I was in Brisbane recently for a few days and by the end of the trip, I found myself doing what I suspect a lot of Gladstone, Boyne and Tannum people do when they visit bigger cities: feeling incredibly grateful to live here.
Everywhere was busy.
Every café, restaurant and bar needed a booking.
Getting anywhere took forever.
And finding a car park required what I can only describe as strategic planning and emotional resilience.
Because it was Mother’s Day weekend, the crowds were next level. At one point, I’m fairly sure queueing for coffee counted as cardio.
Then I came home.
Back to my home near the harbour.
Back to open parking spaces.
Back to sea breezes and walking paths.
Back to being five minutes from the office instead of forty-five.
Back to knowing at least 5 people at Woolies.
And honestly, it reminded me why I still choose Gladstone every single time.
For those who may not know me, my background isn’t traditional real estate. Before entering the industry, I worked across education, children’s services, state and local government, human resources and corporate learning and development.
Which probably explains why my real passion has never simply been property.
It’s people.
It’s culture.
It’s leadership.
It’s building businesses that genuinely function well behind the scenes.
Almost ten years ago, my business partner Ron English and I purchased our first agency with a very clear vision:
To build a real estate business centred on professionalism, service and community trust.
Not ego. Not hype.
And definitely not the old-school “look at me” style of real estate.
Late last year, we rebranded from Professionals Gladstone to LJ Hooker Gladstone while also purchasing LJ Hooker Boyne Tannum.
It’s been a huge chapter for us personally and professionally, but also an incredibly exciting opportunity to build something genuinely different for the region.
Because while branding matters, people matter more.
Our vision is simple:
To become the leading real estate agency in the Gladstone, Boyne and Tannum region, known for outstanding customer service.
And honestly, the strength of that vision comes down to one thing:
Our people.
One of the things I’m proudest of is the calibre of specialists we’ve brought together across residential sales, commercial property and property management. These aren’t people trying to be everything to everyone. They are professionals who genuinely know their craft, care deeply about clients and understand this region inside and out.
Across Boyne Island and Tannum Sands, Cheryl Kurtz and Lisa Emmert continue to build trusted reputations in residential sales, supported by Nicole Dearing and a wonderful administration team led by Kim Scott and Skye Scott. Their connection to the local community is incredibly strong and clients consistently comment on how supported and informed they feel throughout the process.
In Gladstone, our residential sales team of Tahni Roberts, Lyn Sanderson and Tamara Smits each bring very different strengths and personalities to the business, which I think is important because no two clients are the same. Some clients want a detailed strategy, some want calm reassurance, and some simply want honest conversations without the jargon.
Behind the scenes, Lyn also leads our Gladstone administration team alongside Aleisha Cavanagh, and I genuinely believe great administration professionals are some of the most underrated people in real estate. A well-run office creates confidence for clients long before a contract is ever signed.
Our commercial division is another area of enormous strength for us. Ron brings decades of experience across commercial and industrial real estate, land development and large-scale projects, while Tamara Smits, Carlie Jasinski and Mare Young provide specialised support across commercial sales, leasing and property management.
Commercial property requires a completely different skill set from residential real estate. It’s strategic, relationship-driven and deeply connected to the future growth of our region — and I’m incredibly proud of the professionalism within that team.
And then there’s property management.
Anyone working in the industry right now knows property management is not for the faint-hearted.
The rental market across Gladstone, Boyne Island and Tannum Sands remains incredibly competitive, with strong demand and ongoing pressure on available housing supply. That’s why having experienced, calm and solutions-focused property managers matters so much.
Stepfanie Heron leads our property management division across both offices and brings exceptional leadership, depth of experience and professionalism to the role. Alongside Sharron Allen, Danielle Dobby, Kirsten Stanley, Tiani Clough and Sienna Kenrick, we have a team that genuinely cares about both landlords and tenants while navigating an increasingly complex market.
And I think that’s something people often misunderstand about modern real estate.
The best agencies are no longer built around one “star performer.”
They’re built around high-performing teams.
Teams that communicate well.
Teams that solve problems quickly.
Teams that genuinely support each other.
Teams that care about outcomes, not just transactions.
That culture matters to me enormously.
Probably because I still think like an educator at heart.
I’m endlessly fascinated by how businesses grow, how teams communicate and how customer experiences can improve. Which is also why my walks around the Gladstone Harbour or along Tannum Beach almost always involve a podcast in my ears — Mel Robbins, Jefferson Fisher, Chasing Optimum, We Are Selling… anything focused on leadership, communication, business or personal growth.
There’s always something new to learn.
And right now, there’s certainly plenty happening in the property market.
The local market continues to show strong demand for quality family homes across suburbs including Kin Kora, Telina, Clinton, New Auckland, Glen Eden, Calliope, Boyne Island and Tannum Sands. Buyers are still actively searching for well-presented homes with functional family features — four bedrooms, two bathrooms, double garages, sheds, pools and outdoor entertaining spaces continue to attract very strong interest.
We’re also seeing increasing movement from buyers wanting lifestyle changes — families upsizing, retirees downsizing closer to amenities and buyers relocating from larger cities looking for affordability and balance.
The challenge isn’t lack of buyers.
It’s lack of available stock.
At the same time, recent Federal Budget conversations around negative gearing and capital gains tax changes are understandably creating uncertainty for some investors, which concerns me because regional communities like ours already face pressure on rental supply.
Balanced, thoughtful conversations around property matter enormously right now.
Not scare campaigns.
Not sensational headlines.
Just honest conversations about what’s actually happening in our community.
And from where I sit, Gladstone remains one of Queensland’s most underrated lifestyle markets.
Where else can you finish work, be at the beach in ten minutes, launch the boat on the weekend, avoid capital-city chaos and still build a genuinely good life?
That balance is becoming increasingly valuable.
So as this first edition of Property, People & Perspective wraps up, here’s my local reality check for the month:
Sometimes we become so focused on what bigger cities have that we forget what they’ve lost.
Time.
Space.
Convenience.
Community.
The Gladstone region still offers those things in abundance.
And I think that’s something worth appreciating.
Thanks for reading my very first column. I’m looking forward to sharing more local observations, market insights and conversations with you each month.
And hopefully reminding people along the way that real estate is ultimately about people, not just property.