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The board of Raine & Horne Pty Limited has shared the passing of Max Raine, the group’s former chairman.
Mr Raine passed away on 22 February 2023 at the age of 91, following a battle with dementia over a number of years.
Acknowledging his death with great sadness, the board has remembered Mr Raine as a key innovator in Australia’s real estate industry, pioneering the growth of suburban real estate offices in the late 1960s and introducing franchising to the property industry in the 1970s.
He was the third generation of Raine family members to lead the Raine & Horne property group and was in the chairman role from 1973 to 2011.
Under his stewardship, Raine & Horne grew to more than 300 offices. He also pioneered the first overseas franchised offices, launching a network in Malaysia in the late 1980s.
Mr Raine served on many boards and committees, including the city branch of the Real Estate Institute of NSW, Council of Auctioneers Education Committee, Corporate Committee of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), Anglican Retirement Villages Foundation, Barnardos and Edina Retirement Villages.
Mr Raine was also appointed by the NSW government as chairman ministerial enquiry into Inner City Accommodation back in 1988.
He is survived by his wife Susan, and children Rebecca, Julia, Georgina, and Angus, as well as daughter-in-law Natasha and son-in-law Andrew Howard, 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
His son, Angus Raine, is the current executive chairman of Raine & Horne Group.
Commenting on his father’s passing, Mr Raine said, “There is a hole left in my family that will eventually repair but will never be replaced.”
“At our upcoming state and national awards, we are celebrating 140 years of our business success, and now we will also celebrate my father’s life too.”
Raine & Horne Group director Brian Reid, who worked alongside the late Mr Raine as the group’s former CEO and in investment sales in the 1980s, believes that “the real estate industry has lost one of its most forceful and influential advocates with the passing of Max Raine.”
“Max was a driving force in the generational change that saw the emergence of national franchising businesses in the 1970s and 1980s,” he recounted.
“Max could see the continuing sophistication of the commercial property market along with the emergence of listed property trusts and launched Raine & Horne Commercial in 1984 as a separate brand that boasts 36 offices around Australia today.”
“During his leadership, Max was responsible for lobbying the government and was constantly quoted in the media, resulting in many changes to the industry and legislation.
“We have all lost someone very special,” Mr Reid stated.
“I know many people in the past would have received one of Max’s penned handwritten letters to suggest some alternative to an opinion they might have expressed, or of course, to congratulate them on an anniversary or a birthday. He was also prolific in his letters to offices who had achieved a positive mention in the press. Many of our principals still have these handwritten letters today.
“Although we all have fond memories of Max, there are some underlying characteristics that we all remember as part of his larger-than-life persona, such as his sharp wit, canny business mind, but most importantly, his genuine concern for others, which is best typified by his love of family and friends,” the director offered.
Raine & Horne reports that Mr Raine’s funeral details will be announced in the coming days.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Grace Ormsby
Grace is a journalist across Momentum property and investment brands. Grace joined Momentum Media in 2018, bringing with her a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) from the University of Newcastle. She’s passionate about delivering easy to digest information and content relevant to her key audiences and stakeholders.
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