In profile: Oliver Hume Queensland's general manager, Matthew Barr

NAME: Matthew Barr

POSITION: General manager - Queensland

COMPANY: Oliver Hume

OFFICE LOCATION: Brisbane

• How long have you been in the industry?

Coming up to 20 years in Victoria and Queensland.

• What's happening in the area you specialise in?

We're currently seeing an increase in the supply of land that's resulting in stronger enquiries and sales rates. We're also seeing some price growth as a result of that.

• Describe the most interesting property you have worked on?

I've worked across a number of large masterplanned communities in Queensland and Victoria. Probably the most interesting is Providence, South Ripley, which I'm working on now. Once it's complete, it'll be about 7,000 homes for a population of about 20,000 residents.

It's a true masterplanned community. Open park space for sports and recreation, health and wellbeing; barbecues, al fresco dining and community; education, with two planned primary schools and two secondary centre. It'll have a main street with supermarkets, commercial spaces, retailers and the like. A lot of projects call themselves master-planned, but this is a true masterplanned community.

• What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?

I think developing long-term relationships in both good and bad markets is the key. Obviously, honesty and integrity go a long way.

• What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?

I enjoy the variety of projects and obviously the challenges that come from that. Of course, the diversified group of clients we work with makes it a very enjoyable job.

• Where would you invest a spare $750,000?

I think I'd be looking at a residential property within a 5 kilometre radius of Brisbane CBD, with access to plenty of amenities and infrastructure. I think that's a pretty good bet at the moment.

• Which football team do you support?

Given the fact I'm ex-Victorian, Collingwood.

• What's your favourite app or techno gadget?

It'd be Card Munch, which allows me to enter business cards straight into my contacts by taking a picture.

• How do you use social media?

I guess LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are the main ones I use, mostly to keep on top of what's going on and maintain a professional profile.