Raine & Horne is marking half a century since it opened its first franchised office – a decision that transformed a century-old Sydney real estate firm into an international network.
Raine & Horne Liverpool launched on 1 July 1976, when agent John Pincham took the brand into Sydney’s rapidly expanding south-west.
The move, driven by then-chairman Max Raine, made franchising the company’s core growth model and proved an immediate catalyst: offices in Parramatta, Penrith, Maroubra, and Randwick all followed before the end of that year.
Within 13 years, Raine & Horne had a presence in every Australian state and territory and recorded national sales of $6.2 billion in 1989.
The network now counts more than 360 offices, including 62 in New Zealand, 12 in Malaysia, and a smaller presence in the UAE and Fiji.
Executive Chairman Angus Raine – the fourth generation of his family to lead the group – said John’s original franchise fee cheque from August 1976 still sits in a display case at head office.
“It was a major turning point for Raine & Horne as the focus of the business shifted from selling real estate to providing market-leading and innovative real estate services to back the growth ambitions of other business owners,” Angus said.
He pointed to the company’s technology track record as evidence of that innovation focus. Raine & Horne introduced QR codes in property marketing in 2011 and began integrating predictive sales through AI from 2017, which Angus said put the group two to four years ahead of competitors.
The Liverpool office itself is now led by principals Vince Labbozzetta and Michael Busden. Vince joined the office 24 years ago and became a franchisee in 2007.
“To be part of the very first Raine & Horne franchise office carries a real sense of responsibility,” Vince said.
“I’ve always seen our role as continuing a legacy that helped shape the entire network. It’s about respecting where we’ve come from, while continuing to evolve and deliver at a high level for our clients and community.”
Michael, who joined the business in 2012, said the office’s longevity rests on balancing traditional values with modern systems.
“Raine & Horne has always been a great blend of old and new, combining traditional values such as service, integrity and relationships with modern systems, technology and marketing,” Michael said.
“The future is exciting. We’re focused on continuing to grow, embracing new technology, and building the next generation of agents.”