When Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, she caused a level of destruction unprecedented in Australia’s history. But, where many people saw nothing but devastation, brothers Damien and Michael Moriarty saw a chance to help. Darwin needed rebuilding, and there had been a shift away from tropical home designs in the area, which meant people were using tonnes of unnecessary energy to cool their homes against the Territory’s often oppressive heat. Together, the brothers pooled their savings and hatched a plan. “Our commitment is to build cool, comfortable homes appropriate to the tropics with a high quality finish, on budget and on time,” Damien says.

At first, their instincts to lean into online advertising were met with derision. Damien says, “Plenty of people told me clients aren’t looking for houses online.” But the brothers persevered. “We know it’s the largest purchase people make, and we’d say they’re doing the opposite. They’re screening potential real estate agents and builders online, in the comfort of their own homes.” Damien and Michael turned to Google to drive awareness of their business. “We saw a 55% increase in traffic to our website,” Damien says. They’ve used Google Ads to help customers discover what’s best for them, making their interactions with potential customers as efficient as possible.

Since 2005, Killarney Homes has grown rapidly and from strength to strength. They’ve captured 9% of the residential market in Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield, and been recognised with a haul of industry awards for their commitment to eco-efficient housing. Today, they remain steadfast in their commitment to digital advertising, with Google by their side. Damien puts it best when he says, “Broadcast and mass media are like trawling the ocean floor. You literally rip everything up off the seabed. We think about good internet campaigns as fishing in the right spot, with the right bait.”