Former AFL Stewart Loewe is now a builder.
Former St Kilda centre half forward Stewart ‘Buckets’ Loewe became interested in the building industry from a young age, through his father.
It was once Loewe got into the AFL and purchased a block of land at just 20-years old that his property career took off, flipping homes as he played footy.
In the ‘90s, Loewe also ran a home improvement business and his first employee was his Saints teammate Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt.
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Before Loewe got his building license, he worked under an architect for about three years.
This gave him a good insight into the process of dealing with clients, builders and architects.
When the 56-year old retired from footy in 2002, he started his construction company with a partner, and now is running the business called Loewe Projects, himself.
“For the last 10 years I’ve just been basically building and developing – I feel I’m pretty lucky in some respects, I don’t feel like I go to work, I feel like I just love my job,” he said.
Ex AFL footballer Stewart Loewe in 2019. (Picture: George Salpigtidis
“It’s been tough, industry wise, for the last four or five years. I don’t think the government’s done us any favours with what they’re doing.”
He added that his company had worked in the commercial and residential space, creating from the ground up and renovating — all with energy efficiency in mind.
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One of the houses sold on The Block’s 2024 season at 3/113-119 Justice Road, Cowes.
Mr Loewe said some of the lessons that have carried over from his AFL career into running a building business were the importance of communication and working as a team.
“I don’t base anything that I do solely on my own achievement. We do it as a team. I’ve built up a really loyal team,” he said.
“My father was a young migrant from Europe who came over and just taught me to work hard, that’s what stood me in good stead with my footy career and taken that into my work career.”
Stewart Loewe in action in 1992. Picture: Mark Brake/Advertiser
His advice to those looking to renovate their home was not believe what they saw on television reality show The Block.
“You watch these shows and that’s TV. Reality is you’ve got to get your trades in, sequence your trades and try not to rush. That would be my biggest advice,” he said.
“You’ve just got to do things right.”
LOEWE’S BUILDING TIPS
■ Don’t believe what you see on The Block
■ You can’t put a band-aid over something that’s not right from the start
■ The foundation of a home is so important
■ Don’t take shortcuts
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