Hockingstuart to open outside Victoria
Hockingstuart will open its first agency outside of Victoria – at Nowra.
The move comes two years after the broker merged with Sydney-based Belle Property.
In 2007 Greg Hocking and Andrew Stuart sold the firm originally known as Hocking Stuart to eight franchisees.
The agency was created in 1985 and now has more than 120 branches.
Sydney agents and Victoria
Belle Property brands include Sitchu, Belle Property Commercial and Belle Property Escapes.
It has operated in Melbourne for 14 years.
Last month NSW-only agency Laing & Simmons franchisees acquired the company, with 43-offices.
Of a Victorian expansion, a spokesperson said at the time “the focus at this stage is to seek new partners in select metropolitan and regional markets in NSW, however in the longer term, interstate growth is a strategy we will consider, should the right partners and opportunities be presented”.
Hockingstuart NSW
Hockingstuart and Belle Property chief executive officer Peter Hanscomb said the broker is “known in Victoria as one of the hardest working agents and there is a natural place for that point of difference in the national market”.
The Nowra business will service the South Coast and be operated by locals Jamie and Rebecca Gossage.
The precinct is about 160 kilometres south of Sydney.
“Having a dual brand approach with the same resource spine and core philosophy of ‘people, hard work and customer service’ is a unique, strategic proposition for our business,” according to Mr Hanscomb.
“The distinction of the two identities means that rather than cannibalising ourselves, we can grow into a broader range of marketplaces and tailor it to the brand offering”.
Ms Gossage added “while we are excited to be the first movers and carve a reputation for ourselves and the Hockingstuart brand in New South Wales, there is also the security that comes from the Belle Property partnership”.
The national influence, the executive said, “gives us a great deal of infrastructure and business development support across training, technology and talent which will allow us to focus on serving the Nowra community”.
