‘We love the growth’: Whaites + Co open CBD real estate office on Tomlins St

Is confidence building in the CBD? Townsville’s youngest real estate agency Whaites + Co has opened a new office - and in an unusual move, it overlooks Flinders St. See why.

Whaites + Co principal Jess Whaites (second left) with staff members Lily Riley, Lucas Syer-Sailor and Steven Marsilio. Picture: Evan Morgan

Is the CBD coming back to life?

Townsville’s youngest real estate agency Whaites + Co has opened a new office - and in an unusual move, it overlooks Flinders St.

Director Jess Whaites started up her agency 18 months ago and has been going strength to strength since, doubling her team from two to four, and moving out of a unit into a new dedicated office space in South Townsville’s River Quay tower.

“There is plenty of activity in the market and we’re seeing a lot of southern investors coming up here, and a lot of locals looking to upsize,” Mrs Whaites said.

“The growth we’ve seen in the last five years, since 2020, I’ve never seen anything like it in my 16 years in the real estate industry.”

Whaites + Co principal Jess Whaites (second left) with staff members Steven Marsilio, Lucas Syer-Sailor and Lily Riley. Picture: Evan Morgan

Since founding the agency in November 2023, Whaites + Co have closed on $52m worth of property with an average sale time of seven to eight days.

“We work right across Townsville, from the average in Alligator Creek to a unit,” Mrs Whaites said.

“There is heaps of positive growth and it’s being driven by the fact we’re a garrison city, the port expansion, renewable and mining projects nearby, and more... we simply don’t have enough houses to meet current and future needs.”

With a wall of glass that overlooks Ross Creek and the heritage buildings of Flinders St, Mrs Whaites said she had a lot of confidence in the location - enough to sign a three-year lease.

“In the Townsville CBD we love the growth that is happening here through the $6.9m waterfront promenade stage 2,” she said.

“Being part of this growth area for the next three to six years made absolute sense for us, and we’re thrilled to have a beautiful office space with convenient parking to welcome clients.”

The promenade development is expected to ‘renew’ the Flinders and Palmer St area with new boardwalks, pathways and bicycle paths.

The Whaites + Co office can be found at Suit 1, 7-13 Tomlins St, South Townsville.

Originally published as ‘We love the growth’: Whaites + Co open CBD real estate office on Tomlins St