Intrapac Property was founded on the belief that you can’t generate value without giving something back. “How do we make this an inspiring place to live?” is the driving question behind the company’s enduring success.

2024 marks Intrapac’s 40th year of operation, a remarkable achievement for a business in an often volatile industry and a testament to the team’s collective expertise and experience.

Since 1984, the team at Intrapac has engaged in meaningful placemaking, delivering communities that continue to be desirable places to live. Under the leadership of founder and current Executive Chairman David Payes, the company has completed more than 20 inspiring residential neighbourhoods – spanning Victoria to Queensland, New South Wales to Western Australia, and the Northern Territory, attracting 8 urban development industry awards, together with numerous awards for landscaping and marketing. Another 20 projects are currently in the development pipeline.

In recognition of his achievements and contribution to the property sector, academia, board positions, community service and charitable organisations, David was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day 2022 Honours List.

A vision-lead approach

David established Intrapac’s vision-led approach to property development, a legacy that current CEO Maxwell Shifman intends to carry forward, “David’s had the chance to do this work for 40 years; I hope to do the same and more,” he explained.

Each project is considered in the context of the surrounding real estate market, and a tailored direction is developed to differentiate and elevate it from other housing options in the locale.

Leading urban planners and landscape architects are brought on board to bring this vision to life. This approach imbues each community with a palpable sense of place, creating neighbourhoods that remain attractive and sought after into the future.

Intrapac’s projects cover diverse locations and demographic needs, from urban infill to the greenfields and the regions; each has a compelling vision in common. Current projects, including Kinley, Lloyd Creek Rural Village and Aureus illustrate the breadth of the company’s projects, the capability to respond appropriately to the surrounding area, and the overall consistency in approach.

Kinley

Intrapac Property is developing Victoria’s largest urban infill project, the 163Ha former Lilydale Quarry, embedded within the established suburb of Lilydale in Melbourne’s outer east. The vision underpinning this project is creating a 20-minute neighbourhood, allowing Kinley residents to meet most of their daily needs within a short distance from home. This is facilitated by active and public transport options, including an extensive and attractively landscaped open space network comprising almost 20% of the total development area. This vision maintains the leafy feel that Lilydale is known for while supporting convenient modern lifestyles.

Kinley is Victoria’s largest infill project delivering 3000 new homes to Lilydale.

Lloyd Creek Rural Village

Lloyd Creek Rural Village is a greenfield project within commuting distance of the Darwin and Palmerston central business districts planned for the southeast of the Darwin metropolitan area. This 2,640-hectare residential development aims to cater to the high demand for rural lifestyle living in the top end. Lots featuring retained bushland will range from 1000m2 to 20,000m2, maintaining the surrounding area’s rural character while offering residents integrated modern amenities such as climate-appropriate architecture, extensive recreational paths and conservation areas, water-saving infrastructure, and access to two rural villages.

Lloyd Creek Rural Village will deliver much needed housing for the NT.

Aureus

Aureus is a beachfront development on the northern coast of New South Wales. The team at Intrapac had the foresight to acquire the land for this project in 2017, well ahead of the work-from-home revolution sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated exodus to coastal and other regional areas.

Offering diverse housing options to approximately 900 residents, public life at Aureus will focus on a village centre that balances the vibrancy of the new development with the informality of an easy-going beach lifestyle.

Intrapac’s stunning Aurues community overlooking the stunning shoreline of Sharpes Beach in Skennars Head.

Small, specialised and adept

Despite cultivating one of Australia’s most extensive development pipelines, particularly over the last decade, the Intrapac team has remained relatively small and tight-knit.

“Our team is made up of high calibre people that we expect a lot of and can rely on. That is critically important to our success, as we remain a very small team for the breadth and number of projects we deliver,” explains Shifman. “We have excellent internal collaboration with a very flat business structure. David and I know everyone; they’re part of the extended family. People know what they need to do and know we trust them to do it.”

Beyond the team’s manifold capabilities in creating places where communities flourish, CEO Maxwell Shifman attributes Intrapac Property’s celebrated longevity to a business strategy that centres measured, forward-looking investment, discerning timing and sharp market instinct. Additionally, being a private company means the team has the time to research and consider each acquisition thoroughly, but can also act incredibly responsibly when required.

“Our approach is measured, which leaves us less exposed to volatility,” says Max. “We’re here to thrive in the long term.”