Isles Love and Company, now known as McGees Property Brisbane, has been part of Queensland’s property landscape since 1889. James Love and James Thomas Isles, later joined by Francis A. J. Isles, started the business with only £50 and a strong belief in doing things the right way. No cutting corners. No backroom deals. Just honest work for the public.
From the beginning, they refused to sell on reserve or trade goods for their own gain. Their focus was clear: sell for others with integrity and transparency. That philosophy still guides how we operate today.
As Brisbane grew, we grew with it. More than 130 years and three generations later, we remain the only full-service property firm in Brisbane offering real estate, valuations, auctions, and property management under one roof. We work with private clients and the public sector, always focused on solutions, not just services.
What sets us apart is our people. They do more than deliver. They care. They listen. They think ahead. They stay the course. And they show up to solve real problems, not just complete tasks.
A Legacy That Started in the Heart of Brisbane
Source State Library of Queensland, Australia
In 1889, Brisbane was shifting from frontier town to rising colonial city when James Love and JT Isles opened the first Isles Love and Co office at 183 Queen Street. Day one was quiet. Day two they sold everything and momentum took off.
The modest auction mart grew into McGees Property, a business that has weathered floods, economic cycles, policy shifts, and the city’s rapid transformation across nine different CBD locations.
From Auction Mart to Commercial Property Leader
Early Brisbane was buzzing. Horses and buggies still filled the streets while tram and train networks pushed into new suburbs. Deals were struck face to face or by letter. Marketing meant creativity, and James Love wrote playful property ads under the pen name O'Racle.
As the city modernised, so did Isles Love and Co. The rise of cars, new subdivisions, and expanding commercial corridors shifted the business from auctions to property and eventually to the commercial real estate expertise that defines McGees today.
Guided by Clear Values in a Competitive Industry
Former senior director Greg Clarke once described the company’s strategy as choosing the right lane on a crowded highway. The aim was never to chase size for its own sake. It was to work at a pace where long term relationships, clarity, and shared values mattered most. That approach shaped decades of sustainable growth.
With Clarke now stepping away from the business, McGees continues forward with the leadership of directors who have carried the firm into its modern era.
The Leadership Team Carrying McGees Into the Future
Gavin Moore
Gavin has been in the property game since 1999, starting in construction while completing his degree in Construction Management. He is known for solving tough problems fast without overcomplicating the process.
Clients trust him because he listens first, acts quickly, and stays focused on the bigger picture. Whether it is a complex valuation or sensitive advisory work, Gavin delivers solutions that create lasting value.
Brad Sheppard
Brad joined McGees in 1994 and has led the Property Management team in Queensland ever since. With early experience at Jones Lang Wootton, now JLL, and qualifications in Business and Project Management, Brad brings a no nonsense, people first approach to every job.
He has built a reliable management model that works for tenants, landlords, and the team. From trust accounting and insurance to hands on project work, Brad gets things done. He is fair, firm, and focused on results, and that consistency is why his clients and his team stay loyal.
A Business Interwoven With Brisbane’s Growth
The Love and Isles families may no longer be involved and the auction house may have closed more than 30 years ago, but the values remain. The bank that supported the business at the very beginning still stands with McGees in its modern form. Their accountants and legal advisers have been part of the journey for more than forty years.
Over 135 Years of Adapting With Purpose
The company’s evolution has always been gradual and deliberate. From auctions to subdivisions to commercial real estate, each shift matched the needs of the market.
The technology transformation has been dramatic. The early days had no computers, no mobile phones, and very few landlines. Today McGees operates in a connected global environment while holding firm to the work ethic and integrity that shaped its first century.
After 135 years, McGees remains a business built on trust, driven by service, and proven by results.