It all started with an A-frame...
Building has always been at the heart of the McRae family. It all started with the 'A Frame'. It was the insight, aptitude and courage of our founder Ian McRae's pioneering spirit that lead him to develop production-line 'precut framing' and 'kitset housing' systems that made building a new home more achievable for many New Zealand families, creating a form of delivery and construction which had not previously been available in any structured form.
Sadly Ian McRae passed away in 1992, however his philosophy of careful preparation, planning, and calculated risk runs deep in the culture and beliefs of the company today.
We have continued to evolve over the past forty eight years, continually adapting and leading change, making us recipients of many awards for our stylish homes and innovative processes.
Today, we retain our strong values to provide best quality and value homes to heartland New Zealanders, bringing together the very best from the past with the technology and contemporary designs of today, to deliver a unique and streamlined building experience.
With over 6,500 families living in McRaeway homes and a current portfolio of more than 50 standard house designs, McRaeway dispatches houses to destinations throughout the country.
Sadly Ian McRae passed away in 1992, however his philosophy of careful preparation, planning, and calculated risk runs deep in the culture and beliefs of the company today.
We have continued to evolve over the past forty eight years, continually adapting and leading change, making us recipients of many awards for our stylish homes and innovative processes.
Today, we retain our strong values to provide best quality and value homes to heartland New Zealanders, bringing together the very best from the past with the technology and contemporary designs of today, to deliver a unique and streamlined building experience.
With over 6,500 families living in McRaeway homes and a current portfolio of more than 50 standard house designs, McRaeway dispatches houses to destinations throughout the country.
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McRaeway Homes 1962 to 2010
A building story worth reading about….
The McRaeway story...
From the mid 50’s after moving to Timaru from the family farm at Ikawai, Ian McRae was a South Canterbury builder with a vision of the big picture. I.R McRae Limited was registered in 1962 and has been a member of Master Builders Federation since 1965. In the latter part of that decade Ian undertook a lot of residential home construction in Timaru, including several streets and small sub divisions before the term group housing was known. Also an opportunist, upon hearing of the American Air Force Baker Nun Mt John Observatory project at Lake Tekapo, he raised money and built a block of flats in Timaru, fitting out the units with everything from furniture to cutlery. This type of accommodation had never been available, and was rented for the entire Baker Nun project to accommodate the single service men.
Winning a tender for around 200 garages for the new hydro town of Twizel, accelerated the early development of a production-line system. I.R McRae Ltd’s yard in Rothwell Street Timaru became a hive of industry with the precutting and packaging of components for this project, which was delivered on time and well within budget.
It was the insight, aptitude and courage of Ian McRae’s pioneering spirit that lead him to develop production-line ‘precut framing’ and ‘kitset housing’ systems following an encounter as a supplier to a company producing A Frame houses. Ian succeeded where that company failed, and that’s where it all began – the McRaeway A Frame chalets. Coupled with a low interest State Advances loan made building a new home more achievable for many New Zealand families, and McRaeway A Frames sprouted forth throughout the nation. A product was created in a form of delivery and construction which had not previously been available in any structured form.
The trading name of McRaeway Homes has been used since that time, as houses were sold and distributed throughout the country. Distance has never been a barrier, with deliveries from Auckland to Bluff, and the first export of a house to Japan in 1973. Other export was to follow from the mid 1990’s, with several houses in Japan plus throughout the Pacific Islands and Hawaii.
McRaeway Homes continued to evolve and grow, streamlining the production processes, introducing sales systems, new house models and embracing technology as these options came on stream.
Although Ian McRae passed away suddenly in 1992, his philosophy of careful preparation, planning and calculated risk runs deep in the culture and beliefs of the company today.
With Building Code and compliance issues today, very few owners build their own homes. The McRaeway network of accredited builders was introduced and continues to develop, being a major part of the McRaeway process. Independent local tradesmen, each ‘network builder’ is chosen for their reputation of high standard of workmanship, ethics and small business management.
To date, there have been 25 show homes built from Auckland to Invercargill since the first A Frame display home was opened in Park Lane, Timaru in 1974 through to 2010 when ‘Baxter’ design was built in Mosgiel. There are currently four sales centres in Timaru, Cromwell, Invercargill and Mosgiel each staffed by a sales principal and support staff active in the particular region.
With over 6,500 families living in McRaeway homes, many are repeat customers having either built or grew up in a McRaeway home in the past. Second, and even third generation is not uncommon – such is the reputation for consistency in providing good quality, innovative product and service.
Today, the same strong values are retained to provide best quality and value homes to heartland New Zealanders, bringing together the very best from the past and integrating with the technology and contemporary designs of today, to deliver a unique and streamlined building experience.
The McRaeway story...
From the mid 50’s after moving to Timaru from the family farm at Ikawai, Ian McRae was a South Canterbury builder with a vision of the big picture. I.R McRae Limited was registered in 1962 and has been a member of Master Builders Federation since 1965. In the latter part of that decade Ian undertook a lot of residential home construction in Timaru, including several streets and small sub divisions before the term group housing was known. Also an opportunist, upon hearing of the American Air Force Baker Nun Mt John Observatory project at Lake Tekapo, he raised money and built a block of flats in Timaru, fitting out the units with everything from furniture to cutlery. This type of accommodation had never been available, and was rented for the entire Baker Nun project to accommodate the single service men.
Winning a tender for around 200 garages for the new hydro town of Twizel, accelerated the early development of a production-line system. I.R McRae Ltd’s yard in Rothwell Street Timaru became a hive of industry with the precutting and packaging of components for this project, which was delivered on time and well within budget.
It was the insight, aptitude and courage of Ian McRae’s pioneering spirit that lead him to develop production-line ‘precut framing’ and ‘kitset housing’ systems following an encounter as a supplier to a company producing A Frame houses. Ian succeeded where that company failed, and that’s where it all began – the McRaeway A Frame chalets. Coupled with a low interest State Advances loan made building a new home more achievable for many New Zealand families, and McRaeway A Frames sprouted forth throughout the nation. A product was created in a form of delivery and construction which had not previously been available in any structured form.
The trading name of McRaeway Homes has been used since that time, as houses were sold and distributed throughout the country. Distance has never been a barrier, with deliveries from Auckland to Bluff, and the first export of a house to Japan in 1973. Other export was to follow from the mid 1990’s, with several houses in Japan plus throughout the Pacific Islands and Hawaii.
McRaeway Homes continued to evolve and grow, streamlining the production processes, introducing sales systems, new house models and embracing technology as these options came on stream.
Although Ian McRae passed away suddenly in 1992, his philosophy of careful preparation, planning and calculated risk runs deep in the culture and beliefs of the company today.
With Building Code and compliance issues today, very few owners build their own homes. The McRaeway network of accredited builders was introduced and continues to develop, being a major part of the McRaeway process. Independent local tradesmen, each ‘network builder’ is chosen for their reputation of high standard of workmanship, ethics and small business management.
To date, there have been 25 show homes built from Auckland to Invercargill since the first A Frame display home was opened in Park Lane, Timaru in 1974 through to 2010 when ‘Baxter’ design was built in Mosgiel. There are currently four sales centres in Timaru, Cromwell, Invercargill and Mosgiel each staffed by a sales principal and support staff active in the particular region.
With over 6,500 families living in McRaeway homes, many are repeat customers having either built or grew up in a McRaeway home in the past. Second, and even third generation is not uncommon – such is the reputation for consistency in providing good quality, innovative product and service.
Today, the same strong values are retained to provide best quality and value homes to heartland New Zealanders, bringing together the very best from the past and integrating with the technology and contemporary designs of today, to deliver a unique and streamlined building experience.
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