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Domain Group

Domain Holdings Australia Ltd (or simply Domain Group) is an Australian digital property portal and associated real-estate industry business. It is best known for its real-estate website domain.com.au, and also owns the brands commercialrealestate.com.au and allhomes.com.au.

History

It was founded by Fairfax Media, when the publisher branded their real-estate sections in print with the Domain brand and first established an online presence in 1999.[3] Until Domain was listed as a public company on the Australian Securities Exchange, it was its wholly owned subsidiary for eighteen years.

In February 2015, the Australian Financial Review published an article highlighting Credit Suisse analyst expectations of a likely float of the Domain in the future, and attributed an AUD $1.3 billion valuation to the group.[4]

On 21 February 2017, trading in Fairfax shares was suspended[5] until half yearly results and an announcement of intent to turn Domain into a listed entity were announced.[6] Domain Group was widely seen to "prop up" Fairfax revenues, as the company's publishing divisions were struggling.[7][8]

Domain Group began trading on the Australian Securities Exchange on 16 November 2017.[9][10] Having acquired a 20% shareholding in the firm, CoStar Group launched a takeover offer in February 2025.[11][12]

In May 2025, CoStar entered an agreement to acquire 100% of the firm for A$3 billion.[13] On August 27, CoStar announced that it had completed the purchase of the Australian company.[14]

Portfolio

The Domain Group is best known for its real-estate portal domain.com.au, which is Australia's second largest real-estate marketing business, with 90% market penetration.[15] It competes directly with market leader REA Group, running realestate.com.au, which is majority-owned by News Corp Australia.[16][17]

As of August 2023, the Domain Group consists of a portfolio of businesses[18] including but not limited to:

  • The Domain (domain.com.au) and Allhomes (allhomes.com.au) residential property listings portals
  • The Commercial Real Estate commercial property portal (commercialrealestate.com.au)
  • Domain Media media agency (domainmedia.com.au)
  • Domain Review, Domain and Domain Prestige magazines
  • Pricefinder, a property data business whose products focus on modelling projected values of real estate for investors, agents and financial institutions
  • RealTime Agent point of sale platform
  • Homepass estate agent CRM

Cricket sponsorship

In June 2018, Domain Group were announced as platinum partner[19] of the Australian men's cricket team.[20] Under the deal, Domain became the presenting partner of men's test cricket over four years, which included the Ashes, and became the official real estate partner of Cricket Australia.[21]

External links

References

  1. Domain Holdings Australia Limited 2021 Full Year Results Announcement" shareholders.domain.com.au, retrieved 2021-11-12^
  2. Max Mason, Jemima Whyte. Domain taps Google's Jason Pellegrino as new CEO Australian Financial Review, 3 July 2018^
  3. domain.com.au: Property from Every Angle web.archive.org, retrieved 2015-04-29^
  4. Fairfax still likely to float Domain, Credit Suisse says | afr.com afr.com, retrieved 2015-04-29^
  5. Fairfax shares in trading halt ahead of Domain announcement The Australian^
  6. Fairfax Media confirms Domain spin-off^
  7. Amanda Meade. Fairfax Media posts $27.4m profit despite lower print advertising revenue The Guardian, 19 February 2016, retrieved 24 November 2017^
  8. Miranda Ward. Domain drives growth for Fairfax as company continues on path from print to digital Mumbrella, 19 February 2016, retrieved 24 November 2017^
  9. Lindsay Bennett. Domain valued at $2.2 billion after listing on ASX Ad News, 16 November 2017, retrieved 24 November 2017^
  10. Domain listed on the ASX at noon ABC News, 16 November 2017, retrieved 24 November 2017^
  11. Sarah Thompson. American real estate giant CoStar eyes Domain takeover bid Australian Financial Review, 2025-02-20, retrieved 2025-05-10^
  12. Domain receives Unxolicited, Non-Binding Indicative Proposal from CoStar Group Domain 21 February 2025^
  13. Himanshi Akhand. CoStar to buy Australia's Domain in $1.9 billion deal, eyes REA's market dominance Reuters, 9 May 2025, retrieved 10 May 2025^
  14. CoStar Group Completes Acquisition of Domain, Ushering in a New Era of Innovation for Australia’s Property Market Yahoo! Finance, retrieved 2025-09-20^
  15. Domain starts year with big subscription growth – REB rebonline.com.au, retrieved 2015-04-29^
  16. Is Domain.com.au catching up to REA Group Limited? | Motley Fool Australia fool.com.au, retrieved 2015-04-29^
  17. Domain says it's 'no longer No 2' The Australian, retrieved 2015-04-29^
  18. Portfolio- Domain Group domain.com.au^
  19. AAP. Cricket Australia signs naming rights deal cricket.com.au, retrieved 10 October 2018^
  20. Jennifer Duke. ‘Domain Ashes’: Real estate group partners with Cricket Australia Sydney Morning Herald, Fairfax Media, retrieved 10 October 2018^
  21. Josh McDonnell. Cricket Australia continues sponsor rebuild with new Domain deal AdNews, 25 June 2018, retrieved 10 October 2018^