By ANNE GIBSON
Australian real estate franchise LJ Hooker strengthened its hold in New Zealand yesterday, announcing the purchase of Auckland franchise group Olsen Everson.
LJ Hooker managing director Grahame Cooke said his firm had bought the 16 Olsen Everson offices from owner Alan Barwick and wanted to expand further in Auckland.
Barwick, Olsen Everson's managing director, bought the company from founders Tudor Olsen and Bob Everson in 1984.
Olsen Everson has about 300 agents working in offices from Orewa to Manurewa.
Olsen Everson franchisees will be invited to join the LJ Hooker franchise group.
LJ Hooker, which already has 27 offices in the Auckland area, opened in New Zealand in 1996 when it bought the Challenge Realty Group, which it re-named in 1998.
LJ Hooker now has 101 offices throughout New Zealand and is planning further growth.
The Sydney real estate group, founded by the late Sir Les Hooker in Maroubra in September 1928, now has 669 offices and last year opened in Indonesia.
"Real estate is not about houses, it's about people," Leslie Joseph Hooker is quoted as saying.
He is credited with introducing the concept of franchising real estate offices in Australia.
Knighted in 1973 for services to Australia's property community, he died in 1976.
Cooke said the Olsen Everson purchase had come after extensive discussions with other groups.
Auckland was important because it set trends in price and volume, "hence our desire to dominate in this market", Cooke said.
Alan Barwick has been appointed manager, network development,for LJ Hooker's New Zealand operations.
LJ Hooker purchase expands NZ operation
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