Perth, WA (16 July 2021) In a significant coup for Raine & Horne, one of Australia’s fastest-growing wool and livestock marketing, financing and export companies, Westcoast Wool & Livestock is linking with the Superbrand to launch a real estate business that will service the rural broadacre markets primarily in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. 

In conjunction with his current role of Managing Director of Westcoast Wool & Livestock, Gerald Wetherall will lead Raine & Horne Rural WA, along with fellow directors Brad Faithfull and Geoffrey Geary. 

Mr Wetherall has significant experience within the real estate industry having previously owned a very successful real estate office that was very highly awarded, and all three Raine & Horne Rural WA directors hold corporate roles within the agriculture sector. 

The linkage between wool, livestock and real estate

Mr Wetherall and his codirectors have established a highly successful wool and livestock business and have enjoyed rapid expansion throughout Western Australia and the Northern Territory, according to Andrew Brien, CEO, Raine & Horne. 

“The trio have now realised they can add real estate to their battery of farming services and have agreed to launch a specialist broadacre office and will operate it in tandem with Westcoast Wool & Livestock,” Mr Brien said.

Raine & Horne Rural WA will operate from Bibra Lake, home to some of Australia’s largest agri-businesses and specialist suppliers providing services to many farming enterprises. 

“Our plan also involves establishing a satellite office in the Northern Territory servicing pastoral and farming communities in the Top End.”

Returning to real estate

Mr Wetherall agreed that the rapid expansion of Westcoast Wool & Livestock has paved the way for the launch of Raine & Horne Rural WA.

“We have been involved in wool sales and exporting for 26 years and opened the livestock division in 2012.  

“With our livestock division, we have doubled its footprint since 2018, and we see an enormous opportunity on the rural real estate front too.

“As our clientele continues growing, we believe opening a real estate arm allows us to sell our client’s farms but also gives us the chance to deal with the new owners of the property and to present our livestock and commercial finance services to them.” 

History, branding and a technological edge

The decision to join Raine & Horne is linked to the firm’s commercial and technology record and the long-term business relationship with the firm’s CEO Andrew Brien, Mr Wetherall said.

“We have a close association with Andrew, but we also like the fact that Raine & Horne is a 100% Australian family-owned and operated business now in its fourth generation. 

“We are also 100% Australian-owned and we savour the fact we are an independent business.” 

He continued, “Raine & Horne is part of Australian real estate history and will clock 140 years of operation very soon, and this heritage as a nationally and internationally recognised brand resonates with us.

“Raine & Horne also has a strong network with a vision for expansion and industry-first technologies such as its digital and social media marketing platform Amplify, the digital appraisal and listing tool, Digikit and its best-in-the market management system, Compass. 

“Having the backend support and the latest technology is vital to us, as building IT platforms from scratch takes much work, commitment and money,” Mr Wetherill concluded.

For all your rural real estate needs in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, contact Raine & Horne Rural WA on (08) 94181611.