North Queensland rural agencies join forces

New name Ray White Rural Geaney | Kirkwood.

TWO of North Queensland’s most recognised rural property and livestock agency businesses are joining forces, a move that will create plenty of interest across northern Australia.

Experienced rural property and livestock agent Matthew Geaney (pictured left) has brought his long-standing family business across to collaborate with Ray White Rural and Livestock’s Townsville director, Liam Kirkwood (pictured right).

The joint office will continue to run out of both Charters Towers and Townsville under the new name Ray White Rural Geaney | Kirkwood. The partnership comes after years of mutual respect for one another whilst working as competitors in the Dalrymple saleyard.

Mr Geaney offers more than two decades of experience in the rural, residential real estate and livestock industries. He has sold a vast range of properties and has developed an in-depth understanding of rural properties and livestock throughout the north Queensland region.

A true local to Charters Towers, Mr Geaney grew up with the family business from its inception in 1986, and during that time has gained a comprehensive knowledge of real estate, auctioneering and livestock from his father, the highly respected Mr Jim Geaney, who will continue to work together with the pair in the new partnership. Mr Geaney said clients can expect the same integrity and honesty they are already familiar with and take confidence in knowing the job will be done right.

“We pride ourselves on the fact that we’re not one of the big company types, we’re a small business that’s privately owned here in north Queensland and backed by a fourth-generation family business in Ray White which began in rural Queensland all those years ago,” he said.

“Through the Ray White network, we can offer a personalised experience with the backing of a national agency that reaches across Australasia to give our clients maximum market exposure to achieve the best results.

“That’s our edge over the competition - we are a local business with a national identity. We are now able to offer extra support and the most up to date resources to our clients by partnering with Ray White.”

At just 26 years old, Mr Kirkwood, principal of Ray White Rural and Livestock Townsville, is one of the youngest principals in the Ray White Group. He won the prestigious ALPA Queensland Young Auctioneers competition at the 2019 Royal Brisbane Show. He then continued his success in 2021 winning the ALPA National Young Auctioneer title from a pool of 16 national auctioneering finalists from around the country.

Mr Kirkwood said the team will always provide professional personal service that’s reliable and consistent.

“Our success is based on the success of our clients so we will continue to be just as heavily involved in the business as ever,” he said.

“We are incredibly lucky to have the support of our staff who happily remain in their current positions within the two branches.

“Our clients can take comfort in the fact that they will still be able to speak to the same people they have been dealing with for many years and will continue to receive the same professional advice and personalised service they are used to.”

Mr Kirkwood said he is extremely proud of the growth our business has experienced over the last few years since being handed over from highly respected north Queensland agent Kevin Currie.

“In partnering with Matt and his team we are continuing to expand our business from a small team to a larger team which will expose our clients to a greater level of service, still with the same morals and ethics we pride ourselves on,” he said.

“We are all well known in the local market but will now be able to provide our service on a bigger scale.

“We are the same familiar faces, doing the same thing, just stepping it up. We have our clients covered on all bases whether they are buying an investment property in Charters Towers or a multi-million-dollar rural property.”

Ray White Rural and Livestock managing director Stephen Nell congratulated Mr Geaney and Mr Kirkwood on expanding their businesses.

“We are delighted to welcome Matt onboard. Being from a second generation rural and livestock business, his family values and commitment to service aligns perfectly with Ray White,” he said.

“We are also thrilled to see such a young and ambitious high achiever like Liam expanding his business and partnering with Matt to create what I believe will be a high performing business in the rural network.

“I have no doubt Ray White Geaney | Kirkwood will be an asset to the group and look forward to celebrating their success.”