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Adam Walker, Fiona McDonald, and Ashleigh Marx will be taking the reins, with all three well-known members of the community having worked in the residential and commercial real estate industries in Ararat and throughout Victoria for over 30 years.
The legacy
Ashleigh Marx has a special family connection to the business, as her great grandfather Eric Spalding founded Best & Spalding, Stock, Station & Commission Agents 99 years ago in 1922.
“This business was originally started by my great grandfather and handed onto my grandfather; so it is very special to be back here continuing my family legacy,” Ms Marx narrated.
In August 1922, Eric Spalding and co-founder Charles F Best made their first sale on the books for “six porkers”.
Kingsley Spalding, Ms Marx’s grandfather, then joined his father in the business, which went through two more name changes over the years, first to Spalding & Plant, and then to Spalding McCutcheon.
Successful succession
Today, the new owners are overjoyed to be leading the picturesque region’s existing team of nine in property management and sales.
“We are thrilled to be heading up Ray White Ararat, with the three of us now working together in a real team effort to build our business into the best it can be,” Mr Walker said.
“The corporate support and training from Ray White Victoria has always been phenomenal, and the brand of Ray White has always been a drawcard in attracting excellent clients and staff,” he said.
Ray White’s CEO of Victoria and Tasmania, Stephen Dullens, was equally delighted to welcome the trio into business ownership.
“I am excited that Adam, Fiona, and Ashleigh have taken over the leadership in such an important regional location for our group,” Mr Dullens said.
“It is a particularly special tie for Ashleigh, whose family originally started this landmark agency in town,” Mr Dullens said.
Noting Ararat City as the principal service centre in the region that offers retail, commercial, community, and recreational facilities and services for Victoria’s mid-west, the CEO said: “I have no doubt they will continue the success of Ray White in Ararat and will represent their clients and our brand with the utmost grace and efficiency.”
Bright prospects for the future
Co-owner Fiona McDonald, who has extensive experience in the retail and commercial leasing space, as well as in property management, is optimistic on what the team can offer for their clients.
“We are excited to bring a full spectrum of skills from our leadership team, and look forward to bringing this broad coverage to our entire team,” she said.
The team plans to cover all of Ararat’s suburbs as well as the surrounding towns, which tout a median house price of around $265,000.
“We are two hours from Melbourne and enjoy a great rural lifestyle out here, with strong industry and farming as well,” she said.
Mr Walker stated that since the COVID-19 pandemic, there had been an increase in demand for property in Ararat.
“Lifestyle properties are being sought after by those in metropolitan areas, wanting to escape to a regional lifestyle,” he said.
When it comes to sales and property management needs, the Ray White Ararat team hopes to become the real estate agency of choice.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Noemi Paminuan-Jara
Noemi is a journalist for Smart Property Investment and Real Estate Business. She has extensive experience writing for business, health, and education industries. Noemi is a contributing author of an abstract published by the American Public Health Association, and Best Practices in Emergency Pedagogical Methods in Germany. She shares ownership of the copyright of an instructional video for pharmacists when communicating with deaf patients. She attended De La Salle University where she obtained a double degree in Psychology and Marketing Management.
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