End of an era for Thomson family
A CITY commercial property agency is moving into the residential market after acquiring the LJ Hooker, Geelong business from retiring industry veteran Laurie Thomson.
Geelong Commercial Real Estate director Neville Richards said the business would this week be rebranded as Geelong Residential, co-branding with the existing commercial property business.
Both operations would be located at Geelong Residential’s existing office at 230 Moorabool St, Geelong.
Mr Richards said the busi- ness would offer expert service in property management, sales and leasing of residential and commercial real estate.
Mr Richards, and co-directors Catherine Richards and Pat Richards, said they are excited by the challenge and look forward to continuing their great relationship with all existing loyal clients of both businesses.
“Under the new banner Geelong Residential we have retained the existing Property Management team,” Mr Richards said. “They are an incredibly hard working, professional team and we hope to build on their successes.
“We know they have been doing a fantastic job and we will all be working extremely hard to reach out to existing landlords and tenants alike to reassure them it will be business as usual during the transition and exciting times ahead.”
Neville Richards will be officer in effective control of the combined business along with his commercial sales and leasing role.
Pat Richards will take on the role as director of residential sales with Geelong Commercial.
Catherine Richards will continue to use her extensive finance, administration and trust accounting skills and experience gained in large resi- dential businesses such as Hocking Stuart and Greg Hocking in Melbourne in her role as finance director for the new business.
The sale represents the end of an era for the Thomson family, which has owned the LJ Hooker, Geelong business, known under its previous name CJ Keane & Co, for nearly 70 years.
Mr Thomson is retiring after 49 years in the business.
“I am very pleased to see another family-owned and operated business take over the business, which has been owned and operated by the Thomson family for the past 68 years,” he said.