Our history
1969 |
Lodge opens first branch in Victoria Street - 2 partners, 1 support staff. |
1969 |
First Fieldays takes place at the Te Rapa Race Course, now the largest agri-business exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere, which attracts over 130,000 visitors. |
1970 |
Future Director David Couch joins Lodge as a salesperson. He'll stick around for a while. |
1971 |
Moved to new premises - Knox Street. |
1973 |
Re-locate to Ulster Street where they still are today. |
1981 |
Management Plan establishing Hamilton Gardens passed by Council with the theme ‘The History, Context, and Meaning of Gardens’. The gardens now attract more than 1.3 million visitors a year and host over 2000 events. |
1983 |
Lodge introduces Exclusive (Sole Agency) Marketing and Auction Marketing to Hamilton. Staff number - 17. |
1984 |
Lodge City Rentals opened in Hamilton East to specialise in property management. |
1987 |
Waikato Museum of Art and History opens. |
1988 |
Joins “United” franchise group. |
1989 |
Hamilton East residential branch opened. |
1990 |
Awarded Top United Realty Office for NZ - Held for next 6 years, |
1992 |
Chartwell residential branch opened, Staff number - 52. |
1994 |
International services begin at Hamilton Airport. |
1996 |
Hamilton's sixth major bridge at Pukete opens, connecting the rapidly expanding northern parts of the city. |
1997 |
Leaves franchise group to be independent Lodge Real Estate Hamilton, Hamilton population - 111,700. |
1998 |
Dinsdale residential branch opened. |
2001 |
Forms Lodge Country Ltd to specialise in Farm and Lifestyle Sales. |
2002 |
Waikato Stadium opens with a Super 12 rugby match between Waikato Chiefs and Canterbury Crusaders. |
2003 |
Opens offices in Victoria Street for Lodge Country and Lodge Commercial teams. Moves Chartwell Branch to larger Flagstaff Branch. Lodge begins sponsorship of the Fine Homes Tour. |
2005 |
Hamilton economy thrives with 10,693 businesses located within the city. |
2006 |
Opens the second Property Management office in Victoria Street. |
2007 |
Opens Rototuna Branch. |
2008 |
Lonely Planet guide states that Hamilton city's main street has sprouted a sophisticated and vibrant stretch of bars and eateries that leaves Auckland's Viaduct Harbour for dead. |
2008 |
V8 supercars come to New Zealand for the Hamilton 400 as part of the V8 supercar series. |
2009 |
Purchases Hamilton Property Rentals. |
2010 |
Lodge receives top overall salesperson and 6 out of top 10 salespeople in BOP, Waikato, Gisborne region, plus 3 out of 3 property managers. |
2014 |
Opens Body Corporate Management business. Lodge buys a stake in Cambridge Real Estate Ltd Hamilton celebrates 150 year birthday |
2017 |
The Fine Homes Tour of which Lodge is the major sponsor has a record-breaking year, raising $118,571. This is donated to Look Good Feel Better, Stroke Foundation of NZ, and the Child Cancer Foundation. |
2019 |
Lodge Real Estate celebrates it's 50th anniversary |
2022 |
Long-serving Director David Couch decides to hang up his tie. Wanting a family company to continue the Lodge legacy, his stake in Lodge Real Estate is acquired by Barfoot & Thompson. Peter Thompson becomes Director, joining Jeremy O'Rourke. |