Single mum-of-11's nightmare after paying $405,000 for her dream home before the construction company plunged into liquidation

Published: 05:21, 23 July 2026 | Updated: 05:29, 23 July 2026 A single mother was devastated after the collapse of a major Sydney construction company left her and her 11 children without their dream home, and no hope of getting the money back. Virginia Fletcher paid $405,000 to Beechwood Homes Constructions in January 2025 but construction, which was due to break ground by Christmas, never began. In May, she discovered the owner, Beechwood Homes Group, had collapsed into liquidation with almost $30million in debt and several unfinished properties, including her planned home. 'I've got nothing to go to. Who will rent to someone with so many kids?' she told the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday. 'I try to put on a brave face for my children, but I am not OK.' Ms Fletcher said she had to sell her existing home to repay about $143,000 in debt and is worried as she cannot afford to pay the deposit for another property. She added that six of her 11 children still live in the family home, with the youngest just seven years old. 'I am very stressed. This has impacted my functional capacity,' she wrote in a fundraising campaign to help support her family. Virginia Fletcher paid Beechwood Homes Constructions $405,000 in January 2025. The company's owner entered liquidation in May  Ms Fletcher said she was told it is unlikely she will recover any of her money  'The financial loss has affected every part of my life and has had a significant impact on my children.  'I struggle to get out of bed on many days, and I often cry myself to sleep.' Ms Fletcher launched the GoFundMe campaign to help her family and serve as a warning to other Australians. 'I paid Beechwood Homes [Constructions] $405,000 in good faith, believing I was entering into a building contract and that my money would be protected,' she said. 'Following the company's liquidation, I was informed that I was not considered to be in a building contract.  'The liquidator advised there were insufficient assets to repay unsecured creditors and suggested I start a GoFundMe because there was little prospect of recovering my money.' Ms Fletcher claimed her funds were paid into the company's operating account rather than being held in trust and were spent within 35 days of payment.  'Today, the only item I have to show for the $405,000 I paid is a single tap on my empty block of land,' she said. Ms Fletcher said Beechwood Homes Group left multiple unfinished projects after it collapsed 'I understand there are numerous affected families, contractors, suppliers and pre-construction customers.'  The Daily Mail Australia has contacted Beechwood Homes, group director Vittorio Cavasinni and liquidator Sean Wengel of William Buck for comment regarding Ms Fletcher's claims.  Beechwood Homes (NSW) was placed into a court-ordered liquidation on May 6. Its six companies were placed into voluntary liquidation in June, including Cavasinni Holdings, Beechwood Homes Australia, Home Completions, Beechwood Homes Constructions, Beechwood Homes Administration and Masonix. There is no official detail on how much is owed by Beechwood Homes (NSW) but reports lodged with Australian Securities and Investments Commission and seen by the Telegraph suggest the group owed at least $1.4million to unsecured creditors, in addition to $8.5million owed to National Australia Bank (NAB). The six companies in voluntary administration reportedly owe a total of $20.9million. It is understood about $19.8million of this combined unsecured debt is connected to intercompany loans and claims from related parties. NAB has appointed independent controllers to Beechwood Homes, giving the bank control over the company's secured assets. 'We understand this has been an incredibly difficult situation for many people,' a spokesman for NAB told the Daily Mail. 'While the process is being managed independently, we've been working closely with those involved and doing what we can to help people get clear information and understand the options available to them.'