About Me

Hello. I am Barry Brunton, semi-retired now, but for many years a Commercial and Industrial Real Estate Agent working in Hamilton often in Auckland and Sydney CBD's. We were mainly concerned as agents in finding property for Investors, Builders, on selling the project to Investors, and setting up Owner Occupiers.

Interesting It was Bob Jones who features as the main story in this first issue of Inside the CBD, who first got us involved in Sydney. Why Bob Jones? Well to the best of my knowledge, there is no-one in in this Country, and few worldwide, who have the knowledge or experience to articulate that knowledge. Beside all that he has a soft spot for Hamilton, as he has demonstrated often enough.

Some people may remember Brunton Patton Real Estate a Company owned by that long time Hamilton citizen, gentleman, scratch goffer, Real Estate Agent, Eddie Patton and myself.

That Company still operates, is now joined by Brunton's Property Solutions, along with the international Company of Colliers. Now in the very capable hands of Mark and Christine Brunton, along with that outstanding, Real Estate operator Alan Pracy. They have taken the Company to previously unprecedented highs. They will say if asked - that it is because I am not there mucking things up.

I now have the time, to concern myself with what is happening in the CBD and how the City Council sometimes gets in the way. Hamilton is an outstanding City serving one of the most prosperous areas in the County. However, it is sometimes let down by City Councillors who like most people believe they know all about property, when in fact they don't. let me just remind you of the number of times they have re-landscaped Victoria St and Garden Place. Victoria St. is now something to admire while our beloved Garden Place is a still a disgrace. They are not alone in their beliefs. What has their performance cost the City? You don't want to think/know about it.

My ambition is to have Hamilton Citizen's really believe this. Hamilton, New Zealand's Best Small City which is very capable of being achieved. Believe that to be entirely possible.  More importantly, it will in comparison to the way Council spend money, cost our Ratepayers little.

To kick Inside the CBD off to a decent start I asked Bob Jones to write the initial submission. You will find it of great interest, more importantly no-one with any credibility can dispute what he has to say, I trust you will find this report of some interest and value, and a base for where we start, on this my latest adventure. Most importantly, start thinking very carefully about what quality of Council will we have in the future?