Donnelly & Associates expands with Paul Horsburgh joining up after five years in the geothermal industry in Califiornia

A well known agent returns to the commercial property agency world, a prestige agency sets up in a prestige location and the real estate industry rallies for bushfire victims.

The Brisbane CBD. Picture: AAP/David Clark

AFTER five years helping to cook up the Hell’s Kitchen Lithium and Geothermal Project in California Paul Horsburgh has returned to the commercial agency world.

Horsburgh left Ray White Commercial in 2015 to take up a directorship of Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) US with Brisbane property developer Rod Colwell and ex Santos engineer Jason Czapla.

At the time the fledgling company had secured a lease over 770ha of the Salton Sea, southwest of Los Angeles, to build a geothermal power station on its southern shores.

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However, Horsburgh wrapped up his role with CTR in June last year and has come home.

He’s joined at Donnelly & Associates Property Consultants as a director and will focus on his old stamping ground in Brisbane’s industrial north. The boutique agency kicked off late last year through ex Savills industrial specialist Ben Donnelly.

Meanwhile, the latest we’ve heard from California is that CTR continues to work and its first 15,000-tonne lithium carbonate facility and 49.9 megawatt power plant is projected to be on line in 2023.

Paul Horsburgh when he was with Ray White Commercial. He has joined Donnelly & Associates.

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QUEENSLAND Sotheby’s International Realty (QSIR) has relocated its head office in Brisbane to the Mercedes-Benz new showroom and lifestyle centre Breakfast Creek Wharf.

QSIR joins some of the country’s most exclusive high-end brands at the LSH Property Australia’s new luxury lifestyle precinct which includes the largest Mercedes-Benz showroom in the Southern Hemisphere.

The company has already relocated more than 10 staff from its Ascot premises which has been home since 2016.

QSIR owner and chief executive Paul Arthur says the traditional real estate shop is dying with customers — especially those in the luxury market — expect to be serviced in a more contemporary way.

He says LSH Property Australia’s investment in the Breakfast Creek location as a statement about its confidence in the future of Australia and, in particular, Brisbane.

“We have always been very bullish on the Queensland market,” Arthur says.

“Brisbane, in particular, continues to mature and grow as a city. This iconic Lifestyle Centre in Brisbane, which is being delivered by one of the world’s most prestigious brands, shows enormous confidence in the city and its luxury market.’”

LSH Property Australia non-executive director Paul Betar says the arrival of Sotheby’s was a major step in the establishment of the LSH Lifestyle Centre as “a Brisbane luxury lifestyle precinct without peer”.

“Our vision for this site was always to create a destination that complements the Mercedes-Benz Brisbane anchor tenant and reflects the lifestyle needs and aspirations of the discerning customer,” he says.

“We believe this will be an Australia-first concept, where you can purchase a prestige home and a prestige vehicle under the one roof.”

Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty owner and CEO Paul Arthur inside Mercedes-Benz's flagship showroom and lifestyle centre at the Breakfast Creek Wharf.

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THE Real Estate Institute of Queensland has dug deep for to help those in need after the devastation caused by the bushfires.

REIQ chief executive Antonia Mercorella says the organisation has joined forces with a large group of real estate brands and peak bodies from within the Australian real estate community to support bushfire affected regions and wildlife, with the campaign, #BeyondtheBricks.

REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella

Since the campaign’s launch, nearly 30 major franchise groups, along with the Real Estate Institutes around Australia, have pledged nearly $900,000 to assist those suffering loss and disruption from these unprecedented bushfires.

“We are deeply saddened by the devastating effects these fires have had across the country,” says Mercorella.

“But this is not a short term problem. “Along with immediate loss of property and livelihoods, communities will face ongoing challenges as they attempt to rebuild.”

There are multiple ways to get involved – you can donate directly or set up your own office fundraiser by visiting www.beyondthebricks.com.au/reiq