Our History

We’ve been leaders in Melbourne’s strata industry for nearly 50 years.

Dixon Kestles was established by John Pratt and Robert Kestles in 1975 as a residential, commercial real estate agency and body corporate management firm.  It was the incorporation of G.F. Dixon, J. Harden and Tuckett Malone that positioned Dixon Kestles as a high-profile agency right from the beginning. 

The subsequent acquisition of Douglas Davis in 1989, and Machin, Shepard and Paltos in 1990 further enhanced the company’s stature and today, thanks to these acquisitions, Dixon Kestles enjoys the rare distinction of a history dating back to the 1880s.  During this period of growth we operated from offices at 234 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne and 178 Bridport Street, Albert Park. In 1992 the Company relocated to offices at 161 Park Street, South Melbourne where we spent the next 30+ years. 

In May 2000 with the merging of Dixon Kestles & Co. Pty Ltd and Homes Property Consultants, who were located at 1 Elizabeth Street Melbourne, the Company further expanded its commercial portfolio into the eastern suburbs and Central Business District. 

In 2010 John’s daughter Pernille Cavanough joined the business to assist with further expansion into the real estate sector as well as developing the growing owners corporation department. 

2023 then became a turning point for Dixon Kestles when it was decided to separate our beloved commercial and residential clients from our strata business to focus solely on the strata space. Our commercial portfolio was merged with Lemon Baxter and our residential with Buxton Port Phillip both strong, well-established, and like-minded organisations to join forces with. 

Dixon Kestles today operates solely as a strata management company from our offices at 80 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne. We see a strong future in the growing strata industry and currently manage over 180 owners corporations throughout Victoria spanning from Melbourne’s CBD around the bay from Moorabbin to Geelong, out east as far as Ferntree Gully, north to Preston and over in the west to Laverton.