A record-breaking crowd of 900-plus saw Mornington-based family business First Impressions Projects crowned Master Builder of the Year at Crown Palladium tonight.

First Impressions director Robert Rolls and his team were recognised for their work on a spectacularly located, three-storey home in Somers on the Mornington Peninsula.

Shadow Planning Minister David Davis presented the award, also naming Gippsland’s Brooker Builders the Regional Builder of the Year and Sinjen’s Tim Nathan the Young Builder of the Year.

Master Builders CEO Radley de Silva said it was an honour to acknowledge the quality work, dedication and craftsmanship of all of the winners.

“The class of entries this year was exemplary and it is a pleasure to reward the talent, skill and commitment to customer service that First Impressions, Brooker Builders and all of the winners have shown with the winning projects,” he said. “It is also exciting to recognise the up-and-coming talent of Young Builder of the Year Tim Nathan, whose work with Sinjen speaks volumes for the future of our industry.”

This is not the first Master Builders award for Robert Rolls and First Impressions. He was named Young Builder of the Year in 2012. First Impressions also took out the award for the Best Renovation/Addition over $1 million in 2010. The qualified carpenter and architecture student established First Impressions Projects in 1995 to “provide excellence in building and design.”

The winning Somers project features four bedrooms, a theatre room and an infinity pool. All rooms in the house take full advantage of natural light and unhindered views to the sea.

In his comments, judge Neil Evans describes Robert as “impressive and articulate.”

“I liked the way he worked through issues to find solutions,” he said.

Judge Rob McLauchlan was equally glowing saying “every area of the home shows exceptional attention to detail.”

“This is an exceptionally finished home, constructed in the face of a very difficult site and complex design,” Mr McLauchlan said.

First Impressions Projects will now compete in the National Excellence in Building Awards to be held in Hobart on 25 November.