Tell us about your business.
If you stroll through Chardon’s Corner in Annerley, you’ll find more than just another real estate agency — you’ll find our family’s story, one that has been unfolding for more than ninety years. It’s a story of trust, continuity, and deep connection to this community we’ve always called home.
Our business began in 1933, when Trevor’s grandfather Robert Matthews and his son, Leslie, opened the doors of R. Matthews & Son to help local families buy and sell homes in Brisbane’s growing southern suburbs. Their first office was humble, a converted plumber’s shed, but their values were anything but small. Hard work, honesty, and genuine care for people, became the foundation of everything they did.
Four generations later, Matthews Real Estate remains at home in the same community where it all began as one of Brisbane’s longest-running independent agencies. The business is now guided by Trevor Matthews and his daughter, Michelle Clair (née Matthews), who carry forward the same principles that shaped their forebears’ work: honesty, care, and professional guidance.
Over the decades, our business has evolved with the times; from handwritten ledgers and window cards to digital platforms and online property management systems; yet the essence of what the Matthews family does has never changed. We have always believed that real estate is not just about property, but about people. Behind every transaction lies a story: a family finding their first home, an investor building for the future, or a neighbour choosing to stay connected to the place they love.
Over the years, clients have become friends, families have become neighbours, and our business has become part of the local fabric. What has sustained the Matthews family through ninety years of business is a deep respect for trust and relationships. Some families have trusted us with their properties for three generations - a trust that we hold with deep gratitude. That quiet, enduring loyalty is the truest measure of our success.
At its heart, Matthews Real Estate represents what family business does best - continuity with conscience. It is proof that when a company is built on values rather than volume, and guided by care rather than competition, it can thrive for almost a century while remaining, in every sense, a family.
What has been your greatest success?
For Matthews Real Estate, success has never been measured by size or spectacle. Our proudest moments come when we persevere and problem solve; reliably guiding our clients through the peaks and troughs of the property cycles.
When Leslie Matthews passed away unexpectedly in 1962, his son Trevor was just 20 years old, barely old enough to hold a licence. Overnight, the weight of the family business, its future, and the future of his widowed mother and three brothers, rested on his shoulders. With little experience but immense determination, Trevor stepped in, guided by the same values his father had lived by: hard work, integrity, and care for others.
Those early years forged the grit that still defines Matthews Real Estate today. Through market booms and downturns, changing regulations, and the digital revolution, the family has learned the quiet art of adaptation; embracing new technology, modern systems, and fresh ideas, while never losing the personal touch that makes the business what it is.
Surrounding ourselves with good people has been part of that success. Many of the firm’s staff have been with the business for decades, forming relationships that go beyond the office walls. That same loyalty extends to the community. Over the years, Matthews Real Estate has helped generations of local families - from parents buying their first investment property to children now building their own portfolios - always with the same sense of care and continuity.
In the end, our greatest success isn’t measured in sales or scale. It’s found in longevity itself - in the determination to keep showing up, to do things the right way, and to stay true to the people and the place that made us who we are.
What do you value about FBA?
Running a family business can be a deeply rewarding experience, but it can also be lonely at times. The decisions carry more weight, the relationships run deeper, and the lines between work and family life often blur. For the Matthews family, joining Family Business Australia (FBA) was a way to connect with others who truly understand that unique balance. Within FBA, we found a community of like-minded people who understand those same idiosyncrasies.
What we appreciate most is the openness. Everyone comes to the table willing to share - the highs, the missteps, and the lessons learned along the way. It’s a reminder that while each family business has its own story, the themes are universal and often emotional: succession, adaptation, trust, and the ever-present hope (or for some, pressure) that the next generation will carry the torch a little further.
FBA offers more than professional development; it offers belonging. It’s a place where we can talk honestly about the realities of running a family business, the challenges of transition, the importance of communication, and the constant push to evolve, without having to explain why it matters so much. For us, that sense of shared understanding has been invaluable.
What advice would you give to other family businesses?
If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that longevity doesn’t come from luck; it comes from perseverance. There will always be challenges, moments that test your patience, and times when it feels easier to walk away. But family businesses endure because someone keeps turning up, even when it’s hard. You don’t need to have all the answers; you just need the determination to keep going and the faith that you’ll figure it out together.
Staying true to your values is everything. For us, that’s meant holding fast to honesty, loyalty, and care; not just in how we treat our clients, but in how we treat each other. The people you work with, the ones who choose to stay with you year after year, are your greatest strength. Look after them, listen to them, and trust them. They become part of the family story too. Surround yourself with knowledgeable people who bring fresh ideas, but always lead with your values as your firm foundation.
And finally, remember that you don’t have to do it alone. Lean on your community - the people who believe in you and your networks, like Family Business Association, where others understand the unique joys and pressures of family business.
In the end, success isn’t just about growth. It’s about showing up, staying true, and passing on something worth believing in.
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