John Gandel, Stan Perron and Sir John Pidgeon join 2012 inductee Westfield’s Frank Lowy in Property Council’s hall of fame

Shopping centre kings John Gandel and Stan Perron along with builder and developer Sir John Pidgeon have been inducted into the Property Council of Australia (PCA’s) hall of fame.

They were inducted over the weekend as part of the PCA’s 2013 Innovation and Excellence Awards and join Westfield co-founder Frank Lowy, the late Dick Dusseldorp, founder and chairman, of Lend Lease Corporation and the late Ray Powys, AMP’s first property investment manager, who were the inaugural inductees last year.

Property Council national president Darren Steinberg said each of the inductees were inspiring entrepreneurs who helped to transform Australia into a dynamic, prosperous society. 

“Through their energy, imagination, drive and determination, these three extraordinary people have shaped Australia’s urban landscape. 

“All three inductees are as renowned for their generosity and philanthropy as they are for their business acumen, and I am delighted that we can acknowledge their outstanding contributions to Australian society,” he said. 

John Gandel is probably most famous as the developer of Australia’s largest shopping centre, Chadstone in Melbourne, now valued at over $3 billion as well as the founder of the Sussan fashion retain chain.

He has been Chairman of the Gandel Group of Companies since 1983 and chaired the Gandel Retail Trust from 1994 to 2006. The Gandel Group managed around $8.5 billion of retail assets up until the sale of the management business in 2006. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1990 for services to business, commerce and industry and is also well known for his philanthropic endeavours. 

Perth-based Stanley Perron is owner and chairman of the Perron Group of Companies with a property portfolio valued in excess of $3 billion. The Perron Group Property Portfolio is a diversified, institutional style portfolio comprising eleven major shopping centres, several large office buildings and numerous commercial and industrial properties.

In May last year, the privately owned Perron Group has agreed to pay a post-GFC record of $690.4 million to acquire a 50% share in a portfolio of three Centro flagship regional shopping centres.

Perron is also well-known for his philanthropic activities and as chairman of The Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, which supports over 100 charitable organisations with a focus on children’s charities and medical research. 

Sir John Pidgeon built the construction business FA Pidgeon & Son Pty Ltd, founded by his father in 1927, into one of Australia’s largest privately-owned building and development companies, responsible for many iconic projects throughout Queensland. 

He served as chairman of the Master Builders Association, Builder’s Registration Board and the Building Services Authority.