Sydney-based rich-lister Nick Politis has increased his footprint in Fortitude Valley with adjoining properties

A leading Sydney-based property player has control of two adjoining Fortitude Valley heritage-listed properties which come with a large slice of land.

324 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley. Picture: Tara Croser

ONE of the property market’s more astute investors has gathered a large site in Fortitude Valley.

According to CoreLogic and property records a holding company associated with Sydney-based richlister Nick Politis bought the freehold of Wickham Hotel last year for $14 million.

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The three-storey heritage building is next to a Spanish Colonial inspired two-storey retail/office building at 324 Wickham St which another Politis associated entity acquired a few years ago.

The Wickham Hotel, Fortitude Valley. Picture: Megan Slade

Property types are telling Commercial Confidential that the two assets gives him a 3230sq m land holding in a prime part of the Valley.

The word is that he will keep them as income investment but, although there are heritage considerations, they could be a very handy development option in the future.

NEW START FOR FITNESS KING

PROBABLY Queensland's, if not Australia’s, fittest property player Matthew Eckford has left agency land and is focusing on his family company Gremis Property.

Matt was with CBRE’s industrial and logistics inner north industrial team for 18 months after a 12 year stint with Chase commercial as a director.

Matthew Eckford has left CBRE to focus on his family company.

An ultra long distance runner, Matt last year smashed a Guinness World Record for the longest 12 hour distance run on a treadmill, notching up 147km.

BIG ATTENDANCE, BIG CHARITY

MORE than 60,000 people attended 400 Property Council events around Australia during 2018, and in the process many also dug deep to support charitable bodies such as the Property Industry Foundation and Mission Australia.

Ken Morrison.

More than $400,000 was raised last year with significant contributions were raised at Property Council Christmas lunch events in December.

The Victorians led the way with a $62,000 contribution from their Melbourne lunch, followed by Queensland ($52,750) and NSW ($40,000).

Property Council CEO Ken Morrison said the generosity of industry representatives extended beyond direct donations to fundraisers.

“Many of the speakers at our industry events forego the traditional gift of appreciation for a speaker and instead direct a contribution towards charity,” he said.

“As well as the donations collected at Property Council events, many of our member companies are also actively engaged in charitable activities with their own employees, demonstrating this is an industry really committed to supporting the community it works and lives in,.”