101 Years of Remarkable

The Woodards story begins Years of Remarkable

Years Since 1921, the Woodards story has been remarkable. We’ve been selling and leasing property in Melbourne’s most liveable suburbs for 101 years and we’ve learned a lot in that time. We’ve seen markets boom and weathered every property cycle. Along the way we even marvelled at seeing man walk on the moon !

of Remarkable Today, with twenty offices around greater Melbourne and Macedon Ranges, we continue to raise the bar.

With property specialists from sixteen countries, speaking twenty-eight languages, we’re quintessentially Melbourne and we’re ready for the future.

Television arrives

changing the world forever.

Woodards was opened in 1921, when Edith Cohen became the first woman elected to an Australian Parliament.

Edith Cohen

Back then you would have backed Richmond for the flag and Australia to win the ashes. It was a good time, one of cautious optimism.

Original Rivoli Theatre

The Woodards story begins Years of Remarkable

1921 First office in Hawthorn East

headed up by Mr Tweedle.

1931 We watched as Sir Donald Bradman became the greatest batsman of all time, and as Phar Lap captured our country’s imagination. They helped us through those tough times.

We were open when our diggers, returning from World War 1, were given land by the government through the Soldiers Settlement Scheme.

We were open on Black Thursday in 1929, during the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression.

Wall Street Crash

We were there on 3rd September 1939, when Australia joined World War 2.

Phar Lap wins Melbourne Cup.

The Australian Broadcasting Commission was established.

1941

R.G. Woodard

We were open when our servicemen returned from 1945 to 1947.

First Holden rolls off the production line.

Sir Donald Bradman

The Humphries family and Woodards have enjoyed a long term business relationship from 1940s to present day.

First Holden FX

One of those soldiers, Frederick Long, Grandfather-in-law of our CEO, was part of the Light Horse Brigade at Gallipoli.

1969: Neil Armstrong is the first man to set foot on the moon.

Immigration in the 1950s and 60s.

Melbourne hosts the 1956 Olympics.

House prices were capped after the war.

Founder Gordon Woodard fought to have the free market restored.

We were open during the waves of migration from Europe through the 50s and 60s; in March 1961,our Woodards CEO migrates to Australia. We recognise the benefits of diversity, that’s why our people enrich the areas in which they work, coming from 16 countries and speaking 28 languages.

1964: Beatlemania arrives in Melbourne.

Left: R.G. Woodard Hawthorn opens its doors on Burwood Road & Power Street.

R.G. Woodard office opens in Hawthorn.

Right: Skyhooks and other leading Australian bands create a new high for our local music industry.

A young Ronald Clarke

lights the Olympic torch.

1971

Personal computers take off.

1961

Australia wins the 1983 America’s Cup.

Left: Beatlemania comes to Melbourne and we go crazy!

The Beatles in Melbourne

Below: Neale Burgess, son in law of R.G. Woodard, assumes helm of the company in 1957.

Top: Personal computers start to make their way into offices all over Australia.

Australian music hits a high note.

We helped our

1951

1964: R.G. Woodard P/L moves to 471 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn East.

R.G. Woodard Hawthorn East

communities thrive through the boom of the next decade, and continued to set new standards, just as Harold Holt did in February 1966 when he introduced decimal currency.

1966: Decimal currency is introduced to Australia.

Neale Burgess

The 70s bring huge social change and prosperity to Australia.

1981

In 2003, Woodards releases its Customer Service Charter and becomes the first agency nationally to appoint a dedicated Customer Service Advocate.

It was used by CAV as a base model for its Internal Dispute Resolution.

Collingwood win the 1990 AFL Premiership.

1988: R.G. Woodard rebrands to Woodards.

Our doors were open through the Commercial Boom of the 1980s, the stock market crash of 1987 and the recession of the early 90s.

Macrae Fallon joins Woodards

They stayed open right through the dot-com boom and the ultimate tech crash in 2001.

Cathy Freeman lights the Sydney 2000 Olympic torch.

1991

Australia wins the America’s Cup.

We have a history of remarkable leaders who go on to do great things.

1987: The real estate industry, the last major industry to holdout, converts to the metric system.

1987: Stock market crash.

Richard Jellis

Richard Jellis went on to start Jellis Craig. Ross Savas left to become Managing Director at Kay and Burton. Glen Coutinho went on to being Director at RT Edgar Boroondara.

Above: We were open when Cathy Freeman lit the torch at the 2000 Olympic Games, and when she won Gold. We came together as a nation that year, just as we do now.

In 2000, Richard Williams, John Pollard & Andrew Chisholm rebrand from Macrae Fallon to Woodards.

Richard Williams, John Pollard & Andrew Chisholm.

Top Left: Paul Keating defeats Bob Hawke and guides Australia out of the recession.

The world wide web takes off.

2001 Multiphase, minimising the cost and risk of selling.

Right: We were there during the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, the phones stayed on and the doors stayed open to guide our clients through it.

Mid-Right: Multiphase is added to the Woodards innovations list.

2002: Cameron Way joins Jim Kiley as Co-director of Blackburn/Box Hill.

2008: Global Financial Crisis.

2002: John Piccolo assumes ownership as new Woodards CEO.

Apple launches the iPhone.

Australia says YES

to marriage equality.

Above: Cashflow Guarantee, a Woodards innovation. You can be sure rent is paid on time, every time.

2014: Woodards Foundation is formed.

Left: Facebook changes how we communicate as a society.

Below: Sorry. An important word for the First Peoples of Australia.

The Clutter Buster launches; a free storage service to all clients.

2015: Woodards Foundation purchases their first home to help assist families in need.

2021

2015: Woodards Foundation launches.

Since then we have:

Australia says sorry.

We help bring The Block to Cameron Street, Richmond, with our very own Ruth Roberts becoming the 1st female auctioneer in the show’s history.

2011 2012: Jason Sharpe merges with Woodards Carlton and rebrands from Thomson after 100+ years of local history.

Purchased 6 soup vans for Vinnies. Helped build transitional housing for women who would otherwise be homeless.

Participated in CEO Sleepout, raising over $400,000 for homeless services.

Jason Sharpe

2017: Woodards partners with Vinnies.

2016: Brexit Referendum.

As a company, the legacy continues. We have managed to survive the nation’s ups and downs, continually striving to set higher standards and giving back to our community to make it a better place.

Brad Teal

Brad Teal joins Woodards

Cameron Street sells on The Block.

After 34 years, Brad Teal merges his 7 office network and joins Woodards.

Williams Batters joins Woodards After a 143 year history serving Stonnington.

And the story continues...

Bill Cook, Philippe Batters & Luke Piccolo

“We have been here for the last 101 years, and you can expect us to be here for you, your family and subsequent generations for the next 100”

Years of Remarkable

With a People First approach, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of clients reach their property goals and we’d be delighted to help you achieve yours.

Contact our remarkable team.

Woodards Camberwell 277 Camberwell Road P: 9805 1111 woodards.com.au