One of Townsville’s fastest growing real estate agencies, Whaites + Co, is making another major move—this time, quite literally – with their new commercial premises positioning the boutique agency in the heart of one of the city’s most exciting renewal projects: the Waterfront Promenade.
The new office on the ground floor of the River Quays building on Tomlins Street, South Townsville, marks a significant milestone in the agency’s growth journey. The rapidly expanding team now comprising of Principal Jess Whaites, Steven Marsillio, Lily Riley and experienced sales agent Lukas Syer-Sailor. Lukas, well-known for his meticulous attention to detail, brings a high level of precision and care to every client interaction, further strengthening the agency’s ability to cater for growing demand and deliver exceptional service.
For Jess, the decision to commit to the Tomlins Street location was strategic, underscoring her long-term faith in the future of Townsville’s CBD and property market.
“We chose this location because it places us right on the doorstep of the Waterfront Promenade Stage 2 Project,” Jess explains. “It’s a $6.9 million investment by Council that connects the Flinders Street dining and entertainment precinct with the Palmer Street and stadium side of the city, creating a seamless, activated riverfront lifestyle.”
Stage 2 of the Waterfront Promenade includes a 280-metre boardwalk connecting key parts of the CBD via new pedestrian and cycling links. Jess believes this enhanced connectivity will not only transform the city experience for residents and visitors but also drive long-term demand for inner-city living and commercial activity.
“With the East End boardwalk and surrounding precinct upgrades, plus developments like the active transport bridge connecting Flinders and Tomlins Streets, the city’s future is incredibly exciting,” she says. “Being part of this growth area for the next three to six years made absolute sense for us, and we’re thrilled to have a beautiful office space with convenient parking to welcome clients and make it easy for them to do business with us.”
It’s a move that also reflects Jess’ broader confidence in the strength of the Townsville market. Along with waterfront revitalisation projects, Townsville is seeing unprecedented investment in renewables, mining, port expansion and defence industries. These sectors are expected to create thousands of new jobs, fuelling steady population growth.
“Townsville’s forecast to grow by another 100,000 people over the next nine years, and we’re already seeing strong demand and excellent returns for investors and homeowners alike,” Jess says. “We simply don’t have enough houses to meet current and future needs, and that’s keeping both sale prices and rental yields healthy.”
Since establishing Whaites + Co in late 2023, Jess and her team have already made a significant impact on the local market. Achieving more than $52 million in property sales in the first 18 months of operation and an enviable average of just seven days from listing to contract, the boutique agency’s results speak for themselves.
“Our success comes down to our boutique approach—every client, every property, receives personalised, expert attention,” Jess shares. “We’re locals, and we genuinely care about helping people make confident, informed decisions, whether they’re buying their first home, upgrading, or investing.”
It’s this dedication that has also earned Jess recognition within the business community, named a Finalist in the 2024 Townsville Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Young Businessperson of the Year category, and a Finalist in two categories of the Agents’ Agency 2024 Awards for Rising Star and Effective Business Unit of the Year.
With the new office now open, Whaites + Co is looking forward to continuing to grow its team, support more Townsville families and investors, and remain firmly embedded in the heart of the city’s exciting transformation.
“We’re proud to be investing in the future of Townsville by being part of its revitalisation,” says Jess. “The market has never been more dynamic, and we’re excited to continue helping our clients navigate and succeed in it.”
To celebrate the new premises, the Whaites + Co team invited industry colleagues and suppliers to a function catered by Private Dining By Steele. View the Social Pictures Gallery here.
Main image: Steven Marsilio, Lily Riley, Jess Whaites and Lukas Syer-Sailor.
