celebratingover 120 years - walshe & whitelock€¦ · full legal recognition of auctioneers in...
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WALSHE & WHITELOCK 701 SYDNEY ROAD BRUNSWICK PHONE: 9384 1400 www.walshewhitelock.com.au
A promotional publication to celebrate over 120 years in real estate.
Walshe & Whitelock commenced business in 1889 at exactly the same location as
today — 701 Sydney Road, Brunswick. Providing quality real estate service for over 120 years is a
record current Walshe & Whitelock directors and staff proudly uphold today. Walshe & Whitelock’s
long story is strongly linked to the history of Brunswick. From modest beginnings in a double fronted
timber shop, with veranda onto Sydney Road, Walshe & Whitelock has grown to become Brunswick’s most
established real estate agency.
From the Director…
Current director David Sowersby, attributes Walshe
& Whitelock’s continued success to sound business
practices and the knowledge gained from each generation
of the Walshe & Whitelock family.
“I knew a lot about real estate
from when I was very young.
My father started at Walshe &
Whitelock in 1937 when he was
16. In the late 1950’s, early 60’s
most after hours calls came to
our home phone. I was taught
the importance of customer
service from a very early age.
Walshe & Whitelock still has
clients today who remember me
as a young boy. Today I proudly
stand at the helm of a business
that sets a record most real
estate agencies could only dream of achieving. This dream
has been achieved by Walshe & Whitelock focussing on
consistent and reliable business practices. By concentrating
on evolving technologies and incorporating these into the
business, I ensure a sound future for Walshe & Whitelock.
Real estate is in my blood and I can now proudly recognise
my own children’s (3rd generation) contribution to
Walshe & Whitelock’s continued success.”
“Our history gives you an edge in real estate.”
Past, present & future
“O ur grandpa, Bryan, told us that when he irst
started at Walshe & Whitelock he was only
16 years old. In the early days he was sent out to
collect many of the rents on foot. He used to have
a leather bag over his shoulder and when he had to
go further aield he used to ride his bike, sometimes
as far as Fawkner. Today when we collect rents,
tenants pay over the phone, over the internet, at
the post ofice or by credit card. Grandpa would be
happy to know rents are collected 24 hours a day
7 days a week.”
10 Sowersbys over 3 generations have now
worked at Walshe & Whitelock from 1937.
In the genes
The promotional artwork used by Walshe &
Whitelock is by Tony Sowersby, a well known
Melbourne artist.
As son of Bryan and brother of David, Tony
remembers many of his earliest sketches were
on the scrap paper his father brought home
from Walshe & Whitelock. Tony still keeps special
sketches from his boyhood many of which are on
the back of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria
Multi Listing Bureau forms.
Celebratingover 120 years
If the walls
could talk!. . . . . . . . . .2
A 70 year
testimonial . . . . . . . . .2
Knowledge and
experience = $$$$ . . .2
Success through
the decades. . . . . . . . .3
Period styles
– a guide to keep . . . .4
inside
A T T H E A G E N C Y
1 9 7 2 – T O D A Y
WALSHE & WHITELOCK 701 SYDNEY ROAD BRUNSWICK PHONE: 9384 1400 www.walshewhitelock.com.au
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If the walls could talk!
The Walshe & Whitelock business opened
its doors on the corner of Sydney Road
and Albion Street in 1889 as the population of
Melbourne had began to spread north.
In the ‘land boom’ of the 1880’s large tracts
of land were opened up on the outskirts of
Melbourne as purchasers, including many
speculators, rushed to become land owners.
The Victorian Parliament had provided for the
full legal recognition of auctioneers in the
early 80’s and for Walshe & Whitelock business
was brisk, very brisk, as the real estate agency
specialised in selling and the re-selling land
parcels and subdivided lots.
As homes and shops were built in Brunswick,
Walshe & Whitelock commenced its well
known property management business
alongside its already established and very
busy sales department. Brunswick was new,
employment was available and businesses
were quickly springing up along the famous
Sydney Road strip.
Improved transport including the train line to
Coburg in 1882 together with the cable tram
line being laid along Sydney Road in 1887
attracted new settlers.
Gold Fever and opportunities further aield
also helped to establish Brunswick and gave
Walshe & Whitelock the chance to continue
to sell, and rent properties as many families
and speculators, keen to improve themselves,
moved even further aield. The large double
shop allowed for the monthly auctions of
furniture and estate goods, another service
provided by the real estate agents of the day.
Many of Melbourne’s inest homes were
built in Brunswick – many still in immaculate
condition today. Over a century and a half later
these ine examples of Victorian, Federation
and Edwardian homes are still Brunswick’s
most sort after and most expensive properties
to own or rent.
It is also so very pleasing and deserving that
Walshe & Whitelock continues to sell and rent
many of Brunswick’s best period home and
shops year in and year out.
Walshe & Whitelock has continued to trade
successfully through World Wars, the Great
Depression, land boom periods, the rises and
falls in the economy and the constant changes
and movement patterns of the inner city
population.
Today Walshe & Whitelock, by embracing the
ever changing property market and adapting
the latest innovations of the business world,
successfully provides its clients with the best real
estate service and practices.
A 70 year testimonial
“M y parents were involved in real estate
from the late 1920’s and as a young
girl I can remember them receiving Walshe &
Whitelock rental statements.
For over 48 years I have been involved with
Walshe & Whitelock myself. I have had a
great rapport with them. It is wonderful
to have a stable, trusting and engaging
relationship with the members of the irm
including Bryan and David Sowersby, Robert
Keily, John Di Santo and now David’s family. I
appreciate the sound advice and help I have
received from them. Congratulations on your
real estate irm trading from the same location
for 120 years!”Audrey Biggs (nee Miller)
Serving our country
When Walshe & Whitelock’s two young
employees Robert and Bryan requested
leave to serve their country in World War 11,
their leave was enthusiastically granted. While
Robert Keily and Bryan Sowersby answered the
call to overseas active service, their jobs were
put on hold until their safe return. When they
returned after years of being on overseas soils
they were able to come home, return to their
jobs, continue to earn a living and settle back
into everyday life.
Joseph Robert Keily (known as Robert)
enlisted on 16/3/1942 and was discharged
on 11/4/1945, he was a Sergeant in the Royal
Australian Air Force. Bryan James Sowersby
enlisted on 6/9/1943 and was discharged on the
7/1/1946, he was a Corporal in the Australian
Army. On his return Bryan became Secretary to
the returned serviceman of the 29/46 Battalion,
a position he held for 55 years. Today Walshe
& Whitelock staff continue to assist the 29/46
Battalion by keeping the data base current
and posting out regular newsletters to the
remaining members. This connection with the
29/46 Battalion families is a special link to the
past that Walshe & Whitelock cherishes.
“My grandparents’ house was the irst built
in Grantham Street, Brunswick. They were
surrounded by market gardens.”
“At 6pm Friday nights and Saturday mornings,
Sydney Road was crowded with shoppers —
the foot path was very congested. Sydney
Road was a vibrant shopping area.”
Knowledge and
experience = $$$$
Today Walshe & Whitelock adopts a pro
active approach to all aspects of real
estate. Our clients have access to the most
up to date companies and methods available
to the current real estate market. We
have contracts with realestate.com.au and
RP Data, both leading companies in their ields
providing the latest property information and
marketing. Our iVisual digital window display is
amongst the latest marketing tools available to
the real estate industry.
Our exemplary record allows us to service our
interstate and overseas clients, Government
organizations, Municipal councils, deceased
estates, solicitors’ trusts, a Secondary college,
Perpetual Mutual Trustees, many individual
clients and companies.
Walshe & Whitelock leads the real estate ield,
year in and year out. Avail yourself of our
services and knowledge and you too can watch
your wealth grow year in and year out.
“As a girl I can remember a wave of cyclists
riding home from work. Sydney Road was a
sea of cyclists, 3 or 4 abreast in the inside lane.”
A T T H E A G E N C Y
1 9 3 2 – 1 9 4 1
S e r v e d W W I I
1 9 4 5 – 1 9 8 7
A T T H E A G E N C Y
1 9 3 7 – 1 9 4 1
S e r v e d W W I I
1 9 4 6 – 1 9 8 9
WALSHE & WHITELOCK 701 SYDNEY ROAD BRUNSWICK PHONE: 9384 1400 www.walshewhitelock.com.au
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Success through the decades
A selection of Walshe & Whitelock sale and auction brochures. View the full
collection in our meeting room at 701 Sydney Road Brunswick.
1889Walshe & Whitelock’s original building
circa 1950
circa 1945
circa 1940
Walshe & Whitelock
excels in all real estate:
• Private Sales• Auction Sales
• Property Management• Owners Corporation
Management
WE CAN HELP YOU TOO
CALL TODAY!
HISTORY
PROVES
circa 1955
1935
Today
SOLD
$237,000 ABOVE RESERVE
Boom or Late Victorian (circa 1880 -1900)
WALSHE & WHITELOCK 701 SYDNEY ROAD BRUNSWICK PHONE: 9384 1400 www.walshewhitelock.com.au
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•FREESalesAppraisal•PropertyManagement•OwnersCorporation
Managers
FOR ALL YOUR
REAL ESTATENEEDS
The changing period styles of the Walshe & Whitelock building…
701 Sydney Road Brunswick Victoria 3056phone: 9384 1400 fax: 9383 6439
email: [email protected]: walshewhitelock.com.au
© Copyright 2012 all rights reserved.
This work is copyright. Apart for any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission. Every attempt has been made to ensure that the information contained herein is accurate at date of publication. This publication is for promotional purposes and is not intended for academic use. The publisher takes no responsibility for those relying on the information. The publisher disclaims any responsibility for any loss or damage suffered by readers in connection with the information contained herein.
our history gives you an edge in real estate
CALL TODAY!
Early Victorian (circa 1840 -1860)
Italiente (circa 1840 -1870)
New England (circa 1920 -1950)
Art Deco (circa 1930 -1950) Early Cubic (circa 1950)
Early Modern(circa 1930 -1940)
California Bungalow (circa 1915 -1930) Spanish Mansion (circa 1920)
Federation / Edwardian (circa 1900 -1915) Federation / Queen Anne (circa 1895 -1910)
Mid Victorian (circa 1860 -1880)
Period styles – a guide to keep