about us :
CRE Brokers are specialist business & property agents & valuers dedicated to the tourism & leisure sector. With established offices in Victoria & Queensland, CRE have a dynamic team of around 20 professionals – underpinned by three generations of experience in the sales and operation of tourism & leisure businesses and properties.
Based in Braeside Victoria, CRE operate throughout Australia – offering an efficient and professional service with a proven track record in the sales of;
- Caravan / Holiday Parks
- Motels
- City & Country Hotels
- Gaming Venues
- Bars & Nightclubs
- Live Music Venues
- Resorts
- B&B's / Guesthouses
- Property Investment Management
- Bottle shops
- Supermarkets
- Investment Properties
- Restaurants
- Cafes
With a team of experienced agents, efficient administration support staff and strong 'hands on' leadership from directors Kevin Connolly, Patrick Connolly and Hugh Roberts, CRE Brokers offer a professional and flexible service – seeing every property and business as unique and tailoring marketing tactics to suit. From large scale national campaigns - to cost effective local/state campaigns – to discreet 'off market' campaigns – by way of private treaty, expressions of interest, tender or auction campaigns. CRE brokers work diligently and provide first class support from the early stages of listing, to the negotiating stage, right through to settlement. In addition, CRE offer tourism & leisure property management, buyer's advocacy services and a full valuation service.
CRE's valuation team is headed by Kevin Connolly specialises in tourism & leisure, commercial and industrial property – offering sworn valuations, rental determinations, feasibility studies and more.
The Beginning
In 1945 Frank and Norah Connolly and their son Leo purchased the Junction Hotel in Jamieson. In 1953 with a young family and a keen interest in the hotel industry Leo was employed as a hotel broker by Cecil Grave and Company, Collins Street, Melbourne. He later purchased and operated the Three Crowns hotel in North Melbourne and the Exchange Hotel in Port Melbourne. He currently has an interest in the tourist industry with his son Peter.
Foundations
In the early 1980's, Leo's son Kevin founded Connolly Real Estate who were based in Brighton and later Sandringham. Around the same time, Kevin's brother Peter began a long and successful career as a specialist motel & caravan park broker including a long period as sales manager at Johnson's Business Brokers. In 1998, Kevin and Peter established CRE Brokers which quickly became a driving force in the tourism & leisure industry.
Recent Years
In 2004, Peter's son Patrick Connolly joined CRE as a cadet hotel broker, quickly developing a passion for the business and a reputation for producing successful results. Four years later, the company gained an asset in the recruitment of Hugh Roberts who came from a successful career in residential real estate, having built a network of seven offices throughout the Mornington Peninsula by his mid twenties.
Present Day
In 2011, Peter Connolly retired from real estate to oversee his caravan park portfolio – his share of CRE being purchased by his son Patrick and Hugh Roberts. With an excellent team of business and property agents, valuers, administration and IT development staff, CRE Brokers continue to provide market leading results and look forward to serving the industry they love, well into the future.
CRE Brokers are members of the Australian Hotels Association, Vic parks, Hotels & Motels Association of Australia, Master Grocers Association, Victorian Hotel Brokers Association, Real Estate Institute of Victoria and Australian Property Institute.
Key Team Members
