50 Years Timeline

Home About us Who We Are History 50 Years Timeline

Initially created to celebrate our 50-year anniversary, our timeline highlights the Prperty Council of Australia’s key milestones and rich history.

1960s
1969 - BOMA founded

“We originally thought of BOMA as being an educational or professional body. Once we got started it became very obvious that people were looking to us to represent the owners of big commercial properties in dealings with government” - Ray Powys AM, inaugural National President and CEO (1969-1985)

1969 - NSW Division established

NSW Division established with founding state president Bill Gately

1969 - VIC Division established

Victorian Division established with founding state president Cyril Gates

1969 - Ray Powys

Ray Powys AM, AMP, National President 1969-1974

1970s
1970 - QLD Division established

QLD Division established with founding state president Trevor Davies

1970 - WA Division established

WA Division established with founding state president John Baker

1973 - ACT Division established

ACT Division established with founding state president Doug Mackie

1973 - SA Division established

SA Division established with founding state president Graham Fenwick

1974 - Bill Gately

Bill Gately, Hillier Parker, National President 1974-1977

1975 - Humble beginnings

“When I joined BOMA in 1975 the office was a very large space in the ANZ Bank Building in Walker Street, North Sydney. In this large space we had two desks with typewriters and a couple of trestle tables, one of which held the Roneo copier – no computers or photocopiers in those days.” Jill Mason

1977 - First Property Congress

The first Congress was held in Sydney in 1977 and attracted 250 delegates. Since 1977 The Property Congress has become the industry’s premier national event. It addresses the big issues driving property development and investment in Australia and globally, and brings together established and emerging leaders in the property industry.

1977 - Australian Council of Shopping Centres committee formed

Until 1977 there had been no formal organisation to represent the interests of shopping centre owners. A growing number of BOMA members owned retail property and in 1977 a committee of BOMA was formed to look after their interests. This was later to become the Australian Council of Shopping Centres and was the forerunner of the present-day Shopping Centre Council of Australia. It also marked BOMA’s move beyond a purely office sector focus.

1977 - Peter Barrington

Peter Barrington, Hammersons, National President 1977-1979

1979 - First full-time CEO

Ray Powys AM appointed first full-time National Director (CEO)

1979 - Trevor Davies

Trevor Davies, Hooker Projects, National President 1979-1980

1980s
1980 - Doug Mackie

Doug Mackie, DR Mackie, National President 1980 - 1982

1982 - Tasmanian Division established

Tasmanian Division established with founding state president Jim Sharley

1982 - State-based BOMA awards established

The annual awards program recognises excellence in the built environment. Since its inception in 1982 as state-based awards it has been supported by Rider Levett Bucknall (formerly Rider Hunt) as principal sponsor.

1982 - Bill Cairns

Bill Cairns, AMP, National President 1982-1984

1983 - NT Division established

Northern Territory Division established

1984 - Strategic organisational review

BOMA undertook a strategic review of the organisation, which led to major expansion in all states

1984 - Frank Charnock

Frank Charnock, Jones Lang Wootton, National President 1984-1986

1985 - First Property Index and Office Vacancy Report

With the appointment of Peter Verwer AO as head of Research in 1981, research capacity grew rapidly with the first Property Index and Office Vacancy Report published, the precursor to today’s Office Market Report.

1986 - New CEO

Peter Barda appointed as the new CEO (1986 – 1992)

1986 - First Commercial Property Management course

While courses were available for valuers and real estate licensing, there was no practical training for commercial property managers. A BOMA committee including Peter Barrington, Ray Powys AM and Lyn Shaddock began work on devising a course and in 1986 a week-long residential course for 30 participants was held.

1986 - Don Cunnington

Don Cunnington, CM Group, National President 1986-1988

1988 - Brian Ellerbeck

Brian Ellerbeck, National Mutual, National President 1988-1989

1989 - Lawrie Willett

Lawrie Willett, SFIT, National President 1989-1990

1990s
1990 - First regional office opened

The Hunter Chapter opens in Newcastle

1990 - Jack Ritch

Jack Ritch, AMP, National President 1990-1992

1990 - Gold Coast Chapter established

Gold Coast Chapter established in the 1990s

1991 - State-based awards expanded to national awards

The previous state-based awards were augmented by the addition of a national award to recognise excellence in the efficient use of capital in a new or refurbished development.

1992 - New CEO

Peter Verwer AO appointed Chief Executive Officer (1992 – 2014)

1992 - Brian Pollock

Brian Pollock, National Mutual, National President 1992-1994

1994 - Jim Service

Jim Service, JG Service Pty Ltd, National President 1994-1996

1995 - Future Directions founded

Future Directions was established as a forum for young property professionals and held its first event.

1996 - BOMA relaunched as the Property Council of Australia

As the industry matured and its importance to the nation increased, the organisation relaunched as the Property Council of Australia in 1996, reflecting a new energy and new ambitions.

1996 - Property Industry Foundation established

In 1996, leaders in the property and construction industry formed the Property Industry Foundation with the mission to make a tangible difference to the serious and persistent problem of youth homelessness.

1996 - John McCarthy

John McCarthy, P&O Services, National President 1996-1998

1998 - Carol Schwartz AM

Carol Schwartz AM, was elected the Property Council’s first female National President 1998-2000

2000s
2000 - Greg Paramor AO

Greg Paramor AO, James Fielding Group, National President, 2000-2002

2001 - Residential Development Council, International and Capital Markets Division established

The Property Council expanded with the formation of the Residential Development Council and International and Capital Markets Division. The First Powerhouse corporate strategy was also launched.

2002 - Green Building Council of Australia established

The Property Council was a driver and founding member for the establishment of the Green Building Council of Australia.

2003 - Matthew Quinn

Matthew Quinn, Stockland, National President 2003-2005

2003 - Sunshine Coast Chapter established

Sunshine Coast Chapter established

2004 - New national office

The Property Council national office moved to Barrack Street.

2005 - Regional footprint expanded

Regional footprint expanded with Chapters established in the Illawarra and South West WA.

2005 - Victor Hoog Antink

Victor Hoog Antink, Dexus, National President 2005-2007

2007 - First Green Cities conference

Hosted jointly with the Green Building Council of Australia to promote sustainability in the built environment.

2007 - Nic Lyons

Nic Lyons, The GPT Group, National President, 2007-2008

2009 - First Property Leaders' Summit

Held in Canberra and connecting property investment decision makers from around the globe with Australia’s political leaders.

2009 - Daniel Grollo

Daniel Grollo, Grocon, National President 2009-2011

2010s
2011 - Property Council Academy established

Property Council Academy established to offer expert professional development courses to suit all aspects of the ever-growing property industry.

2011 - First ANZ Property Council Survey

The ANZ/Property Council Survey gauges the property industry’s sentiments about the outlook for Australia’s national and state/territory economies; views on property asset class performance; employment intentions; expected work flows and critical industry drivers.

2011 - Darren Steinberg

Darren Steinberg, Colonial First State/Dexus, National President 2011-2015

2011 - Townsville Chapter established

Townsville Chapter established

2012 - First Australian Property Hall of Fame inductees

The Australian Property Hall of Fame honours individuals who have provided sustained leadership, made a major pioneering contribution, and left an outstanding legacy to the property industry and the Australian community.

2012 - Retirement Living Council established

Founded as a specialist division of the Property Council of Australia. Representing a large number of retirement community owners, operators and developers, as well as associate members with a direct interest in the retirement living sector it works to proactively generate greater understanding about the exceptional lifestyle opportunities retirement villages provide for older Australians and the positive impacts they have on our communities.

2014 - New CEO

Ken Morrison appointed Chief Executive Officer

2015 - PMCC established

The Property Council established the Property Male Champions of Change in 2015 to drive greater gender equality in the property industry and increase the number of women in leadership roles.

2015 - First national advertising campaign

Let Property Grow the Economy was the Property Council’s first major foray into telling the industry’s proud story at a national scale. This was followed in 2018 by the Creating for Generations and A Wise Move campaigns.

2015 - Mark Steinert

Mark Steinert, Stockland, National President 2015-2017

2016 - 100 Women in Property launched

Launched in 2016 and going on to expand to 500 Women in Property in 2018 following its success, the sponsor-led program is working to achieve a significant and sustainable increase in the number of women in senior leadership positions in the property industry, a pipeline of future leaders

2017 - Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz

Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, Mirvac, National President 2017-2019

2018 - Creating Great Cities released

The Property Council releases ground-breaking new research, Creating Great Australian Cities, to stimulate debate about the future of our cities, improve public understanding of the issues at stake, and help governments make good decisions for the future.

2019 - First Future Cities Summit held

Industry and thought leaders gather to explore creating great places and thriving cities for people and examine innovation, disruption and the progress we are making to leave a legacy for the next generation and beyond.

2019 - Stephen Conry AM

Stephen Conry AM, JLL, National President 2019 - 2021

2021 - David Harrison

David Harrison, Charter Hall, National President 2021 - 2023

2022 - Student Accommodation Council formed

The Property Council formed the Student Accommodation Council to help guide policy and investment in the bourgeoning sector that underpins Australia's third largest export. 

2023 New CEO appointed

Mike Zorbas appointed CEO following resignation of Ken Morrison.

2023 - Michael O'Brien

Michael O'Brien, Managing Director of QIC Real Estate, announced as new National President