First National celebrates 75 years in business

First National Real Estate is celebrating an historic milestone marking 75 years for the Brady family in real estate in Gunnedah.

The year was 1937, when PW Brady and Sons (formerly Brady and Ewing) first opened its doors as stock and station agents, as Peter Brady put his own extensive stock experience to use at the new Gunnedah Saleyards.

Down through four generations, the Brady family business has grown and changed along with Gunnedah.

From an era where the vast Piallaway Station was owned and run by the New Zealand and Australia Land Co, through its sub-division as soldier settlement blocks, the Brady family has watched and played a part in the changing face of agriculture on the Liverpool Plains.

Three-quarters-of-a-century on, however, that same straight-talking, honest approach to business that Peter exhibited, serves his great-grandson Michael Brady well today.

“The original business was very much influenced by Peter’s upbringing on the small family farm in the Nea Siding area, near Curlewis,” Michael Brady said, recalling stories told at the family dining table.

“Peter Brady started in livestock dealing and slowly developed the business to include livestock and property through the early years of the Gunnedah Saleyards and the Agents’ Association.

“PW Brady and Sons had a particular focus on pig marketing too, the firm was the first to establish regular pig sales in the region at its own saleyard complex on the Boggabri Road.” By 1985, PW Brady and Sons was the largest pig marketing firm on the eastern seaboard.

So many of the family have been involved in the business, PW ( Peter) his four sons Rodney, Cohn, William and Peter and Cohn’s son’s Tony and Michael. Dealing in property is a Brady family pursuit.

In 2007, Lesley Rattenbury, joined the Gunnedah First National team and quickly gained a strong reputation for integrity and good service.

With Mike’s wealth of experience as an auctioneer for stock and real estate and Lesley, bringing with her a breadth of experience from her corporate banking background, it truly is a dynamic mix.

“Our vastly different backgrounds allow us to look at opportunities from often very different perspectives, but always with the core principal of delivering the best deal and the most efficient service to our customers,” Mr Brady said.

Rounding out the team is new, and very talented, sales consultant, Kirsti Williams, also a Gunnedah girl.

Kirsti has developed a great reputation for friendly and efficient customer relations and shows a real understanding of the property market.

Today, the business has grown to incorporate all real estate and property management services and has joined a growing national network of independent real estate agents.

“We joined First National Real Estate in 1999 as a decision to team up with a network of other independent realtors to strengthen the services we can offer in Gunnedah,” Mr Brady said.

“First National is 100 per cent Australian-owned, it is not a franchise, it is about becoming more professionally aligned to share information and professional development and training for our staff.” “In a growing market, it was a good match to give our local vendors national exposure to property investors and local investors a trusted source for opportunities outside of Gunnedah.

“This means is that if someone walks into an office in Coffs Harbour and says I hear property is running hot Gunnedah’ they can find out what is available in our region, while the vendor in Gunnedah can still deal through us, their local, trusted and friendly property agent.”

Always striving for the best price for vendors, Gunnedah First National Real Estate is now incorporating the AMS’ Auction strategy an innovative new technique, which gives vendors flexibility to sell their property and maximise competition.

“Our decision to promote AMS auction strategies for our clients has been a real winner,” Mr Brady said.

“If you wish to find out more about how an AMS strategy can maximise your sale price, call us at Gunnedah First National Real Estate on 6742 3914.”

First National Real Estate Gunnedah

Source: Namoi Valley Independent, 10 May 2012