The opulent world of Melbourne’s luxury real estate scene is about to hit television screens across the nation, with the debut of Listing Melbourne.
This dramatic new series, launching on Wednesday at 8:30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now promises to deliver all the excitement, competition, and intense negotiations that go into selling some of the city’s most prestigious properties.
Created by Abode Entertainment and produced by Emmy Award-winning executive producer Gary Takle, Listing Melbourne invites viewers into a world where deals can make or break careers, fierce rivalries unfold, and the stakes are always sky-high.
He explains that it’s a high-energy reality show that blends the glamour of high-end real estate with the personal challenges faced by five elite agents, and compares favourable against some of the other international shows he’s produced recently, including Behind The Gates, Million Dollar House Hunters, Unites Plates of America and Country House Hunters of Canada.
Gary envisioned Listing Melbourne as a deeper exploration of not only the properties but also the personal and professional lives of the agents – it also gave him a chance to work on his home turf.
“A lot of what we wanted to do with Listing Melbourne was to meet the Melbourne market,” he said.
“It’s not just about luxury homes; it’s about a mix of incredible, elite properties and more affordable homes that everyday Australians can aspire to.
We wanted to showcase the breadth of the Melbourne property market, which is known for its eclectic architecture and rich design diversity.”
He further highlighted that Melbourne’s audience was a big part of the decision to base the show in the city.
“Per capita, Melburnians watch more television than anyone else in Australia. Plus, Melbourne buyers are different – they’re not showy.
They don’t flaunt their wealth. They’re more understated, so it’s been interesting to see how that translates on screen.”
Meet the cast
The cast of Listing Melbourne was carefully chosen over 12 months, with Gary admitting it was a challenge to get Melbourne agents to agree to be on the show.
“Nobody wanted to do it,” he says. “In Sydney or Los Angeles, we’d have agents lining up to be on a show like this, but Melbourne agents are more cautious.
They’re worried about how they’ll be portrayed or having people delve into how they conduct their business.”
The show features a compelling mix of personalities, including Andrew Campbell, a former luxury real estate agent who left a prestigious brand under controversial circumstances to start his own business, which unfolds in the series.
Buyer’s agents Nicole Jacobs and Tabitha Robb are also part of the lineup, both bringing transparency and professionalism to their roles. Fraser Lack, a former Survivor contestant, brings a young, media-savvy angle to the show.
But perhaps the most standout personality is Diana Kozlowska, who isn’t afraid to call out her fellow agents when she sees something unethical.
In one memorable moment from the show’s first episode, Diana confronts Fraser after he makes a controversial statement on a podcast, suggesting that clients should hire him because he doesn’t have children and can dedicate all his time to their listings.
She doesn’t hold back, calling him out on what she believes is sexist and unfair and the conflict sets the tone for what promises to be an emotionally charged series.
“Diana is a firecracker,” Gary said. “She doesn’t take any nonsense and is always willing to stand up for what she believes in. She’s the one who really shakes things up in the show, and you’ll see that from episode one.”
Real estate meets reality TV drama
While Listing Melbourne will undoubtedly appeal to fans of high-end real estate, it’s the human drama and the agents’ personal lives that promise to keep audiences hooked.
Tabitha, one of the show’s buyer’s agents and director of Prop Culture, explained how the series sheds light on the challenges faced by real estate professionals.
“What I loved about this experience was that it gave us the chance to have open conversations about issues in our industry, from the fierce competition to ethical dilemmas,” she says.
“It was a great opportunity to show people what buyer advocacy is really about and to give Melbourne’s beautiful architecture some national, and hopefully international, exposure.”
What to expect
With stunning properties, big personalities, and plenty of drama, Listing Melbourne is shaping up to be a must-watch for anyone interested in luxury real estate.
Five episodes are in the can, and as the premiere date approaches, Gary is hopeful for a second season.
“It all depends on how the show performs, but we’re optimistic. The drama, the properties, the personalities. There’s plenty more story to tell.”
Adrian Swift, Nine’s Head of Content Production and Development believes the show will be embraced by the wider audience:
“We’re thrilled to bring Listing Melbourne to Channel 9, which offers our viewers an exclusive look into the cutthroat world of high-end real estate in one of the world’s great cities,” he said.
“This show is not just about luxury homes. It’s about the people, the deals, and the drama behind every listing.
Listing Melbourne will show us a fascinating side of the Melbourne property market we’ve never seen before.”
Catch the premiere of Listing Melbourne on Wednesday, October 23, at 8.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
