DANCING WITH MADONNA DOWN HASTINGS STREET: Part 2
So there I was in my office above the general store in Hastings Street with a distinguished gent from NZ who wanted to buy 'an investment.' In the 70's and 80's Noosa agents told stories of con men and BS artists who waltzed into town, booked into Netanya on the beach, harassed agents with tall stories of their wealth, then disappeared leaving a trail of unpaid bills at restaurants and bars.
However I did know this man's daughter. I looked out the window thinking about maybe a beachfront apartment, or a house on the Sound, but you could have knocked me over with a feather when he said, 'How about the Noosa Fair Shopping Centre?' In those days it was the most expensive real estate in Noosa, by a long shot.
'Oh,' I said, 'I'm not sure about that, but I can find out.' With that, he gave me his contacts in NZ, and headed back to Brisbane to fly home. We didn't have RP Data then, so I rang the Noosa Fair Management and was told that it was owned by the BHP Super Fund. They gave me the number to call.
'Hi, Don Stallman from Ray White Noosa here, I'm wondering if you're interested in selling Noosa Fair?' 'It's not for sale.'
'But would you sell it for the right price.'
'Maybe. But we will not be paying you a commission.'
Next day I rang NZ and informed him of my conversation, and also the no commission comment, and asked if he would he be prepared to pay me if I could get it over the line. 'Of course Don, no problem.' We agreed on 1.5%.
He had a Lawyer in Noosa, a good friend of mine, and I asked him to draw up a contract. A week later we submitted an offer of $8M by fax, which was immediately accepted. By this time I had made three phone calls to NZ, and wandered down the street a couple of times to talk to the Lawyer.
Two months later it settled, and a cheque (yes a cheque) was delivered to my office for $120,000. What a gentleman. Needless to say I went downstairs and danced all the way to the nearest bar.
Talk about cowboys. Nothing had been in writing. All done on a handshake. I can't imagine that happening these days, with the paperwork and backside protecting documents associated with even the smallest sale.
Those were the days.
Next week 'Le Rivage,' a residential record that stood for nearly 15 years.