Knight Frank and Bayleys acquires third largest real estate firm in Australia
The announcement follows shareholder and regulatory approvals being met
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Knight Frank and Bayleys has completed its acquisition of leading Australian real estate firm, McGrath Limited, it was announced today.
The news follows regulatory and shareholder approval, with the Scheme of Arrangement coming into effect on June 17 and implemented on June 27.
McGrath Limited is the third largest real estate group in the country, according the data from CoreLogic, behind behemoth Ray White and stalwart LJ Hooker.
McGrath founder and CEO John McGrath said in a statement that he welcomed the move.
“We are delighted to be joining forces with two of the greatest real estate brands in the world,” Mr McGrath said. “Knight Frank is the most prestigious residential agency globally and provides us and our customers with instant access to the best global network and the most sophisticated international buyers in the world.
“Our goal is to build Australia’s leading and finest real estate brand over the next few years and this new partnership and network puts us in an extraordinarily strong position to do just that.”
Between them, Knight Frank and McGrath have 171 offices across Australia and Knight Frank is the largest privately owned real estate agency in the world with more than 740 offices worldwide.
Mr McGrath will remain at McGrath Limited as chief executive and managing director and retain his 23.3 percent shareholding in the company. Mr McGrath will also be on the new board of directors, along with Knight Frank Australia CEO James Patterson, Knight Frank Global head of residential Rupert Dawes, Bayleys managing director Mike Bayley and Bayleys finance director Ken MacRae.
Mr Patterson, CEO at Knight Frank Australia, said the acquisition represented a significant milestone in the company’s international expansion.
“McGrath is a great fit culturally,” he said. “We are aligned on many areas including our values, how we operate and our brand positioning. The Knight Frank, Bayleys and McGrath teams will continue to operate on a ” business as usual” basis, but with each party gaining access to vastly broadened networks, stretching across multiple borders, unlocking greater opportunities for our clients.”
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Mirvac’s 45-level Trielle has topped out at Yarra’s Edge, pairing riverfront apartments with wellness facilities, private dining and resident services.
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Mirvac has topped out Trielle at Melbourne’s Yarra’s Edge, with more than 70 per cent of the riverfront development sold and approximately 80 per cent of purchasers intending to make their apartment a home.
The figures, released on September 22, point to an owner-occupier audience for one of the precinct’s final residential towers. Mirvac began developing Yarra’s Edge in 2003, and its latest addition occupies one of the remaining absolute riverfront sites.
Mirvac CEO of Development Stuart Penklis said existing residents were among those moving up within the neighbourhood.
“Many purchasers already have a connection to Yarra’s Edge,” Mr Penklis said, describing buyers whose changing needs were encouraging an upgrade within the precinct.
“As one of the final residential towers within Yarra’s Edge, Trielle represents the culmination of more than two decades of creating one of Melbourne’s most established and sought-after waterfront communities,” Penklis said.
“Positioned on the Collins Street axis with absolute river frontage, Trielle offers residents a rare opportunity to enjoy sweeping views across the Yarra River, Melbourne skyline and Port Phillip Bay, while remaining seamlessly connected to the CBD. With Trielle now more than 70 per cent sold, we’re continuing to see strong demand from buyers seeking quality homes in established locations.”
The developer also flagged a penthouse and sub-penthouse collection with larger layouts, premium finishes and broad outlooks. The planned wellness centrepiece, The Oasis, encompasses a 900-square-metre elevated urban rainforest.
Mirvac General Manager Residential Development Victoria Elysa Anderson said Trielle had resonated strongly with buyers seeking a rare lifestyle offering in Melbourne.
“Opportunities to secure a new luxury residence on a riverfront site of this calibre are incredibly rare, particularly within a community like Yarra’s Edge,” Anderson said.
“What makes Trielle unique is the combination of exceptional views, world-class residential facilities and the lifestyle that already exists around it. Residents are buying into a mature waterfront community with parks, promenades, dining, wellness and strong community connections already in place.”
The 45-level tower brings a substantial new presence to that waterfront. Its residential offering spans one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments, with Signature, Prestige and Sub-Penthouse collections accommodating different household sizes. The north-facing position connects the apartments visually to the river and city beyond.
Seven storeys above the promenade, the planned Oasis combines planting and a running stream with a Scandinavian-inspired wellness club developed with spa specialist Naomi Gregory. Facilities include a 25-metre lap pool, hot magnesium pool, sauna, hydrotherapy, a gym, yoga and Pilates room, and treatment spaces.
The amenity extends beyond exercise. Residents will have access to The Biblioteca library and workspaces, ground-floor work pods, and The Salone piano lounge. A private Chef’s Table dining room offers a setting for larger gatherings, while a cinema, games room and sports lounge broaden the entertaining options. Concierge services and a dog-wash area support everyday routines.
Trielle comprises a collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom residences. Reflecting strong demand from owner occupiers, approximately 80 per cent of purchasers to date intend to live in their homes, highlighting the project’s appeal to those seeking a long-term waterfront lifestyle.
Mirvac has recently delivered The Albertine, a premium apartment development on the edge of Melbourne’s CBD, and is nearing completion of Prince & Parade in Brunswick, further strengthening its portfolio of thoughtfully designed apartment communities in some of Melbourne’s most sought-after urban locations.
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