The Sydney office first opened 25 years ago, on 12 January 1982, in a serviced office at level 52 in the MLC Building. Mark Beattie and Alec Horley looked out over a town where they had introductions to GHD and Bassetts and that was about it as far as contacts went.
The entire floor of the MLC would probably be too small for us now. We stayed there until about May and then moved up the road to the corner of King and York. At the first Christmas lunch we had six people including wives and partners. The first fee was for $1,500.00 from Richard Campbell, who ran Davenport Campbell at the time.
In those days, before FBT and RBT, it was liquid lunches four or five days a week and by Friday we had usually forgotten who we met on the Monday. Very few of the people we did meet, and surprisingly few of the companies, are around today.
Getting into the office by train, the budget did not extend to carparking, was on the old red rattlers, the doors were kept open in summer and it was a bit like India with people hanging off the sides, although I never actually saw anyone on the roof.
There have been many people involved in the development of the office over this time and credit should go to all concerned. In particular to Mark Beattie and Bob Hunt for the vision, drive and financial backing that made success possible, and also to the directors, managers, associates and staff in Sydney who have made the business grow and given us the brand recognition we have today.
