph have had to be excellent financially and building wise, and they know their market. That formula has stood the test of time.

Collective occasion: Graph general manager Ross Howard at the 2018 MBA Excellence in Building Awards in Newcastle.
Collective occasion: Graph general manager Ross Howard at the 2018 MBA Excellence in Building Awards in Newcastle.

Len Blakeney, Regional Manager at Master Builders Association of NSW, believes Graph's success is driven as much by civic ambition as the need to earn a profit.

"They not only build iconic buildings, they support the industry in terms of training, events and entering awards," Mr Blakeney said. "It's a community aspiration as well as building a business. And that lifts standards.

"You can see the quality work - just look at the Riverlink project in Maitland, or the Anchorage renovations or the redevelopment at Corlette - and it drives competition with other quality firms like North to reach and further that high standard."

Mr Blakeney said it is incredibly hard for any building firm to last 20 years.

"You see a lot of the family businesses struggle over a time frame like that," Mr Blakeney said.

"Profit margins are very narrow, there is a lot of financial pressure and succession can be an issue.

"Graph have had to be excellent financially and building wise, and they know their market. That formula has stood the test of time."

The year 2018 was a special one for Graph, named Newcastle MBA's Commercial Builder of the Year for the second time in it's history (they also won in 2004), the award coinciding neatly with 20 years of operation.

"Awards have a lot to do with timing of the market, but the fact they won in 2004 and again in 2018 is testimony that Graph have done the basics well over the long haul," Mr Blakeney said.

"They treat customers and staff well, they pay contractors and suppliers and of course they produce work of the highest quality."

Based at Broadmeadow, Newcastle MBA has close to 750 members within the Hunter, providing essential services to the local building industry.

"We'd like to thank Graph for the support over many years and hopefully they keep up the high standards established and continue to make some worthwhile profits in the process," Mr Blakeney said. "After all, when it's all said and done, that's important too. And we hope we can continue to support them in their business structures and success."

Building a reputation: The team from Graph at the MBA Excellence in Building Awards in Newcastle.
Building a reputation: The team from Graph at the MBA Excellence in Building Awards in Newcastle.

20 years and going strongAdvertising Feature

SUPER TEAM: Graph Building has come a long way in 20 years and the team are looking to the future with energy and enthusiasm.
SUPER TEAM: Graph Building has come a long way in 20 years and the team are looking to the future with energy and enthusiasm.

Iconic local firm Graph Building celebrates 20 years in operation in July 2019, marking a momentous milestone for a company universally respected for its quality of work and excellence of service.

Two decades ago five men previously employed by renowned Hunter developer Jeff McCloy made the decision to go it alone.

Greg Shoults, Ross Howard, Arch Kirk (who sadly passed away in 2006), Paul Hines and Harry Johnston had all been long-standing valued employees of McCloy Builders.

When Mr McCloy made the decision to dispense with the building arm of his business these five men stepped up and with Mr McCloy's blessing, Graph Building was born.

"We actually continued to trade under the McCloy moniker for about a year, but in due time we felt a new name was appropriate and so we took the first letter from each of our first names and that's how 'Graph' came about," general manager Ross Howard said.

"We never went into business expecting to go broke but not every builder these days lasts 20 years, and we've done that and we're still in good shape so it's a decent milestone for our industry."

Graph is a proudly local business with a total of 28 employees who all live and work in the area.

"We've always been Hunter based and focused," Ross said.

"Our employees share our commitment to delivering superior quality, and being good people to deal with.

"Subcontractors are a key component to our success. We choose to work only with people who know what they are doing. Price has to be an important factor, but relationships, ability, reliability and shared values come into the equation."

Working in what has traditionally been a fairly small market, Graph has needed to be versatile and flexible.

Most projects are in the $1million to $25 million range, and recently they have moved into the residential sphere and can do project home and custom design houses down to $300k.

Jeff McCloy is pleased to see everyone at Graph go on to success.

"They wanted their own identity and put themselves forward as a company distinct from McCloy 20 years ago," Mr McCloy said.

"Indeed we have started many building companies and I take great pride in what they have done.

"It's fair to say Graph has done the majority of our work over the last 20 years and it's always been of high quality.

"The Lucky Country and the refurbishment of the City Exchange at the old Water Board site are just two of many examples of Graph that I could point out.

"Their hallmarks are their integrity, they're straight up and down, they back their work and they're a pleasure to deal with."

20 years and going strongAdvertising Feature

SUPER TEAM: Graph Building has come a long way in 20 years and the team is looking to the future with energy and enthusiasm.
SUPER TEAM: Graph Building has come a long way in 20 years and the team is looking to the future with energy and enthusiasm.

Award-winning local firm Graph Building celebrates 20 years in operation in July 2019, marking a momentous milestone for a company universally respected for its quality of work and excellence of service.

Two decades ago five men previously employed by renowned Hunter developer Jeff McCloy made the decision to go it alone.

Greg Shoults, Ross Howard, Arch Kirk (who sadly passed away in 2006), Paul Hines and Harry Johnston had all been long-standing valued employees of McCloy Builders.

When Mr McCloy made the decision to dispense with the building arm of his business these five men stepped up and with Mr McCloy's blessing, Graph Building was born.

"We actually continued to trade under the McCloy moniker for about a year, but in due time we felt a new name was appropriate and so we took the first letter from each of our first names and that's how 'Graph' came about," general manager Ross Howard said.

"We never went into business expecting to go broke but not every builder these days lasts 20 years, and we've done that and we're still in good shape so it's a decent milestone for our industry."

Graph is a proudly local business with a total of 28 employees who all live and work in the area.

"We've always been Hunter based and focused," Ross said.

"Our employees share our commitment to delivering superior quality, and being good people to deal with.

"Subcontractors are a key component to our success. We choose to work only with people who know what they are doing. Price has to be an important factor, but relationships, ability, reliability and shared values come into the equation."

Working in what has traditionally been a fairly small market, Graph has needed to be versatile and flexible.

Most projects are in the $1million to $25 million range, and recently they have moved into the residential sphere and can do project home and custom design houses down to $300k.

Jeff McCloy is pleased to see everyone at Graph go on to success.

"They wanted their own identity and put themselves forward as a company distinct from McCloy 20 years ago," Mr McCloy said.

"Indeed we have started many building companies and I take great pride in what they have done.

"It's fair to say Graph has done the majority of our work over the last 20 years and it's always been of high quality.

"The Lucky Country and the refurbishment of the City Exchange at the old Water Board site are just two of many examples of Graph that I could point out.

"Their hallmarks are their integrity, they're straight up and down, they back their work and they're a pleasure to deal with."

Standing the test of timeAdvertising Feature

AWARD WINNING: Riverlink at Maitland stands out as a recent example of the diversity of buildings which Graph delivers.
AWARD WINNING: Riverlink at Maitland stands out as a recent example of the diversity of buildings which Graph delivers.

Looking back on 20 years in the industry, two things stand out for Graph general manager Ross Howard - the buildings and the people.

As a builder, there's the pride that comes with the many fine constructions Graph has been involved with, and as a person, it's been the quality of people he's worked with over the years who have been fundamental to the company's success, now and into the future.

Maitland Riverlink Building, a part of the Levee project, stands out as a recent example of the diversity of buildings which Graph delivers.

Riverlink recently took out the 2018 Blueprint Awards - an international architecture and design awards program convened by bimonthly British magazine Blueprint.

Riverlink architects CHROFI took out the category for Best Public-Use Project With Public Funding.

In the process it topped projects such as Maersk Tower in Copenhagen, London Bridge Station in London and Tanderrum Bridge in Melbourne.

Graph worked with Maitland City Council to build Riverlink.

"Councils do not usually build exceptional pieces of modern architecture, and especially in a heritage zone," Maitland City Council general manager David Evans said.

"Graph very successfully delivered the architect CHROFI's and the Council's vision for the building within a busy shopping and commercial area.

"Relationships with the local business community and minimising disruption to the City Centre were front of mind for Graph throughout construction.

"The design features of the building, its many intended uses, and the exceptionally high quality of finishes required, were respected, and professionally interpreted and delivered by Graph.

"I have no doubt that the partnership between Graph, CHROFI and Council has delivered a landmark building for our City Centre, and importantly, a multi-functional connection between the river and High Street that will be a focus of conversation and activity for many years."

Among many other honours, Riverlink was also awarded the 2018 NSW Architectural Medallion at the Australian Institute of Architects NSW awards.

The Medallion honours an exemplary project across all awards categories. Riverlink also won the Public Architecture award, and the Blacket Prize for design excellence in a regional context.

"Riverlink has won so many awards its not funny and so to be involved in the project has been really pleasing," Mr Howard said.

"It kind of typifies not only what Graph is capable of in terms of build and scope, but also how we go about delivering it.

"We've also worked with Maitland City Council to deliver the Maitland Aquatic Centre Indoor Pool and we have just teamed up again to construct the Maitland Regional Athletics facility which gets underway on Monday."

This type of ongoing relationship is another foundation of Graph's success and can be traced back to the people who work for the company and the culture they adhere to.

"People work with us by choice," Ross said.

"We have many long-term employees including accountants, project managers, site managers and labourers.

"They are talented and they all contribute to our success.

"We have a great, well-balanced team. Everyone has a job to do and nobody is afraid to ask a question.

"I enjoy working with a talented and diverse group of people of different ages and skillsets, all of whom will contribute to the company's future."

Building relationships benefits everyoneAdvertising Feature

POSITIVE CULTURE: The team at Graph strives to develop positive relationships across all areas of the business.
POSITIVE CULTURE: The team at Graph strives to develop positive relationships across all areas of the business.

Team culture has been critical to Graph's success over the last 20 years.

That culture has been developed and passed down through generations and is characterised by making the relationship with people and clients as important as being able to make a profit.

"Jeff McCloy was a great teacher in that regard," general manager Ross Howard said.

"It's something he learned from his father Don, and it's something that the original founders of Graph picked up working at McCloys, and something we've worked hard to establish in Graph.

"Essentially it's as simple as knowing what you're doing, being diligent and dealing with people in the right way.

"Be open and frank and honest, give and take where necessary and try and help people as best you can."

It's a formula that has held Graph in good stead over the years, according to long-standing supplier Bill Saddington.

"From a supplier point of view, you could not have a better customer," said Mr Saddington, who's relationship with Graph extends back to the McCloy days and earlier.

"Provided we perform and give them right pricing, they are easy to deal with and always pay accounts on time which in this day and age is a minor miracle.

"There are only a few people you can deal with on a handshake basis these days, and Graph is one of them.

"They take everything that they do professionally, they pay everyone properly and on time and deliver their projects in a similar fashion to budget.

"This enables everyone to move onto the next project with confidence.

"Hopefully we do the same in return."

Harry Johnston, the "H" in Graph, a founding member of the business and it's head estimator over the last two decades, believes treating people fairly and honestly is critical to longevity.

"Graph brought a lot of the McCloy experience and culture with it," he said.

"If you want to be good builder you need good subbies [sub-contractors].

"The best way to keep them is to make sure you pay them on time and treat them well, and in that way they will always come back if they have the choice, which they all do.

"The personal touch does mean a lot and that's a strength with Graph.

"It extends down through the ranks as well.

"We've got a lot of long-term employees in this company.

"We have a lot of foremen and labourers who've have retired with us."

John King started as an apprentice with McCloys as a 16-year-old and is now construction manager and part-owner of Graph and understands intimately what it takes to be a successful builder in Newcastle.

"I think our management is very direct, not too many cogs in the process," he said.

"Clients are dealing with the one person so that continuity is there and when something is said, it gets done."

Graph site manager Martyn Brown has been with the company for 19 years and says respect is important.

"Big builders can be a ruthless mob, but Graph are fair and have a human touch," he said.

"Talk to a contractor who works with a big mob and they'll tell you, you really are just a number at times.

"But Graph has a lot of subbies who've worked for us for 20 years who keep coming back - not all but a lot - and at the very basic level, that says they're getting paid, that they're not getting ripped off or abused.

"So yeah, respect is important, and of course performance.

"Everyone needs to perform.

"If they don't we can't put together a finished product to service our client on time, on budget."

Developer Warwick Miller, the man behind the $65 million Verve towers on King Street, the $25 million Eclipse apartments on Union Street and numerous other boutique developments throughout Newcastle, is emphatic when it comes to the Graph culture.

"My attitude is I only want to work with really honest and sincere people that you can talk to and work problems through - problem solvers," Mr Miller said.

"Ross and his team are unquestionably people of incredible integrity and they're standards of construction are impeccable.

"When Ross quotes and builds you can't beat it.

"Ross always looks at the best solutions for the owner.

"As a developer, you always know you don't want to leave problems behind in the short, medium and long term.

"John King has the same ethos and ability as do the other members of the Graph team, and the older hands are passing that on to the next generation.

"I believe in all these people.

"Moving forward I will continue to work with Graph."

Maintaining the margins for successAdvertising Feature

ON THE JOB: Clockwise from top, Tomaree Health, Toronto Pool and the Sports Centre at Macquarie College, one of several projects Graph has completed for the school.
ON THE JOB: Clockwise from top, Tomaree Health, Toronto Pool and the Sports Centre at Macquarie College, one of several projects Graph has completed for the school.

There's an old industry joke about what defines the difference between builders and developers - and that's margins.

It's something Graph general manager Ross Howard recounts with a chuckle when he considers the challenges his team have faced each day over 20 years.

Choosing projects carefully, knowing your market and employing the right people to execute those projects is critical in an industry notorious for unpredictability and financial pressure.

Graph works in the commercial range on a variety of project types up to approximately the $30million range.

It also operates in the residential sphere from individual houses to medium density housing and apartment buildings.

All up Graph employs about 28 full-time people, with approximately 16 in the office and 12 on site. Most of the actual building is done by sub-contractors.

"We take work as it comes," Mr Howard said. "Most work is won by tender, a lot of it for government agencies - so we operate in a competitive environment.

"At any one time we have 8-10 commercial jobs on the go, plus another 10 housing or residential projects.

"We have an inhouse accountant, Scott Coburn, who looks after our financial details. Scott's been with us for 20 years. Guys like Harry Johnston, our head estimator who retired this year on the fourth of July, have been critical in sourcing work. Now Harry's handed the mantle over to Dean Lawrence, and we have Shannon Jones coming through to step up into Dean's role. We have young people coming through, who put together tenders and win us work."

The team onsite are very practical people and manage day to day actions in the field.

"Construction manager John King, who became part owner of Graph several years ago, knows the industry very well in Newcastle - he's as good you get in what we do," Mr Howard said.

"We stick to our knitting, we think we're good at it and we've been doing it for 20 years. Warwick Miller wanted us to build the Verve but it was just a bit too big for us.

"That's how we've managed to maintain those tight margins over the last 20 years, and I imagine that's how it will continue to be."

Held in highest estimationAdvertising Feature

VETERAN: Harry Johnston has been with Graph for the long haul and has carved out an enviable reputation in the local building industry.
VETERAN: Harry Johnston has been with Graph for the long haul and has carved out an enviable reputation in the local building industry.

Harry Johnston is the "H" in Graph and up until July 4, 2019 was the company's head estimator and longest-serving employee.

Harry worked for McCloys for 20 years before he and the four other founders (Greg Shoults, Ross Howard, Arch Kirk, Paul Hines and Harry) established Graph.

Born in Scotland, married to a Cessnock girl and universally recognised as one of the nicest men you'll ever meet, Harry has a wealth of industry knowledge and has seen many changes.

"I was head estimator with McCloy from 1980 to 1999 and in that time my biggest achievement was probably winning the John Hunter Hospital contract," Harry said.

The Head Estimator estimates costs of all projects, in tenders, negotiated contracts, costings and so on.

"It is a bit of a dark art in that ideally you win the project by as little as possible," Harry said. "But that doesn't necessarily mean you make any money. It's still up to the company to make profit and many things can affect that."

When Harry started out back in the 1970s, the Newcastle building industry was very localised.

"We were typically up against other Newcastle builders, but a lot of those companies - Stronach, Compton, Doran - are no longer with us," Harry said.

"Building is a hard game and it's not easy to survive."

Harry is a veteran of the transition to the computer age and although technology simplifies things it doesn't guarantee success.

"We were one of first to have computerised estimating systems with Jeff back in 1988," Harry recalls. "It was a big change from a slide rule and notebook, but the computer was no more accurate. But it meant you could price more projects in the same amount of time and made me more efficient."

Since Graph was formed, Harry believes the biggest change has been in occupational, health and safety.

"It didn't affect estimating but it changed way companies had to work," he said.

"You had to pay more attention to safety, more paperwork, do everything by the book.

"It's been good because accidents are down. You can't delete accidents completely but you can reduce them."

Another change Harry has noted is the shift in onus on the builder to point out issues in construction.

"These days with self-certification, you just can't just rely on the architect, because problems will be traced back," Harry said.

"The fact that we are still around after 20 years is testament to the fact that we don't get too many things wrong, because mistakes always come back to bite you."

One thing that hasn't changed with Graph is their commitment to supporting the local building industry.

"We've always used local sub-contractors given the choice," he said.

"This is Our Town and you try and keep it that way."

Another constant has been Graph's ability to bring on the next generation.

Harry retired on July 4 this year, but succession plans have been in place for several years, with Dean Lawrence groomed to take on his role as Head Estimator, and Shannon Jones earmarked to fill Dean's shoes.

"Both have done the building course at Newcastle uni and both are smart cookies who have slotted in well and will carry us forward," Harry said.

As for retirement, you get the impression Harry doesn't see it as an exclusively full-time situation.

"We're all long term employees at Graph I reckon," he said. "I've cut back to three days a week over the last couple of years, but I imagine if things get busy, I'm only ever a phone call away."

Relationships built on solid foundationsAdvertising Feature

RISING ABOVE: Warwick Miller standing on the 15th floor of the Verve apartments during construction in King Street. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
RISING ABOVE: Warwick Miller standing on the 15th floor of the Verve apartments during construction in King Street. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Warwick Miller is a Sydney-based developer whose relationship with Graph Building and Ross Howard goes back many years.

His perspectives on why Miller Property Corp partners with Graph on projects in Newcastle gives some pertinent insights into why clients return to Graph again and again.

"My relationship with Ross started when Peter Marosszeky drew up plans for The Darby on Darby St in approximately 2003," Warwick recalled.

"I had built the Castle Tavern on King and Steel Street in 1974 and ran it until 1981 when I went to Hong Kong for 20 years.

"When I returned to Sydney I went back to Newcastle to start doing business again and Peter recommended Graph as the best builders in Newcastle.

"They had an incredibly good reputation.

"Graph quoted on the building and built it beautifully - The Darby on Darby.

"Excellence on time, excellence in quality.

"Absolutely to this day no quality issues, no failures.

"It was the first of many relationships for me with Ross and Graph Building."

Together they then went on to do Bolton Tower and Silk House in Hunter Street Mall.

"Silk House was a difficult site requiring a complicated Heritage clean-up," Mr Miller said.

"We had to protect and maintain the facade on the mall and it was a difficult build requiring the construction to be done around the windows. Graph brought a wealth of experience to the project and the result was outstanding."

Mr Miller and Graph next moved onto the Brown Street Boarding House, a student accommodation project fashioned out of the old Uniting Church Care aged facility.

"Again they showed great skill in doing all that work internally," Mr Miller said.

After onselling the boarding house Mr Miller decided to buy Bimet Lodge on Union Street, across the road from the netball courts, and build Eclipse Apartments.

"This was the single biggest build Graph had ever done - high quality and complex," Mr Miller said.

"The site had a lot of contamination on it and Graph did it magnificently. The way they protected the neighbours and monitored air quality was outstanding.

"They also had to put screw piles filled with concrete 28 metres down to bedrock to secure the foundations, and I think it is this attention to detail that truly sums up the way Ross goes about his work.

"As a developer, you don't want to leave problems behind in the short, medium or long term.

"This attention to detail allows me to sleep at night.

"You don't meet many people with as much as integrity. What he says is what he does and as a client that is great. He built the Eclipse and it will stand as testimony forever to Graph."

Mr Miller's next project was the twin Verve Towers on King Street, soaring 66m above the city.

Mr Howard was involved at the outset in the purchase of land for Verve but when he realised the scope of the job, he chose not to continue.

"We stick to our knitting," Ross likes to say about the range of jobs Graph takes on.

"Verve was substantially bigger and more complex than anything we've done before and we decided it was not for us.

"We know our market, we're good at what we do and we've been doing it for the last 20 years."

Mr Miller has no doubt Ross could have done the job if he chose to take it on.

"The Eclipse was a $25m job, Verve was nearly $65m with a huge range of issues," Mr Miller said.

"Ross has a team of very good people with him.

"Harry Johnston the estimator, senior construction manager John King.

"These are very capable men with great ability and ethos who deliver beautiful work on time with the least amount of fuss.

"They decided that Verve was beyond what they wanted Graph to do, so they chose to stay in the level within the company ethos."

Bill Saddington, owner of Saddington Building Supplies, knows a thing about solid business foundations too.

His grand-father Percy established the trusted family-owned company back in 1921.

Saddingtons has worked closely with McCloys, both Don and Jeff, and Graph over the last 60 years or more supplying materials from the ground to the roof and all internals.

He endorses Mr Miller's comments when it comes to Graph's attention to detail and getting things right.

"People at Graph are responsible, honest; people you can do a hand shake deal with and they always do an excellent job," Mr Saddington said. "You have to be careful with people you deal with in the building industry because some people cut corners

"Not Graph. They are very professional and honest."

Building path to the futureAdvertising Feature

FLOURISHING: Shannon Jones is carving a niche in the building and construction industry as an estimator at Graph.
FLOURISHING: Shannon Jones is carving a niche in the building and construction industry as an estimator at Graph.
STEPPING UP: Dean Lawrence is excited about his transition to head estimator; David Howard heads up the residential arm of the business.
STEPPING UP: Dean Lawrence is excited about his transition to head estimator; David Howard heads up the residential arm of the business.

The capacity to evolve is something Graph has done well over its first 20 years and it sets a solid platform for the future.

Employees tend to be identified and low turnover rates suggest those making the hiring decisions tend to get their man, or woman as the case may be.

When head estimator Harry Johnston stepped down this year, for example, Dean Lawrence stepped up, but it was by no accident or surprise.

Dean had been with Graph for nearly a decade and his evolution into the role was typical of the way Graph does progression.

"I'd been looking for a change from the role I was doing at the time, and when I spoke to Ross [Graph general manager Ross Howard], it was clear even then they'd been thinking about the time when Harry might move on and they asked if I'd be interested in taking on an estimator role," Dean said.

"Harry was considered pretty much the best in the business and although my background at that stage was more project management, the prospect of working and learning with Harry at Graph certainly appealed.

"The company had a good reputation and as I quickly found out, people are switched on, but nobody is afraid to ask for your input, and that's from the top down.

"It makes Graph a place you enjoy coming to work."

Ten years on and the progression to head estimator has occurred for Dean, and in turn Shannon Jones has been earmarked to fill Dean's shoes.

"Shannon spent some time with us on a grad program back around 2017 and it was clear from the start that she was someone who had a future in our industry," Dean said.

"As it turned out when she graduated, circumstances meant Graph couldn't offer her a role so she found a job elsewhere but we asked her to keep our number.

"Ross and Harry thought she would be suitable to slot into an estimator role, and when we were in a position to offer her something we got in touch and thankfully she agreed to come over."

Being a female in a notoriously male-dominated environment has not been an issue for the former Australian junior water polo player.

"It's a good place to work, I love it," she said.

"Everyone is friendly and supportive and Ross and Harry go out of their way to introduce me to people I need to talk to.

"If I have questions about anything I can ask anyone because everyone knows each other's role.

"There's a nice balance of independence, no babying, but if you ever have questions, you can ask."

The company ethos on how to do business has also been ingrained in the younger brigade.

"Ross is not big on expanding to get more work," Shannon said. "He's all about 'do what we do and be good at it'.

"When we tender, we only get quotes from those who will give us quality, we never look for the cheapest job.

"Clients often comment on how well projects run and the quality of finish

"It's something we strive for from the start, and the amount of return clients we have is a big measure of that."

Shannon and Dean typify the attitude of Graph employees, young and the not so young - it's a company they want to work for.

The business has identified them for a reason, invested in them and they in turn want to repay the faith.

It stands the company in good stead moving forward, and as Ross Howard reflects on what's to come in the next 20 years, he's pretty low key.

"Stick to your knitting, but who knows, in general I expect it will be building as usual."