Place New Farm claims Top Office for the first time, a decade-long title changes hands, and the Place network honours one of its own in a night nobody in the room will forget.
Every year, Place holds The Celebration, our annual awards night for recognising the hard work, dedication and growth of our Placers. It's the biggest night on the Place calendar, the one everyone gets dressed up for, and the room is always buzzing with the same question: who's taking home the top honours this year?
This year's theme was Full Throttle, tying in with our Mission Day 27 focus on finding purpose and creating momentum. The night was held at The Langham on the Gold Coast, with our events team giving the venue a full F1 makeover, chequered flags, roaring engines and all. Every office across the network came together to celebrate a great year, and the energy in the room reflected it.
Celebrating Our Wins
Place New Farm was named Top Sales Business across Place for the first time, a great result off the back of a strong year for the whole team. Sam Kelso, Co-Principal & Auctioneer at Place One Group, was named Place Person of the Year, recognition for the impact he continues to have across the network.
Another standout moment was Aaron Woolard being named number one Agent of the Year for the first time. The award has belonged to Matthew Jabs for the past ten years, but Matthew has since become Principal of his own office, Place Newmarket, moving his focus from individual sales to leading a team. Aaron's win this year felt like a real passing of the torch, and he had this to say:
"A pretty special result for our team. Taking out these titles is something we're incredibly proud of, but the part that matters most is what sits behind the results… great people, great clients and a team that genuinely loves what we do. We never take the trust of our sellers for granted, and we'll keep working hard to deliver the best result every time."
Matthew Jabs presented the award himself, a fitting way to close out his decade at the top and hand things over to Aaron.
A Moment That Mattered
This year we introduced a new award, the Creative Excellence Award, in honour of David Roberts. For more than 20 years, Dave was an integral part of Place, not just the creator and guardian of our brand, but an important part of its soul, shaping the way the world sees and feels about Place.
The trophy was made in the shape of a nutcracker, a nod to Dave's well-known collection. The inaugural award was won by Heath Williams, presented to him by Dave's son, Ethan Roberts, who is part of the Place New Farm team, a fitting and emotional moment for everyone in the room, and a reminder of the strong bonds within the Place network.
Full Circle Moments
Our Placers reaching ten years with the network were each given a Place ring to mark the milestone, a small but meaningful nod to a decade of hard work and dedication.
In a nice surprise, it also turned out that the lead singer, Conrad Sewell, a well-known Australian singer and songwriter, went to school with Sam Kelso, Co-Principal & Auctioneer at Place One Group, and was even part of Sam's first band. A small world moment that had everyone talking.
More Than an Awards Night
The Celebration isn't just about handing out trophies. It's a chance to pause, reflect on the year and recognise the people who make Place what it is. From career milestones to long-standing dedication, this year's moments were a reminder of the culture and connection that run through our network.
As we close out an incredible year, we're proud of how far we've come and even more excited about what's ahead.
If you're looking to join a network that celebrates its people and their achievements, it might be time to make our Place, your place.