Page 13: Melbourne real estate king Greg Hocking retires after decades in the game

Melbourne’s property king Greg Hocking has dropped the hammer on his final auction, quitting after decades in the game.

Real Estate icon Greg Hocking has called it quits after decades in the game... or has he?. Picture Rebecca Michael.

A body bag exiting the front door mid-auction after a murder the night before, a neighbour graffitiing four-letter expletives in thick red paint on a house just before auction and near fisticuffs between two bidders after an auction.

Real estate legend Greg Hocking has seen it all.

Hocking, considered by his industry rivals as not only one of the best, but the one who made it entertainment has dropped the hammer on his final auction.

He started work as a bank teller when he was taken under the wing by Kevin Biggin of Biggin and Scott.

Greg Hocking (left) is yin to Andrew Stuart’s yang.

Hocking was given the keys to an Albert Park corner shop and two years later met the yang to his yin in Andrew Stuart.

They established what would become a household name to Victorians looking to buy and sell real estate, Hocking and Stuart.

“If you have a partner that thinks like you, talks like you and acts like you and does what you do, you don’t need a partner,” Hocking told Page 13.

“We had complementary skills and Stuey was far more flamboyant and outgoing than me.”

Ostentatious reality series Selling Sunset and Luxe Listings show an OTT culture with flashy cars and suits so tight the auctioneers might be calling the bids in falsetto.

Greg Hocking showing off the Eureka Tower top floor shell.

Looking the part has been always part of the game says Hocking.

It was flying over to Munich to pick up two new BMWs for himself and Stuart that Hocking read Behind The Arches.

The story behind McDonalds was a light bulb moment for their growing business.

Franchises!

The rest is real estate history. After several decades at the top, the two partners were living in adjacent Toorak houses.

Hocking and Stuart sold franchises for a speculated $20 million.

Stuart left for the golf courses of Mornington and annual soirees in Aspen (couldn’t resist). Hocking was raising his three boys but wanting to keep his hand in the game.

Hocking has been around the real estate traps.

The stable of cars since those BMW days has grown significantly, think Ferrari, with a trip to Monaco for a historic car rally on the bucket list come retirement.

But having never really left the Albert Park nest and working from the Jellis Craig offices two shops down from that corner shop, Hocking has clients who just won’t let anyone else sell their house.

Greg Hocking at the auction of Channel 9 presenter Livinia Nixon’s Middle Park home. Picture: Paul Loughnan.

“Just this week I had a very loyal client say they want to sell, so it will be hard to close the chapter finally,” said Hocking.

So, is he really leaving the real estate business?

Don’t bet your house on it!

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