Place New Farm has been named number one sales business across the Place
Estate Agents network, recording 21 per cent growth on its previous best
financial year.
The office is the first to surpass Place Bulimba's 21-year reign at the top, capping a record-breaking night for the inner-city business.
The team finished more than two per cent ahead of Place Bulimba's gross commission income, an extraordinary result for one of the smaller major offices in the group.
Place New Farm has eight lead agents, five co-agents and a total team of 42, with every part of the business contributing to the office's performance.
Place New Farm Sales Manager Matthew Foote said the result was built on a high-performance culture, not headcount.
"This is what sustained excellence looks like. It's built over years, by people who know their market at a deeper level, hold each other to a high standard and know how to work as one team when the stakes are highest," Mr Foote said.
"What makes me proud is that this is not a team that has been thrown together. Many of our people have built their careers here, side by side, over more than a decade.
"They know each other's strengths. They trust and respect each other. That's why we perform the way we do. It's not about one great agent or one great year. It's the standard that has been set for our team in a high-performance culture."
The office's sales result was matched by a major awards haul.
Led by Aaron Woolard, Team Woolard was named Place Salesperson of the Year, while also taking out Top Seller, Top Lister and the number one Palladium Sales Level ranking.
Aaron Woolard was named Place's number one individual agent.
Two additional Place New Farm agents were ranked in the group's top 10, with Heath Williams at number four and Alex Rutherford at number nine.
The office's property management team also had a standout night, with Vita Little awarded Management Excellence, Ashlea Thomas awarded Property Management Excellence and Josh Hicks ranked fourth for Platinum Rental Sales.
Place New Farm Selling Director Sarah Hackett said the result reflected a culture the business had deliberately protected as it grew.
"You can't manufacture this kind of performance in a year," Mrs Hackett said.
"It comes from people staying, developing and backing each other over a long period of time.
"We have agents who are exceptional in their own right, but the expectation here is bigger than individual success. You turn up prepared. You contribute. You share what you know. You don't let standards slide because the market is strong or because you have had a good month.
"That's what makes a high-performing team. It's not hype. It's a group of people who care deeply about being excellent at what they do, and who understand that everyone's reputation is attached to the result."
Mrs Hackett became Director of Place New Farm five years ago, following the longstanding success of former leader Judy Goodger.
She said the office had remained focused on quality, not simply growing headcount.
"We've never chased size for the sake of it," Mrs Hackett said.
"We've built a business around the right people, the right support and the right standards. That applies across sales, administration and property management."
Mr Foote said the win was significant, but it was not the finish line.
"Being number one is a great moment. And we're determined to stay hungry enough to earn it again."