A well-known name in rural property circles has returned to Armidale, with Nutrien Harcourts setting up shop once again after a four-year absence in town.
At the centre of the revival is real estate agent Peter Gordon, who made a tree change with his family to the region just over a year ago. They came to New England seeking a change of pace after Mr Gordon’s time running a successful agency in Sydney, where he regularly ranked within the Top 100 Agents nationally.
“I wasn’t quite sure what I’d do at first,” Mr Gordon said.
“We bought acreage out here for the lifestyle and took a year to settle in. I called it my long service leave, and it was great as we got to enjoy the land, get to know the area and consider some different opportunities.”
“I’d always worked in the city market listing apartments, residential housing, the usual high-speed Sydney scene,” he said.
Mr Gordon said he found that in the country, the connection to land tends to be more generational, than transactional.
“Local landowners had been generous with their knowledge, and the people I’ve met around Armidale are really genuine, good human beings.”
When the opportunity arose for Mr Gordon to re-open the Nutrien Harcourts office after nearly four years of closure, it felt like a natural step. The real estate agency operates from within the Nutrien Ag Solutions branch, working alongside livestock agents and agronomists.
“It’s a different model from a city agency,” Mr Gordon said.
“But the conversations we’re having about farms, family properties, and changing hands are deeply local. You see a lot of landholders coming through the shop and get to know who they are and where they live.”
Mr Gordon is quick to point out he’s still learning.
“There’s a lot of history in this region,” he said. “Some families have been on their properties for generations. As someone relatively new, you listen more than you talk.”
Fortunately, Mr Gordon found the perfect person to help make himself at home. Longtime Armidale local and Nutrien staff member John Teitzil who’s worked at the Armidale branch for more than 45 years, helped him get his bearings and make connections.
“I’m lucky to be working alongside people like John,” Mr Gordon said.
“He’s a local legend and his knowledge of the district and the people here is incredible. He doesn’t just know where the fences are, he knows the stories behind them.”
After six weeks in operation, Peter says the office is thriving.
“We’re having a lot of conversations about listing properties and that is starting to bear fruit,” he said.
“The future is looking pretty promising.”
Read all the way through to the end of the story? So did lots of other people. Advertise with New England Times to reach New England locals who are interested and engaged. Find out more here.