Highwater Homes

About Highwater

About Highwater Homes,Toby and Elizabeth Searle

Highwater Homes has been designing and building custom homes across Camden, Macarthur, the Illawarra and the Southern Highlands since 2011. We are a family run business owned by Toby and Elizabeth Searle. We build up to ten homes a year and no more.

Book a Discovery Call0483 943 309

Builder licence BLN 110940C, trading as Oakward Constructions Pty Ltd

Toby and Elizabeth Searle, owners of Highwater Homes
Founded in Macarthur
2011
Founded in Macarthur
Years building custom homes
15+
Years building custom homes
Homes a year, no more
10
Homes a year, no more
Custom homes Toby project-managed before Highwater
100+
Custom homes Toby project-managed before Highwater

Our story

We are your true local builder.

  1. 01

    Born and raised in Camden

    I was born in Camden and we both grew up in Camden enjoying all aspects of the lifestyle that the Macarthur area has to offer.

  2. 02

    Carpentry and joinery

    I attained a highly skilled background in carpentry and joinery with a local Camden builder before setting up my own carpentry business over twenty years ago.

  3. 03

    Project manager for Macarthur's top builders

    My knowledge and expertise were put to good use working as a project manager for some of Macarthur's top builders. Over 100 custom built homes were under my control throughout this period.

  4. 04

    Highwater Homes is founded

    In 2011 Elizabeth and I established Highwater Homes, Macarthur's custom home building specialists. Our aim is to build beautiful forever homes through a building experience that is enjoyable and totally stress free.

  5. 05

    Still local, still hands-on

    We now take great pleasure in watching our three children enjoy the same lifestyle that Macarthur has to offer. We will work with you to integrate your ideas, wants and needs into a completely customised and unique design.

Toby SearleBuilder / Managing Director

Meet the owners

A family run business.

Director and Builder

Toby Searle

Builder Licence BLN 110940C

Toby has been building custom homes in Macarthur since co-founding Highwater Homes in 2011, after more than 20 years in carpentry and joinery and project managing over 100 custom homes for some of the area's top builders. He caps the business at ten homes a year so he can personally stand behind every one. He runs the preliminary stage and the full-size walkthrough himself, and every client has his direct line through the build.

  • HIA member
  • Master Builders Association of NSW
  • Association of Professional Builders

Business Manager and Co-Founder

Elizabeth Searle

Your first point of contact

Elizabeth co-founded Highwater Homes with Toby in 2011 and is your first point of contact from the very first conversation. She looks after the business side of every build, keeping your selections, schedule and paperwork on track, and she is closely involved in shaping how your home is designed around the way you live. Calls and messages are returned within 24 hours.

  • 2021 HIA Australian Business Partner of the Year
  • 2020 HIA NSW Business Partner of the Year

Our guarantees to you

Our promises to you

When you build with Highwater Homes, you have peace of mind knowing you have chosen a true local builder, who is focused on providing you a home of exceptional quality and a building experience that you will love.

Award-winning builder

Recognised by the Housing Industry Association

Being recognised within the construction industry and acknowledged by our peers is of the utmost importance, and we are proud that Highwater Homes has received that acknowledgement from the HIA in recent years.

  1. HIA 2024 Finalist: Custom Built Home, The Oaks

    2024

    Finalist · HIA NSW Housing Awards

    Custom Built Home, The Oaks

  2. HIA 2023 Finalist: NSW Professional Small Builder of the Year

    2023

    Finalist · HIA NSW Housing Awards

    NSW Professional Small Builder of the Year

  3. Winner
    HIA 2021 Winner: Australian Business Partner of the Year

    2021

    Winner · HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards

    Australian Business Partner of the Year

  4. Winner
    HIA 2020 Winner: NSW Business Partner of the Year

    2020

    Winner · HIA NSW Housing Awards

    NSW Business Partner of the Year

  5. HIA 2020 Finalist: NSW Professional Small Builder of the Year

    2020

    Finalist · HIA NSW Housing Awards

    NSW Professional Small Builder of the Year

  6. HIA 2019 Finalist: NSW Professional Small Builder of the Year

    2019

    Finalist · HIA NSW Housing Awards

    NSW Professional Small Builder of the Year

  7. HIA 2017 Finalist: Custom Built Home, Wilton and Cobbitty

    2017

    Finalist · HIA NSW Housing Awards

    Custom Built Home, Wilton and Cobbitty

  8. HIA Housing Awards · 2017–2024

    State and national wins
    02
    Finalist nominations
    06

Client reviews

What Highwater clients say

The process from design to build was explained meticulously throughout.

From the first phone call to site visit at one of the nearly completed homes that the Highwater team had built, we felt comfortable that Toby knew his craft very well.

Charlie & ElleGymea Bay

Toby truly stood out with his understanding, honesty, and communication skills.

Building a house can be stressful and daunting for any homeowners. However, our building experience has been stress-free, exciting, and enjoyable with Highwater Homes.

Gaul and GloriaCampbelltown

Trustworthiness, genuineness and excellent communication.

We spoke to a few builders during the quoting stage, but we felt most comfortable with Toby.

The Kumar FamilyGledswood Hills

Toby’s attention to detail was unlike anyone else’s.

He read through our many documents and drawings and did everything he could to deliver a smooth building process for us.

Jonathan and LataraCamden

Attention to detail is at the forefront with Highwater Homes.

Toby and Elizabeth made sure they looked after the little details as much as they looked after the large pieces of work.

Matt & VenesaHarrington Grove

A quality build with zero stress.

Nothing was ever too much to ask and they were easy to get in touch with every step of the way.

WayneMilperra

Toby was transparent from the very beginning and had nothing to hide.

From our very first meeting with Highwater Homes, Toby was upfront with all costs and was very flexible with any changes that we wanted.

David and Stacey BradshawHarrington Grove

Would we build again? Absolutely, but only with Toby!

The whole building process was fantastic and everything flowed nicely and organised.

Jim and Jill ButtonWilton

Attention to detail and commitment to quality.

Toby and the team at Highwater Homes have created our beautiful home on budget, on time and of exceptional quality.

Josh and Kate MarchKirkham Rise

Building our home was so much fun.

Once Highwater Homes finished building our house and handed over the keys, Rob said to me, “I want to build another one”.

Steven and Kezia WolstencroftMilperra

Start here

Talk to Toby.

Start with a conversation, not a sales pitch.

Toby Searle
“You need a builder who tells you the truth early, even when the truth is not what you were hoping to hear.”
Toby Searle · Director & Builder
Call Toby0483 943 309

Your first chat covers:

  1. 01Your brief, your block and your budget
  2. 02What your land will mean for your build
  3. 03How the preliminary stage and fixed price work
  4. 04Lifesize plan walkthrough, explained
  5. 05Realistic timing for your build slot

Request a call back

Calls, messages and emails are answered within 24 business hours.