Our Team

Ben WilmotCommercial Property Editor

Ben Wilmot has been The Australian’s commercial property editor since 2013. He was previously a property journalist with the Australian Financial Review.

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HospitalityProperty

MA Redcape Hotel Fund has bought The Lucky Tree Tavern in Durack

MA Financial quenches thirst with $66m round of pub purchases

The pub market is running almost as hot as the weather, with a sector heavyweight buying three Queensland watering holes.

Ben Wilmot

Student accommodationProperty

Wee Hur Holdings student accommodation block next to the Crown & Anchor Hotel . Picture Supplied

Future Fund backs $1.6bn student housing play amid shortage

Australia’s sovereign wealth fund will pour about $350m into a deal to get a slice of seven student complexes.

Ben Wilmot

FloatsCompanies

13/12/24: David Di Pilla who is the richlister behind fund manager HMC Capital which is listing data centre owner DigiCo Infrastructure on the ASX. John Feder/The Australian.

DigiCo shares slump as year’s biggest float plunges

HMC Capital founder David Di Pilla’s dreams of a global data centre empire appear to have been shattered as investors dub the company ‘DodgyCo’.

Ben Wilmot

ExclusiveProperty

Artist impression of Rouse Hill drive's streetscape in the proposed redevelopment of Rouse Hill Town Centre, as submitted to Hills Shire Council on 17 May 2022.

GPT funds hit the retail expansion trail

The listed group is shaking up its flagship office and retail funds that control about $14bn worth of the country’s best towers and malls.

Ben Wilmot

FloatsCompanies

Despite data centre hype, DigiCo’s debut drop rings alarm bells

The year’s biggest float has flopped on its ASX debut when investors sold off HMC Capital’s DigiCo trust and the lack of support could have ramifications for the data centre frenzy.

Ben Wilmot

TycoonsProperty

Chairman Stan Perron, Perron Group, photographed in their offices in East Perth.

Perron Group’s $482m shopping deal with GPT

The wishes of late billionaire Stan Perron are being brought to fruition as millions are poured into his charitable foundation through the sale of real estate assets.

Ben Wilmot

ListingsCompanies

Concerns have been raised in federal parliament about security of Defence Department secrets held by Chinese-owned data centre Global Switch in Ultimo. Picture: Supplied

HMC Capital hopes to float on AI tide as year’s biggest IPO launches

David Di Pilla’s funds house HMC Capital faces a key test with the launch of its DigiCo Infrastructure REIT on the Australian Stock Exchange on Friday.

Ben Wilmot and Jared Lynch

HospitalityProperty