The Australian retail sector continues to navigate through a disruptive period. Traditional models of retailing no longer meet consumer expectations and retailers are being urged to make changes to their strategies. Nevertheless, brick-and-mortar stores remain an essential part of the retail landscape and continue to evolve to suit the future generation of consumers. In this report, Colliers International explores the latest trends impacting Australian retailers and shopping centre owners.
My professional knowhow stems from an extensive career in retail property development, project leasing, site acquisition and disposals and property management.
I joined Colliers International after holding the position of National Business Manager for Stockland Commercial for 9 years. During this time I was responsible for the acquisition and disposal of just over $750M worth of Retail and Commercial assets.
Prior to my Capital Transactions role in Commercial Property, I was the Regional General Manager Leasing for the Stockland Shopping Centre portfolio.
Prior to Stockland, I was the National Leasing Manager for Lend Lease Retail here in Australia. I worked on some of Australia’s leading Retail projects including, Casuarina Darwin, Melbourne Central, Sunshine Plaza and Smithfield in QLD and Woden in the ACT. I was the Lend Lease Asset Manager for the Kiwi Income Fund and worked on several of their retail projects in New Zealand.
Prior to Lend Lease, I was a National Director with Jones Lang Wootton in both WA and NSW and ran the National Project Leasing team for again some of Australia’s best retail assets and Portfolios.
I also have a lengthy career in the media working for John Fairfax and Sons in TV and Radio for many years.
Specialising in the sale of major shopping centres, Lachlan has managed the sale of over $15 billion worth of shopping centres, working with a wide range of clients including institutional, international and private investors.
In 2021, Lachlan’s team transacted the largest retail deal in Australian history, with the sale of Pacific Fair and Macquarie Centre for $2.2 billion. This deal represents the largest retail transaction globally since 2018. He also secured the second largest agency retail transaction in Australia at $1.00 billion in the sale of Pacific Werribee and Pacific Epping.
In 2019, Lachlan's team transacted 83% of all retail assets greater than $100 million, equalling a total of $3.58 billion in sales. These included:
• The sale of Westfield Marion, SA for $670 million (50% interest);
• The sale of Westfield Burwood, NSW for $575 million (50% interest);
• The sale of Garden City Booragoon, WA for $575 million (50% interest);
In the last 5 years, Lachlan has sold 8 out of the 9 Australian regional shopping centres that were presented to market, and has successfully marketed over 100 different assets. Lachlan has achieved the largest individual transaction in Australian history with the sale of Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, QLD for $810 million (50% interest).
With an in-depth understanding of shopping centre performance, Lachlan can provide you with expert advice on the sale and acquisition of all your retail investment:
• Capital Partnering / Joint Ventures / Portfolio Transactions
• Asset Marketing and campaign strategy, implementation and execution
• Shopping centre acquisition and disposal
• Sale negotiation and transaction
• Strategic asset positioning and repositioning to maximise asset performance
• Buy side investment advisory
