Hunter Roofing
Trading name of Hunter Roofing Newcastle · Newcastle, NSW
AustralianRoofers Trust Score New
How it's calculated: a transparent, evidence-weighted score — identity & longevity from the public ABN register, reputation from verified Google reviews, and consistency from cross-checking independent platforms. Grades are proportional to the evidence. Where we search the register and can't confirm a business, the identity check scores zero rather than being quietly left out — so a firm we couldn't verify never outranks one we could. Longevity stays unscored in that case, because without a registration date there's nothing to measure.
Our honest take
Hunter Roofing is really Robert Kelso — a one-man Newcastle roofer whose paperwork tells a longer story than his review count does. His ABN has been active since June 2005, he traded as RK Roofing from 2011, and only put the 'Hunter Roofing Newcastle' name on it in April 2025. So while the brand looks new, the tradesman behind it isn't. His own website says the operation began in 2006 and that Rob has more than 25 years in the roofing industry — self-claims, but ones the 21-year-old ABN broadly backs up.
The reviews are a perfect 5.0, and the best of them are specific in the way genuine reviews are: one customer describes Robert diagnosing and fixing a leaking garage roof after 'numerous roofing contractors' never called back, then following up by phone to check it stayed dry; another has used him on four separate occasions for gutters and tiles. The repeat-customer and after-care stories are the strongest trust signals in the set.
Now the honest caveats. Fourteen reviews is a small sample, and a couple of them read oddly generic — one is written by an account named 'Stout Direct' and refers to the firm as 'her', which doesn't sound like a real Newcastle homeowner describing Rob. We're not accusing anyone of anything, but we'd weight the detailed, named reviews far more heavily than the vague ones. There's also no ProductReview listing to cross-check, so the 5.0 is promising rather than proven.
Reputation across the web New
The same firm, checked across platforms
⚑ Not currently GST-registered — a genuinely small operation
The Australian Business Register shows Robert Kelso's ABN is active but not currently registered for GST, which typically means annual turnover under the $75,000 threshold. That's not a red flag — it's confirmation you're hiring a small owner-operator, not a company with crews. Practical upshots: your quote shouldn't include GST, bigger jobs may take longer or involve brought-in help, and it's worth confirming exactly how your invoice and his advertised ten-year guarantee will be documented.
Verified business details New
Checked against the public ABN register
Source: verified against the official Australian Business Register via ABN Lookup (abr.business.gov.au), including GST registration.
What they're actually known for New
Ranked by what customers mention — not a self-declared list
Who you'll actually deal with
Robert Kelso — owner-operator
This one's unusually easy to pin down: the ABN is registered personally to Robert William Kelso as a sole trader, and he's the 'Robert Kelso' customers thank by name in the reviews. His site describes Rob as founder and head contractor with more than 25 years in the industry — their claim, but consistent with an ABN that's been active since 2005 and an earlier trading name, RK Roofing, dating to 2011.
The reviews sketch how he works: answers his phone when others don't, diagnoses leaks himself, turns up on time, and makes follow-up calls after the job to check the fix held. One customer has hired him four times. With an owner-operator you get that accountability — the trade-off is capacity, so expect scheduling to depend on one person's calendar.
What clients say
In their own words
I didn't think I would be this excited about a new roof - replacement of a 73 year old roof and far From an easy job with all the angles and window hoods. Great group to work with!!!
Excellent service from start to finish! Hunter Roofing was reliable, communicative, and the results exceeded our expectations.
Was lovely and very nice to talk to/organise, very professional. Went above and beyond. professional and a great price.
Recurring themes across the 14 Google reviews: reliability and punctuality, honest straightforward communication, reasonable pricing, and an owner who follows up after the job — with gutter work, leak repairs and a couple of ambitious old-roof replacements in the mix.
Best for
- Leak repairs, gutter and downpipe work — the most-reviewed part of his workload, handled personally by the owner
- Homeowners who want one accountable person from quote to follow-up call, rather than a rotating crew
- Older Newcastle homes — one reviewer's 73-year-old roof replacement 'with all the angles and window hoods' suggests he's comfortable with fiddly heritage-era work
Less suited for
- Large or time-critical projects needing a multi-crew company — this is a sole trader, and capacity is one man's diary
- Anyone who wants a deep third-party review history — 14 Google reviews and no ProductReview listing is a thin (if spotless) paper trail
- Businesses needing GST tax invoices — the ABR shows he's not currently GST-registered, so confirm invoicing before you book
Before you commit
Five questions worth asking
- The business register shows you're not currently registered for GST — will my quote be GST-free, and how will the invoice be issued?
- Your website mentions a ten-year guarantee on roof work and repairs — exactly what does it cover, and can I have it in writing?
- Will you be doing the work yourself, or do you bring in other trades for bigger jobs like full replacements?
- Your site says fully licensed and insured — can you share your contractor licence number and a current insurance certificate?
- You traded as RK Roofing before rebranding to Hunter Roofing Newcastle in 2025 — is it the same ABN on my paperwork, and can you share references from the RK Roofing years?
Bottom line
A long-standing one-man Newcastle roofer with a new brand name, a spotless but small review base, and genuinely encouraging repeat-customer and follow-up stories. Hire him for owner-done repairs, gutters and tile work — just verify the licence, the GST-free invoicing and that ten-year guarantee in writing first.
Assessed by the editorial team at AustralianRoofers.com from public Google Business Profile data, the firm's own website, and the ABN register. Not a paid placement.
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Contact Hunter Roofing
This firm hasn't published an enquiry email we can verify, so the quickest way to reach them is by phone or through their Google profile.
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