Pioneering real estate group LJ Hooker is celebrating 90 years since its first agency opened on the sandy shores of Maroubra, Sydney – the start of a national and international influence in property.
In 1928, then aged 24, Leslie Joseph Hooker had grand plans to develop the largest real estate business in Australia; ready to pioneer innovations in technology, marketing, construction and franchising. His contributions to the commerce and the community would also eventually earn him a knighthood.
Sir Leslie’s grandson, L Janusz Hooker, leads the international real estate network today, carrying on the family legacy as Chairman.
“My grandfather was an innovator, a global citizen and visionary whose achievements progressed the development of property across the spectrum,” said Mr Hooker.
“He was the guiding voice in LJ Hooker becoming an icon of business and responsible for so many major turning points in Australasia.”
Some of these include:
- Establishing the first Real Estate Investment Trust (A-REIT) which is now a $100 billion industry (1954)
- Developing the ‘big box’ retail mall concept (1966), going on to build Warringah Mall (Sydney), Pacific Fair (Gold Coast) and Garden City (Brisbane) shopping centres, amongst others
- Developing one in five homes post-WWII (1985)
“He famously said, ‘real estate is not about houses, it’s about people’, and that’s been a core value the company has held for 90 years, enabling us to serve literally millions of sellers, buyers, landlords and tenants.”
In keeping with its history of community, the LJ Hooker Foundation has made contributions of over $65,000 to its charity partners as part of the celebrations. The Foundation is sponsoring Cystic Fibrosis’ upcoming Mental Health Roadshow and donating nine pieces of vital paediatric medical equipment to hospitals around Australia via the Humpty Dumpty Foundation.
Mr Hooker said innovation is part of the company’s DNA.
“We’re moving with – and at times ahead of – the expectations of the marketplace with world-first integrated social and digital media programs.
“We’re developing advanced platforms in our newly launched LJ Hooker Avnu concept store by introducing real-time digital insights into the sales process and building deeper, transparent relationships with our vendors.
As times have changed throughout the decades, so too has the brand.
To mark 90 years, LJ Hooker has unveiled a first for its residential network: two variations of its brand under a single banner, allowing offices across the breadth of Australia to choose the brand look which best resonates with their market.
“Our decision to offer subtle, alternate versions of our brand under a major refresh is a progressive move that will lead the company to our centennial celebrations in the next decade,” said Mr Hooker.
Coinciding with the 90th-anniversary celebrations, between the network’s birthday on September 20 and November 30, any homeowner who has an appraisal of their property will go into a draw to win one of nine holidays valued at $10,000 each to an iconic Australian destination.
Any person who has a market appraisal receives one entry into the random prize draw. If that person decides to list their property for sale with LJ Hooker between September 20 and November 30, they will receive an additional five chances to win.
