2017 South Australian Property Icons
Two industry stalwarts and city shapers have been posthumously inducted as South Australian Property Icons
At the Property Council’s Gala Ball last week, Andrew Emmett and Richard Cohen OAM were celebrated for their outstanding contribution to the state’s built environment with their awards proudly received by family members.
The following citations formed part of both Andrew and Richard’s induction and has been shared to perpetuate their inspiring legacies.
Andrew Emmett
Andrew started his schooling at Scotch College and after finishing year 12, he went straight into working in the family business, representing the third generation in the business, and eventually followed his father into management.
He started work at Emmett’s in late 1969 and worked on many of the company’s building sites. In 1972 he moved up the ladder to become a project manager and began looking after numerous projects. Andrew developed his passion for property through the management of the company’s portfolio.
Six years later, he became General Manager of the business and – working closely with his father – expanded the property development activities of the business before becoming Managing Director of a highly successful construction and development business at the age of 29.
Andrew transformed a traditional building company into one of the largest property development companies in South Australia. This transformation occurred in only a few short years during the early 1980s and by doing so completely changed the direction of Emmett’s and what they did.
Andrew undertook significant land deals in the 1980s including a large acquisition in the Regency Park Industrial Estate and commercial developments in Dulwich, Adelaide, Eastwood and Kent Town. In 1988 Andrew opened Unley’s Metro Shopping Centre.
Andrew faced professional and economic challenges in 1991, but made his comeback by putting together the financial backbone of a business called Built Environs.
Andrew and his sons always had an ambition to re-start the Emmett business. This process began when his sons joined him at Built Environs in 2001. His eldest son Tom was already working with him in a construction capacity and Nick joined Andrew in a property role.
In 2002, Andrew and his sons formed Built Environs Developments Pty Ltd with the owner of Built Environs. Through the Emmett partnership with Built Environs numerous developments were undertaken throughout Adelaide for many different companies. One of the larger projects undertaken with Built Environs was 148 Frome Street which was pre-committed to Hewlett Packard and sold on completion.
Following completion of the Frome Street project in 2005, Andrew started Emmett Property and Emmett Construct with sons Tom and Nick. Numerous developments were undertaken with his boys prior to his passing in February 2008.
Andrew identified and delivered development projects exceeding $0m throughout Adelaide and interstate across his career, and his developments are a reminder of his skill as a property developer.
Andrew’s son Nick – who accepted the award on behalf of the Emmett family – reflected on the recognition and what it means to him.
“Recognising Dad in this way is a real honour, and to have my family and so many of Dad’s colleagues there on the night made it very special,” said Nick.
“Both my brother Tom and I are so proud of Dad’s achievements and so grateful to have had him not only as our father, but also as our mentor and business partner. Like so many in the industry, we learnt so much from him and the impact that he made can’t just be measured by the developments that he undertook, but also by the positive influence that he had on so many people in the industry.
“Dad was an innovative and skilful developer who made a real impact and we are so pleased that he has been honoured as a South Australian Property Icon.”
Richard Cohen OAM
Richard Cohen and his family arrived Adelaide in the early 1960s. Richard was immediately engaged by Adelaide with its high-calibre schools, the wonderful layout and flow of the city and Adelaide’s parklands, gardens and roses. These small but important items were fundamental to his family making this city their home.
Upon arrival, Richard took a job with LJ Hooker and sold commercial property working from their small office. He remained there for a short time and it was Richard’s last ever job before he left to focus on his own property interests.
In the early 1970s, Richard acquired parcels of land in Adelaide’s CBD where he went on to build townhouse style offices and warehouses. These buildings proved very popular and were easily rented. Richard developed numerous sites in this way before his attention shifted again.
During that same decade, Richard commenced the landmark property known today as Burnside Village when he purchased a dilapidated house on Portrush Road in Glenside with land zoned commercial. This was a deliberate choice and the beginning of what is now the district centre. Matters & Co were also landholders in the area and they had plans to buy Richard’s parcel to include in their designs for a small shopping strip.
But Richard wasn’t of a mind to sell and instead became / business partners in the shopping strip development. Over a period of time Richard acquired 100% of the Burnside Village business from the other stakeholders and went on to slowly acquire more and more land around the site. This took considerable time, but as Richard well knew, patience is a virtue.
Concurrently, he identified opportunities to acquire large parcels of commercial and industrial land north of Adelaide. He would acquire the land and build commercial structures on them, tailor made to the lessee. This was a formula that worked well for many years and still works well today. The Cohen Group still holds these assets today and form part of the Group’s commercial and industrial portfolios.
As an alderman of the Adelaide City Council, Richard commissioned the very first building on Moonta Street, now forming part of the Chinatown district. During his time on Council, he was strongly focussed on the economic development of Adelaide and its surrounding areas. It was during this period that Richard also promoted the first sister-city program in Adelaide when Penang was chosen and a strong alliance was born. This alliance and sister-city relationship with Penang remains an enduring legacy today.
Burnside Village is Richard’s greatest professional legacy. An iconic centre in South Australia. There is much Cohen DNA in this centre and the family has planted, designed, added, debated, toiled and aspired to create a truly unique retail experience now very much a focal part of the community. It stands today as a testament to Richard’s tenacity, strength and resilience.
Even at 95 years young, Richard still provided input and his appetite for driving the business never waned. A contemporary portrait of Richard hangs in the Group’s Boardroom and even today, represents his ubiquitous presence and influence across the business.
The Cohen Group’s mandate today is to continue Richard’s vision. A vision that seeks to provide market leading property services made possible with a skilled and motivated team of professionals, and a legacy both personal and professional proudly continued by wife Patricia and sons Peter, Paul, and Andrew.
Patricia Cohen, Richard’s wife, accepted the Award on his behalf.
“Our family couldn’t be more proud as we accept this posthumous award with a sense of deep honour and gratitude,” said Patricia.
“Today, the Cohen family and my three children work together with a strong Board and independent Directors and continue to honour Richard’s vision and his lifetime of work. We make haste slowly, we respect tenant relationships deeply and we are Patriots of this wonderful State of South Australia.”