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Domain Group
Domain Group
from Wikipedia

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.

Key Information

History

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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

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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 Nine rival 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

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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]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Domain Group is an Australian property technology company specializing in digital marketplaces and services for the real estate sector, primarily known for its flagship website domain.com.au, which facilitates property listings, searches, and transactions for residential, commercial, and rural properties. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in , the company originated as part of Fairfax Media's digital expansion and evolved into a leading platform connecting buyers, sellers, renters, agents, and investors across . The company's portfolio includes brands such as Allhomes and Commercial (CRE), offering tools for property valuation, market insights, , and solutions to streamline processes. Under the leadership of President Jason Pellegrino, who previously served as CEO from 2018 to 2025, Domain Group expanded through acquisitions like Realbase in 2022 and Insight Solutions in 2021, enhancing its technology and capabilities. It was publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: DHG) in November 2017 with a valuation of approximately A$2.2 billion, marking a significant after being demerged from (formerly ). In August 2025, Domain Group was acquired by U.S.-based , Inc., for around A$2.8 billion, integrating it into a global network of information and platforms to drive innovation and competition in the Australian market. This acquisition positions Domain as a key player in digitizing property services, with over 1,000 employees and annual revenue of A$391.1 million for the financial year ended 30 June 2024.

History

Origins under Fairfax Media

The Domain brand was established in 1996 by as a dedicated brand for its print sections, initially focusing on within newspapers such as and . This move capitalized on the robust demand for property listings during a period when classified advertisements represented a major revenue stream for Australian media companies, often referred to as Fairfax's "rivers of gold." The brand's early operations emphasized integrating content across Fairfax's print portfolio to attract advertisers and readers interested in the booming Australian property market. The online expansion began with the launch of domain.com.au in 1999, marking Domain's entry into digital classifieds and positioning it as a complementary platform to Fairfax's traditional print offerings. By the early , as disrupted print revenues, Fairfax recognized the strategic importance of its assets, leading to the creation of Domain as a standalone division in April 2013. This restructuring provided Domain with dedicated management and resources, underscoring 's contribution to Fairfax's overall revenue, which accounted for a significant portion of the company's classifieds income. The division's focus shifted toward enhancing digital capabilities to compete in the growing online property search space. In 2015, Fairfax acquired full control of Metro Media Publishing (MMP) for A$72 million, integrating the Victorian real estate magazine publisher into Domain and strengthening its print and digital footprint in key markets like . This acquisition consolidated Fairfax's holdings in premium media, eliminating joint-venture complexities and enabling Domain to streamline operations across print and online channels. Leadership under Antony Catalano, who joined as CEO in late 2013, accelerated this ; Catalano, a former Fairfax executive with expertise in property media, drove investments in technology and content to scale Domain's online presence during the tail end of the classifieds boom. By 2016, Domain had achieved substantial digital user growth, with domain.com.au emerging as Australia's second-largest property portal behind realestate.com.au, boasting millions of monthly unique visitors and solidifying its role in the competitive online market. This milestone reflected successful strategies in user engagement and advertiser partnerships, setting the stage for Domain's evolution within Fairfax's portfolio.

Spin-off and public listing

In July 2017, following the withdrawal of bids from private equity firms TPG Capital and Hellman & Friedman for the acquisition of Fairfax Media—due to disagreements over valuation and the planned separation—Fairfax proceeded with its strategy to demerge Domain as an independent entity. The formal announcement of the spin-off scheme occurred in September 2017, with Fairfax shareholders set to receive one Domain share for every 10 Fairfax shares held, resulting in Fairfax retaining approximately 60% ownership post-demerger. On November 2, 2017, Fairfax shareholders overwhelmingly approved the demerger at an extraordinary general meeting, paving the way for Domain's independence. Domain Holdings Australia Limited listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: DHG) on November 16, 2017, marking a strong debut with shares opening at A$3.80 and achieving an initial of approximately A$2.2 billion. The listing positioned Domain as a standalone digital real estate platform, but early trading reflected market enthusiasm tempered by broader sector dynamics. Just two months later, on January 22, 2018, founding CEO Antony Catalano resigned amid mounting performance pressures, including a sharp decline in share price from its listing highs and challenges in sustaining post-spin-off growth targets. His departure highlighted internal strains as the company navigated its new public status. In July 2018, Domain announced the appointment of Jason Pellegrino, formerly Managing Director of and , as CEO effective August 27, 2018; Pellegrino's background in digital advertising was expected to drive expansion in online services. Despite the robust initial stock performance, Domain faced early vulnerabilities from intense competition, particularly from market leader , which controlled a dominant share of online property listings and underscored Domain's position as a challenger in the duopolistic Australian market. This rivalry contributed to ongoing pressures on audience growth and revenue diversification in Domain's formative independent phase.

Acquisition by CoStar Group

On May 9, 2025, announced a binding agreement to acquire Domain Holdings Australia Limited for an enterprise value of A$3.0 billion, including approximately A$2.3 billion in cash for the remaining 83% of shares at A$4.43 per share, aiming to bolster competition in the Australian data and listings market. This deal followed 's earlier acquisition of a 17% stake in Domain in February 2025 at A$4.20 per share. The strategic rationale centered on combining Domain's established residential property platform with 's advanced technologies to create a more competitive alternative to the dominant . The acquisition progressed through key regulatory milestones, including approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) on July 24, 2025, and court authorization from the of on June 30, 2025, to convene a vote. Domain overwhelmingly supported the on August 4, 2025, with 99.98% approval, reflecting strong endorsement of the transaction's value. The deal closed on August 27, 2025, fully integrating Domain into CoStar's global portfolio of commercial analytics and marketplaces. Strategically, the acquisition provides Domain with access to CoStar's 3D digital twins, sophisticated analytics tools, and international scale, enabling enhanced services for agents, vendors, and buyers while fostering innovation in property data monetization. CoStar emphasized that this union would drive lower costs, improved user experiences, and greater market competition in Australia, positioning the combined entity to challenge entrenched players more effectively. Post-acquisition, Domain operates as a key component of CoStar's expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, with expectations of accelerated technological advancements in the Australian property sector.

Business and operations

Core digital platform

Domain.com.au serves as Australia's prominent digital property portal, providing users with comprehensive search functionalities, property listings, and automated valuation tools to facilitate discovery and decision-making. The platform supports a wide array of user needs, from basic property browsing to advanced filtering options, positioning it as a key resource for both consumers and professionals seeking market insights. The platform operates within a robust multi-platform , including dedicated mobile applications for and Android that enable on-the-go access to listings and agent tools, launched with enhanced features in 2017 to prioritize agent usability. integrations further extend its reach, allowing agents to embed real-time property data into their own systems, CRM software, and third-party applications for seamless management. Post-2017 developments have incorporated AI-driven features, such as predictive prospecting tools like LeadScope, which analyze data to identify potential listings, enhancing search precision and user engagement. At an operational scale, domain.com.au covers more than 90% of Australian residential properties through its valuation and listings capabilities, supported by feeds that update information dynamically across the platform. This extensive reach is complemented by moderation processes for user-generated content, including reviews and inquiries, ensuring reliable and trustworthy interactions on the site. Following CoStar Group's acquisition of Domain in August 2025, the company plans to introduce enhancements including advanced 3D visual mapping for interactive property exploration and integration of technologies via Matterport's capabilities, to improve visualization without altering core service specifics. User engagement has shown steady growth from 2018 to 2025, with site visits increasing by 23% year-over-year in the first half of 2025 alone, driven by audience expansion initiatives that emphasize accessibility for both consumers searching for homes and agents managing listings. In September 2025, the residential platforms achieved a record combined unique monthly audience of 7.4 million, underscoring heightened platform utilization.

Revenue model and financial overview

Domain Group's primary revenue is generated through agent subscriptions and listing fees, which form the core of its digital platform and accounted for approximately 96% of in FY2024 via the Core Digital segment. Within this, residential listings dominate, contributing 68% of overall , with premium tiers such as the Platinum Edge add-on enabling featured placements and driving an 18% increase in average per listing. Additional streams include and media services, which grew 52% to form part of the non-core digital ; data licensing through Domain Insight, representing 5% of and up 8% year-over-year; and emerging consumer tools like paid property valuations, though these remain in early development stages. In FY2024, Domain achieved revenue of A$391.1 million, a 13% increase from the prior year, supported by resilient listing volumes and pricing strategies amid recovering property markets. This performance included EBITDA growth of 26% to A$137.1 million and underlying net profit after tax up 28% to A$49.4 million. For the first half of FY2025 (ended December 31, 2024), revenue rose 7% to A$217.2 million, with EBITDA increasing 14% to A$77.8 million, demonstrating resilience through 7% growth in new 'for sale' listings and 23% higher site visits compared to the previous period, even as broader market fluctuations persisted. For the full FY2025 (year ended June 30, 2025, released August 2025), revenue reached A$413 million (up 5.6% from FY2024) and EBITDA A$146 million (up 6.4%). The company faced significant challenges, including a 9% revenue decline to A$216.6 million in FY2020 due to reduced property listings during economic disruptions, prompting cost-cutting measures that reduced like-for-like expenses by 5%. Ongoing competitive pressures from market leader have constrained Domain's , with REA generating roughly four times the listing . The August 2025 acquisition by has positioned Domain for enhanced global data synergies and technological integration, though no specific post-acquisition financial figures have been disclosed as of late 2025.

Products and services

Residential real estate solutions

Domain's residential solutions provide a suite of digital tools designed to assist property buyers, sellers, and agents throughout the home buying and selling in . These offerings center on facilitating informed decision-making through accessible data and intuitive interfaces, emphasizing user-friendly features that streamline property discovery and valuation. At the core of these solutions is Domain's property search functionality, which allows users to filter listings by key criteria such as , price ranges, catchments, types, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, availability, and size. Users can search by name, , name, or interactive maps, with additional options to view properties near specific schools and their catchment boundaries. This enables targeted exploration of residential options, such as homes for sale or rent in proximity to educational facilities. Complementing the search tools is the Domain Home Price Guide, a free property valuation estimator powered by an Automated Valuation Model (AVM) that incorporates AI, recent sales data, market trends, and property attributes to generate instant value ranges with confidence ratings. These estimates help homeowners gauge potential selling prices and buyers assess affordability, with the tool accessible via , , or searches. For real estate agents handling residential transactions, Domain offers specialized tools to enhance , campaign execution, and client engagement. The LeadScope platform leverages AI and Domain's proprietary data to identify potential buyer and seller pipelines, aiding agents in proactive outreach and opportunity discovery. Marketing resources include the Agent Toolkit, which provides customizable vendor brochures, research reports, and advertising solutions tailored for residential listings on domain.com.au. Agents can integrate virtual tours and 3D images into listings through the Domain Agent Admin interface, enabling immersive virtual open houses that showcase homes remotely to prospective buyers. Additionally, the recently launched Domain Skylight app delivers real-time comparables, sold prices, buyer views, and market trend overlays, empowering agents to refine pricing strategies, monitor campaign performance, and advise vendors effectively. Consumer-facing features further support residential users with educational and analytical resources. Domain's buyer guides offer comprehensive advice on navigating the market, including first-home buyer resources covering financing options, inspections, and tactics. Neighborhood insights are available through detailed profiles, which aggregate data on median house prices, demographic trends, recent sales activity, and local information to help users evaluate suitability. These tools collectively promote end-to-end transaction support by guiding users from initial and valuation to informed purchasing or selling decisions. Domain maintains strong market coverage in Australia's major urban centers, particularly and , where it reports the highest listing volumes and yield performance for residential properties. In these cities, the platform dominates by providing localized data that reflects dynamic trends, such as quarterly growth in reaching 3.4% in the September 2025 quarter. Following CoStar Group's acquisition of Domain in August 2025, the company plans to incorporate CoStar's advanced analytics and AI technologies to introduce personalized property recommendations, 3D visual mapping, and enhanced , aiming to improve user experiences in residential searches nationwide. As of September 2025, the platform supported a robust user base, with 7.4 million unique audience members accessing Domain for residential property-related activities, including searches, valuations, and insights.

Commercial and ancillary services

Domain Group's commercial offerings center on its dedicated platform, CommercialRealEstate.com.au, which facilitates listings and searches for non-residential across , including spaces, retail outlets, and industrial facilities. The platform supports agents and businesses by providing tools for for sale or , with features tailored for B2B users such as agent sign-up portals and national options. Complementing these listings, Domain Insight serves as a key data service, delivering in-depth reports and on property market trends, historical sold prices, and demographic insights derived from over 14 million properties and more than 50 years of data. These resources are designed for B2B applications, empowering organizations in sectors like and government with actionable intelligence to inform decisions and market strategies. Ancillary services extend Domain's ecosystem through developer-friendly tools, including the Domain API, which grants access to agency, listing, and comprehensive Australian property data for integration into third-party applications. Following the 2025 acquisition by , the company plans to introduce integrations such as Matterport's technology to enhance commercial listings with immersive virtual tours and visual mapping, improving user engagement for enterprise clients. Domain's B2B emphasis in non-residential sectors supports proptech expansion by providing data-driven solutions for and , with ancillary subscription revenues from services like Domain Insight showing steady growth, including a 7.7% year-on-year increase in 2024. This focus positions Domain as a vital partner for institutional users seeking scalable, data-integrated tools beyond core residential applications.

Sponsorships and marketing

Cricket partnerships

In June 2018, Domain Group entered into a four-year naming rights partnership with , becoming the presenting partner for men's and replacing Magellan Financial Group, which had terminated its prior sponsorship early following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. The deal, valued at an undisclosed multi-million amount, granted Domain prominent branding across domestic Test series, including the 2018-19 series against branded as the "Domain Series," with plans initially extending to the 2021-22 against as the "Domain ." The partnership featured extensive activations to integrate Domain's focus with 's audience, including on-site branding at matches, digital integrations such as property portal advertisements on the mobile app and website (cricket.com.au), and shared content across channels reaching over 11 million followers. Campaigns emphasized fan engagement by linking property themes to experiences, such as sponsored posts promoting home-related content tied to match-day excitement, alongside Domain's role as the partner and LIVE scoreboard partner. In February 2020, midway through the agreement, Domain exercised an option to exit the sponsorship after two years, citing a strategic shift toward more targeted local marketing amid a revenue slump in the real estate sector influenced by early market downturns. The termination left seeking a new partner, with subsequently taking over for the 2020-21 season and beyond, including the 2021-22 . Despite its brevity, the partnership enhanced Domain's visibility among enthusiasts, providing broad exposure through high-profile matches, though no renewal followed post-2020.

Other promotional activities

Domain Group has engaged in various digital advertising initiatives to promote its property search platform, targeting users through , search engines, and video platforms. In 2021, the company launched a campaign titled "Reimagining Where We Live," which highlighted Australians' shifting lifestyle preferences amid the , running across display ads, , , and a new television commercial (TVC). More recently, in May 2025, Domain introduced a national campaign to promote eco-friendly homes, drawing on its research into green trends to appeal to environmentally conscious buyers. These efforts emphasize targeted messaging on discovery and market insights, often integrated with the platform's for enhanced user engagement. In terms of partnerships, Domain collaborated with fintech firm Lendi from 2017 to 2023 to offer Domain Loan Finder, a digital tool connecting users to home loan options from over 30 lenders, aimed at streamlining the property buying process. This joint venture provided co-branded content and integrated services on the Domain platform, supporting user acquisition during key stages of real estate transactions. Additionally, Domain has worked with media outlets for co-branded market reports, such as collaborations on property trend analyses shared via digital channels. Domain has hosted events and activations focused on education and user engagement, including webinars for real estate agents on market preparation and advertising strategies. Notable sessions include "Preparing for 2025," featuring tips from Domain ambassador Josh Phegan on vendor investments, and "Mastering Objections to Vendor-Paid Advertising," held in June 2025 to address sales challenges. In April 2020, amid the , Domain made its Market Insights and Trends data freely available to all customers for a limited time, facilitating for agents through virtual resources and trend webinars. Following the 2020 onset of , Domain shifted toward cost-effective , accelerating its online presence to adapt to remote property searches and work-from-home trends. This included enhanced personalization in campaigns and data-driven tools, contributing to sustained user growth. The August 2025 acquisition by has positioned Domain for expanded global reach, with plans to integrate advanced technology for joint digital initiatives, though specific co-promotions are in early stages post-integration. These promotional activities have driven measurable traffic increases, with Domain reporting a 10% year-on-year growth in unique audience during FY24 prior to the acquisition, attributed in part to targeted digital efforts.

Leadership and governance

Key executives

Domain Group's executive leadership has evolved significantly since its inception as a Media, with key figures driving its transition to an independent proptech entity. Antony Catalano served as CEO from 2013 to 2018, playing a foundational role in expanding the company's digital property platform and leading the preparations for its 2017 spin-off from Fairfax, which positioned Domain as a standalone focused on classifieds and data services. Jason Pellegrino succeeded Catalano as CEO in July 2018, bringing expertise from his prior role as Managing Director of and , where he oversaw regional sales and strategy. Under Pellegrino's leadership through early 2025, Domain emphasized digital growth, including enhancements to agent tools such as advanced listing analytics and CRM integrations to improve for real estate professionals. In February 2025, following Pellegrino's departure on February 28, Greg Ellis was appointed interim CEO for up to 12 months, leveraging his extensive experience as former CEO of , Australia's leading property portal, to guide competitive strategy in the proptech sector amid market challenges. Ellis's background in scaling digital platforms aided Domain's focus on data-driven innovations and market positioning during this transitional period. Post-acquisition integration with in August 2025 introduced U.S.-based oversight while preserving localized Australian operations, with Pellegrino returning as President of Domain to oversee day-to-day leadership and continued emphasis on proptech advancements. Supporting this structure, Peter Williams has served as since February 2024, directing finance strategy to support revenue diversification and cost efficiencies in the competitive market. Other key executives include Catriona McGregor, who has been Chief Legal and Transformation Officer and since December 2017, managing legal affairs, privacy compliance, and organizational change initiatives. The current leadership team also features specialists in product and people management, such as Danielle Harmer and Chief People Officer Alison Hancock, whose expertise in proptech development and talent strategy bolsters Domain's data-centric approach to solutions.

Board structure and changes

Following its spin-off from and listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in November 2017, Domain Holdings Australia Limited formed an initial board comprising directors with complementary expertise in media, , and digital operations, including Geoffrey Kleemann, Diana Eilert, and Greg Ellis appointed effective November 15, 2017. This structure incorporated a blend of independent and non-independent members to align with ASX Council recommendations, emphasizing skills relevant to real estate marketplaces and technology platforms. Nicholas Falloon was appointed as the non-executive Chairman in January 2018, overseeing the board's transition to independent operations post-demergence. The board's typical composition has ranged from 6 to 8 members, including a majority of non-executive directors and the Managing Director/CEO as the sole executive, supported by specialized sub-committees to ensure robust oversight. Key committees include the Audit and Risk Committee (chaired by Geoff Kleemann, focusing on financial reporting, internal controls, and cyber risks), the People, Culture and Sustainability Committee (addressing , diversity, and ESG matters), and the Nomination Committee (managing board renewal and ). These bodies drew on directors' collective proficiency in , digital innovation, and to guide strategic decisions in a competitive proptech environment. Post-listing adjustments prioritized ASX compliance, with director additions to enhance independence and expertise; for instance, Rebecca Haagsma joined as a non-independent director in September 2022, expanding the board to 7 members amid evolving shareholder dynamics with majority owner Co. Further evolution occurred in April 2024 with the appointment of Matt Stanton as a non-independent director, bringing the total to 8. Prior to the acquisition, diversity initiatives had progressed steadily, with the board achieving 29% directors as of June 2022, supporting a near-term target of 40% gender balance (within 20% variance) by 2023, though this evolved to a longer-term 2030 goal amid sustained efforts. By June 2024, board representation stood at 25%, complemented by 40% on the Executive Leadership Team and near parity (49.2%) across the workforce, driven by policies like inclusion training and diverse hiring panels. Tenure balanced fresh perspectives with continuity, averaging several years for long-serving independents like Kleemann and Eilert since 2017. was a core focus, with at least 3 of 7 non-executive directors classified as such in 2024 (Eilert, , Kleemann), enabling —such as independent Chair oversight during related-party matters—to safeguard against competitive tensions with rivals like . The 2025 acquisition by , completed on August 27, 2025, marked a significant shift: all incumbent Domain directors resigned, and CoStar-nominated directors assumed roles, facilitating integrated oversight across the combined entity's operations while preserving Domain's standalone brand and structure. As of November 2025, specific details on the composition of the new board, including diversity metrics and independence classifications, are not publicly detailed, reflecting Domain's status as a of . Notable governance advancements in 2022 included refined policies on technology risks within the ESG framework, such as enhanced cyber security protocols and measures, directly supporting Domain's as a proptech provider. The board's skills matrix, updated periodically prior to the acquisition, underscored this alignment, with 75% of members possessing expertise in digital products, AI, and to navigate the evolving online .

References

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