Company History

PRDnationwide Whitsunday was established as AB Realty in 1977, the founders being Mr Col Howes and Mr Bill McGrath. The business operated in the main street of Airlie with a total of three staff. Bruce Goddard joined the AB Realty in the early 1980’s and acquired the business in 1984. He relocated it to the existing location of the project office at 350 Shute Harbour Rd, Airlie Beach. It was during this time that Bruce realised the relationship between tourism and real estate in the Whitsundays and he endeavoured to cement an allegiance with a franchise and marketing group that had a strong tourism and property development background. The founders of PRDnationwide corporate, being Gordon and Archie Douglas are recognised as being leaders in this field and consequently, the business changed from AB Realty to PRDnationwide Whitsunday.

Over the following years the business grew and in 1997 the existing owner Christie Leet acquired 50% of the business and sold the business he had owned and operated in Proserpine for 10 years, being LJ Hooker Proserpine to move to the Whitsundays. The business continued to grow and in 1988 PRD Whitsunday was appointed on behalf of Hamilton Island Enterprises to project market the development stock on the island.

1999 saw our business increase with the acquisition of the general agency on the island known at the time as Hamilton Island Property Sales owned by James Alwood, who joined our business for a period of six years before retiring in 2006. At a corporate level PRD was also in growth mode and acquired the Nationwide franchise adding a further 140 offices to the already strong PRD chain. In 2001 Christie acquired the other 50% of PRDnationwide and the business has continued to grow since that time and now incorporates a team of more than 60 people and operates over many divisions including:

• Sales and Property Management at Hamilton Island, including holidays,
• Residential Sales, Project Marketing and Holiday Letting in Airlie Beach,
• Sales, both commercial and residential, Property Management, Business Brokerage, and Project Marketing in Cannonvale,
• Body Corporate Management in North Queensland

Whilst the past has been strong and rewarding for PRDnationwide Whitsunday and Hamilton Island, their future is equally bright and our team is committed to growth and excellence. Their mission is to be recognised as the No. 1 Real Estate Agency in Australia and the team each and every day strives for this feat. The business is also committed to growth and has recently acquired the business operated by LJ Hooker Whitsunday, further cementing their market leading position in both sales and now in Property Management – that’s approximately 50% of the properties managed in the Whitsundays now under the PRD umbrella.