5th January 2019 / Sarah Lowry: SINCE 1919: A HISTORIC JOURNEY

In the early 1900's, areas such as Camberwell, Hawthorn and Balwyn were still considered rural retreats.

With the end of the Great War in 1919, Australian soldiers were steadily returning home to resume – or in some cases - kickstart their lives. Post-war migration was also bringing people to Australia from Southern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Adriatic. To cope with the demands of a growing population, the land around the 'outer' areas to the east of Melbourne was set to be subdivided.

Two young men recognised that the demand for land and housing in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne was about to snowball and soon established a real estate agency to cater for it. Mr Harold Fletcher, an accountant, and Mr Percy Parker, an auctioneer, began their business from offices at 2 Cotham Road in Kew.

Their timing was perfect. The roaring twenties brought increased optimism and business opportunities. Following success after success, Fletcher & Parker, as it was known at the time, had become one of Melbourne's most respected real estate agencies.

By the early 1930s, Harold Fletcher's eldest son, John, joined the business and was followed by his brother, David four years later. By this stage, co-founder Percy Parker had left the business, although his name remained part of the company's identity for several more decades.

Just as the landmark head office in Balwyn North was built in 1939, World War II was set to throw Australia and the rest of the world into conflict. As such, the property market was subdued for a number of years. Regardless, Fletcher & Parker continued on as best it could – the Fletcher family was determined for the business to survive.

In the years following World War II, Melbourne's borders surged further to the east, spilling out beyond Balwyn North into the orchards of Doncaster. While Fletcher & Parker continued to flourish, it suffered a major loss when Harold Fletcher passed away in 1952. Although he was ill for some time, Harold continued to work right up until a week before his death. Leaving the business
with a legacy of local knowledge, integrity, quality service and commitment, Fletcher & Parker had a solid foundation that it continued to build upon.

From the mid-1960s through to the early 1970s, Fletcher & Parker became a third-generation family business when John Fletcher's sons, Tim and Rob joined the business. In the years that followed,
Melbourne's boundaries continued to expand into suburbs such as Templestowe, Doncaster and Donvale.

By the year 2000, Fletcher & Parker was rebranded to more accurately reflect the identity built by the Fletcher family over the majority of its history. All in the space of a single Saturday, every flag, letterhead, business card, poster, sign and flyer was replaced, featuring new branding, imagery and a new name – Fletchers Real Estate. It was the beginning of a new era.

In 2006, John Fletcher passed away, leaving the business in the capable hands of sons, Tim and Rob. That same year, Fletchers embarked on a period of expansion, opening an office in Queenscliff, on the Bellarine Peninsula.

In the years that followed, Fletchers began offering franchise opportunities to real estate operators who shared the same values and commitment inherent to the company. By the late 2000's, the number of Fletchers offices had grown to nineteen.

Tim Fletcher retired in 2014, after giving fifty years of service to the business and to the real estate industry. His wife, Marilyn, also worked at Fletchers during this time as Head of Marketing. Tim's daughter, Kate later joined the department in 1998. Both Tim and his brother Rob have both had the satisfaction of seeing their children join the enterprise their grandfather began all those years ago. Kate and Anna, Tim's daughters, and Rob's sons, Mark, Tom and Nick, are the fourth generation of Fletchers to work in the business. Rob remains a Director and Executive Chairman of Fletchers to this day.

Over the years, the logo and corporate look of the company have evolved, matching Fletchers agile and contemporary approach to the business of real estate. One of the company's most recent ventures in this arena has been the Fletchers rebrand in 2018, which featured a lighter, more minimalist approach to the traditionally darker colours of the brand.

With a core mission to service their clients for life, Fletchers continue to grow their network steadily across Victoria, with new offices opened in Warrandyte, Croydon, Ocean Grove and Doreen over the last 12 months.

As a family business, Fletchers looks forward to celebrating the next 100 years, sharing the values that have always been integral to its success; local knowledge, integrity, quality service and commitment to its clients.