After 48 years as a real estate agent, the hammer has fallen on Gavin Mannix’s career.
Starting in 1961 at Blight Brothers, Mr Mannix forged an extensive career in the industry that would one day see him become director of the business.
Throughout his time, he never had a black mark against his name, something that he is proud of.
In 1973, Bill Blight retired and Mr Mannix, along with two other staff, formed Blights Real Estate.
He can still remember the first house he sold. It went for a few hundred pounds.
Up until his retirement, he was selling homes for hundreds of thousands of
dollars, quite a contrast to his early days.
Mr Mannix said he always had an interest in sales.
“When I was younger I worked as the manager of a sports store,” he said.
A keen cyclist in his early days, Mr Mannix won State junior titles.
“The opportunity came up to go back to my hometown of Port Pirie,” he said.
Once he got into the real estate industry he knew he had found his calling.
He says it was the sales, valuations and meeting new people that he enjoyed most throughout his career.
“Every sale was so different,” he said. Mr Mannix can remember a farm sale back in the 1990s where they sold 15 lots.
“We held the sale in the Napperby Town Hall and sold every lot,” he said.
“We brought in $1.5 million which was big money back then.”
It took them all afternoon to sell the land parcels, but they got there
eventually.
Another sale that he can recall vividly is the sale of Prests store on the corner of Ellen Street and Norman Street.
He can also remember holding auctions in the Laura, Gladstone and Georgetown Halls. Blights established all of the area on Norman and Ellen Streets, now known as the Ellen Centre.
Over time the business has grown and they expanded into Whyalla, Port Broughton, Laura and the Copper Coast.
Mr Mannix said he would miss the sound of the gavel falling.
Over the years he developed other
business interests, including starting a caravan and camping business as well as a motor-inn.
He has been district governor of the Y’s Men’s Club and president of the YMCA.
Not only was he a player in the real estate industry, but he also became a
stalwart of the Port Pirie Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Mannix was involved with the chamber for 30 years which included almost 20 years as president.
In his time he saw many changes to business in Port Pirie as well as the
central business district.
Whether it was when Jubilee Place (now Alexander Street) changed directions, car parking issues or forming Port Pirie Proud, he was there to see it.
The chamber of commerce worked with Port Augusta to establish its own organisation.
He was the chairman of the Upper North Regional Chamber which included Port Pirie, Whyalla and Port Augusta.
Mr Mannix said this was something that should be brought back.
“Port Pirie has grown considerably, commercially and industrially,” he said.
“Residentially – there has been a large area of new development taking place, which I noticed through working with the chamber.”
He said this included sub-divisions south-west of the town.
Through Blights, Mr Mannix developed the areas along Port Broughton, Senate and Anzac Roads as well as Radford Drive and Barbara Court.
They also cut farms into rural living allotments.
During his time in the industry, he was involved with the Real Estate Institute of South Australia and became an associate member of the Australian Property Institute. Gaining his associate membership was not easy.
In 1967 he sat before a board to pass an exam so he could be a valuer.
To gain an associate membership he had to do a course of three years full-time at university or seven-years part-time.
Mr Mannix felt he should be allowed to enter the association due to their skill and qualifications.
They had originally asked for 15 people to join, but the association finally said that 12 could become associates.
Throughout the years he won other sales awards through Professionals real estate.
He was a member of the real estate institute’s valuers committee throughout the 1980s and became chairman.
Like any career, he said his had its shortcomings. “It does get tough during a credit squeeze or a recession,” he said.
“I went for three months without
selling a property, which was the worst experience.”
He said even with the negatives he still had a fairly positive and enjoyable career.
As he enters retirement, Mr Mannix plans on traveling with his wife Helen, seeing places he has never had a chance to visit.
“There were a lot places that we visited for work, but never had time to look around,” he said. “We want to do it while we can.”
Visiting his grand-children will also be one of his priorities. He said it would be good to enjoy some family time.
A keen car enthusiast, he hopes to become more involved with the Pirie and Districts Automotive Restorers Club.
Mr Mannix will never be short of cars with his classic collection sitting in his back shed.
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