GAVEL FALLS ON A WINNER

WRITTEN BY GLEN LATHAM

For Clint Donovan and his fledgeling, family owned, Donovan + Co, it took just one phone call for the path to clear leading to the next exciting phase, a strategic alliance with Magic Millions that blends the numerous skills he has honed since childhood with the company’s reputation for outstanding service.

The announcement in March that Clint was to take a step back from his roles at Magic Millions to scratch an itch in the property market came as a surprise to many. He was known as a mainstay holding the gavel at every Magic Millions sale for so many years and as a trusted advisor within the company’s Bloodstock Department. But then, having spoken to Clint, it is almost as if this step along the path to Donovan + Co being the go-to business when selling equine properties, was preordained.

Clint’s professional life owes much to his upbringing in Grafton in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales. “Not that it was the buzzword back then, but I grew up in a ‘boutique’ livestock and property business. Mum and Dad had their own Stock + Station agency in Grafton with a sale yard and a property arm as well. Growing up in that environment instilled in me the ethos of the independent, family business, so in a way I have followed in my father’s footsteps. It was those familiar values of a family owned business that originally attracted me to working at Magic Millions.”

While being family educated in the arts of the Stock and Station Agent, Clint was developing an affinity with horses. “I grew up on the back of a horse at rodeos and camp drafts, mustering and so on. My love for the Thoroughbred came through working for Stuart Ramsey of Turangga Farm in my late teens. He took me on and then sold me a share in a horse that raced on Magic Millions day which is when I discovered the thrill of selling Thoroughbreds at a Magic Millions auction. From that day on I’ve had a connection with Magic Millions, and I shake my head at how lucky I’ve been. I love the industry and the people involved and it has been amazing to be part of it full time. I’m delighted that I’ll continue to have a relationship with Magic Millions as a consultant and auctioneer.”

The unique skills of a good auctioneer have their value across various strands and Clint eyed the property market with interest. “The property journey isn’t a new one for me having dabbled here and there, on and off over the years, putting a few different deals together for different parties. But I never really saw the opportunity to go out and do it on my own until my late thirties when I thought I’d really love to be doing something for myself like my father and mother did.”

“I looked at a couple of businesses to buy in the residential market around where I lived, and I thought I could reinvent the wheel and do it better by implementing some cool changes. What I hadn’t really appreciated at the time was the value of the database of clients I had in my phone and the goodwill I had earnt over fifteen years at Magic Millions. It wasn’t until Murray Murdoch of Figtrees Farm called and basically said ‘you are well respected in the bloodstock industry, you know what you are doing with property, you are a great auctioneer and you’ve learnt a lot with marketing at Magic Millions, maybe you could sell my farm for me?’ That phone call changed my path from conquering the Burleigh Heads residential market, which we may still do in time, to delivering a specialist service to the equine industry.” And suddenly the metaphoric fog had lifted.

Clint doesn’t hesitate when asked how important that conversation was. “I am truly fortunate that Murray slapped me in the face by way of a phone call effectively saying, ‘hey Clint can you sell my multimillion dollar farm?’

I’VE NOW WOKEN UP TO THE FACT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE WITH RESPECT IN THE BLOODSTOCK INDUSTRY, ALSO WITH BROAD RURAL AND EQUINE KNOWLEDGE, WHO CAN CAPITALISE ON A SPECIALIST MARKET THAT REALLY ISN’T BEING CONCENTRATED ON.

I find myself in the enviable position of being able to do what I’m good at for my business while maintaining a strong connection with Magic Millions. I’ll still be at the sales, still be auctioneering and still appear on social media which really complements the list of high net worth potential buyers that I might know. There is an immediate trust there which is most important as the key indicator of a good agent or agency, that I see, is that their clients trust them.”

The benefits to all that the synergies Magic Millions and Donovan + Co bring are readily apparent. “This has evolved into a strategic alliance with Magic Millions with the two businesses complimenting each other perfectly. I bring the specialty knowledge and background in property transactions, and they bring one of the most respected brands right across Australia, a huge database of clients and a massive social media following which is paramount in the property game at present. The enquiries we get via social media at the moment far outweigh traditional platforms.” And when asked just how broad a market the alliance is targeting Clint sees unlimited opportunities; “There are hundreds of equine properties in South East Queensland alone, from a five acre equine enthusiast farm up to large scale commercial operations like Figtrees, and if they were to ever come up for sale, most importantly the client would benefit hugely from the combination of Donovan + Co and Magic Millions.”

Clint very much sees the alliance as another outlet for Magic Millions’ strong customer service ethos. “This is another way in which Magic Millions services their clients. If for any reason, be it upscaling, downscaling, selling your equine property investment, be it a set of stables or a horse farm of any scale, it is an extension of the service that Magic Millions can offer. Our intention is to service the South East Queensland market, but with Magic Millions having offices in Adelaide and Perth, and a worldwide database that is pretty much unrivalled, the possibility is there to go nationwide when the opportunity arises and to do a great job for our clients when we do.”

It sounds like the potential for Magic Millions and Donovan + Co is boundless, and there’s not a skerrick of fog in sight!