The start of the spring selling season has coincided with an exciting new chapter for four LJ Hooker offices located in Sydney’s expanding southwest growth corridor, marked by a name change and a new owner.
The businesses located in Camden, Bringelly, Oran Park and Wilton are rebranding under the LJ Hooker Lifestyle Group name to reflect the rapid changes in the region.
New franchise owner and principal Hunter Maxwell, 30, has taken over from his veteran real estate father, Haydn, who is now focusing on property sales and spending time with his grandchildren.
The appointment aligns with the business rebranding its four offices as one group rather than using singular suburb names. The aim is to better reflect the growing and diverse southwest market, which includes apartments, residential homes, acreage estates, working farms, and developments.
“With so many changes with the upcoming Western Sydney Airport, we felt it was important to have an identity in the region that covered all our markets,” Mr Maxwell said.
“Our offices operate in around 45 different suburbs, but some of these are so small they only have 300 homes. We found that individual suburb names for our offices didn’t quite capture all the people here. There are also many residents living between agencies, and they were unsure where to go.
“We don’t want the same office competing for the same listing, where the vendor thinks they are different. Creating the LJ Hooker Lifestyle Group is a solution, and we feel the new name, along with Australia’s most iconic and trusted real estate brand, will resonate with every suburb and every style of home. It also positions us as area specialists and strengthens our connection with the local community.”
Sydney’s southwest is undergoing a remarkable transformation and urban growth, driven by major infrastructure, including the Western Sydney Airport, due to open in 2026. From Bringelly to Wilton, new town centres and residential developments are emerging, catering for a population influx expected to move to the area.
Oran Park has become one of the state’s fastest-growing suburbs, while areas around Camden are being released for subdivision. New builds remain popular within the residential market, with luxury five-acre estates attracting high-end buyers. Investors are also looking in and around the aerotropolis for parcels of land, particularly those with proposed rezoning.
LJ Hooker Head of Network Australia Chris Keating congratulated Mr Maxwell on taking over the award-winning business, having worked alongside his father, Haydn, for more than a decade.
“Hunter has been exposed to real estate from a very early age, just like his dad; he has a passion not just for property and business, but also for the Macarthur region,” he said.
“This is an incredibly dynamic market where we will see an increased demand for housing, economic activity, new job opportunities and improved transport links.
“LJ Hooker has always played an integral role in shaping new communities, from developing one in five homes post-WWII to major retail projects such as Warringah Mall, Pacific Fair and Garden Centre, among others. The new LJ Hooker Lifestyle Group will be instrumental in assisting homebuyers and tenants, guiding investors and developers, as well as supporting businesses as the region grows.”
Mr Maxwell won LJ Hooker’s International Rising Talent Award in 2020 and then followed on to be a gold medal winner in 2022, placing within the top 0.5 per cent of all agents within the network. Using his skills and success from his sales and property management career, he is focused on continuing to grow the LJ Hooker Lifestyle Group.
And no one could be prouder than his father, Haydn, who is thrilled his son is taking over as franchise owner. His other children, Byron, a real estate photographer and Bonnie, a receptionist, are also involved in the family business. While son-in-law, Blake Grochala, works as a sales agent.
“When I opened my first office, Hunter was about seven years old and used to stand out the front, handing out my business cards and saying, ‘buy a house from my dad’,” Mr Maxwell Senior said.
“Leadership is a word people throw around, but that is one of Hunter’s qualities, along with enthusiasm. His nature and style allow him to work with people. I know he will take the business to the next level. I will still be part of it, but I feel it is time to get back into sales, which I love doing.”
Share.png)
