McGrath Estate Agents has partnered with Hodges Real Estate to launch a new co-branded entity called Hodges McGrath, expanding its Melbourne footprint across five Bayside suburbs and Rye on the Mornington Peninsula. The collaboration unites Victoria’s longest-operating agency, founded in 1854, with Australia’s highest-performing real estate group. The merger gives Hodges’ local teams access to McGrath’s national network and Knight Frank’s global reach, a tool officials say is essential for agents selling into international buyer demand in a market where median prices range from $3.2 million in Brighton to $950,000 in Rye.
Connecting local history with national scale
John McGrath, CEO of McGrath, highlighted the appeal of the 172-year-old brand. He described Hodges as a company steeped in history that remains one of the most respected businesses in the country.
“And moving forward as we join forces with Hodges in Bayside Melbourne, we will be preserving their great heritage whilst integrating their team into Australia’s highest performing real estate group,” he said.
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The deal includes five Melbourne Bayside offices in Brighton, Sandringham, Beaumaris, Mentone and Bentleigh. The partnership also covers Rye on the Mornington Peninsula, including St Andrews Beach, Fingal and Tootgarook.
Michael Cooney and Julian Augustini, directors of Hodges, said the move followed a deliberate search for a partner with shared culture and values. They regard McGrath as one of Australia’s most progressive real estate groups.
“There is a strong cooperation between our two companies, including the importance we place on our people. We both believe that attracting and retaining great professionals, and giving them the right environment to succeed, is key to delivering exceptional results for our clients,” they said.
Fellow director Andrew Boyce agreed that partnering with a company sharing that commitment was important.
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Market conditions driving the expansion
The partnership arrives as Melbourne’s population continues to grow. Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows the city recorded the largest capital-city population increase of any Australian city in the most recent reporting period, adding more than 105,000 residents. Melbourne was recently named the third most liveable city in the world for 2026 in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index.
Chris Mourd, McGrath’s Head of Franchise Network, said the timing reflects a shift in the market. The union of Hodges and McGrath brings together complimentary strengths to benefit vendors and buyers.
For vendors, the local and trusted expertise that has defined the Hodges brand is now complemented by the scale and reach of a major national network with deep international roots.
