Article by Ben Wilmot, courtesy of The Australian
12.01.2026
The founder of shopping centres group Fawkner Property is celebrating Australia Day and implored other businesses to do the same, hoping it can be a source of unity after the terror attack on Bondi and scourge of anti-Semitism.
The group’s chief investment officer and founder Chris Garnaut, whose centres are primarily concentrated in regional Australia, joins mining billionaire Gina Rinehart who told The Australian: “It is a day I would like to encourage more people to give their time to stand up for our country.”
Mr Garnaut said that not only does Australia Day carry its own significance, it also has widespread community support. That makes it commercially sensible to capitalise on the uplifted mood and the greater foot traffic generated from celebrating rather than downplaying January 26.
Mr Garnaut’s real estate operation is private and he sees an advantage in not having to bow to “corporate woke BS”.
“After the Bondi massacre Australia Day is going to be one of the most celebrated Australia Days we will have seen for many, many years. Being patriotic is seriously back in fashion,” he said. “Whilst the Bondi massacre attacked innocent Jews, Joe average clearly sees it as an attack on his or her Australian way of life.”
Mr Garnaut spoke up for Australia’s Jewish community after 15 innocent people were gunned down on Bondi Beach. He created a web site for Australians to advocate for a royal commission.
Fawkner last year partnered with the RSL, Coles and Woolworths to celebrate Australia Day across its malls, garnering an $80m sales boost over the period.
His approach is at odds with many landlords and employers that either leave it to tenants to conduct their own promotions, decline to acknowledge Australia Day, or enable staff to substitute their holiday entitlement for another day.
This is increasingly relevant as Fawkner has bought up a series of centres over the last year that have lifted it into the top five shopping centre owners in Australia, giving its campaign greater reach. Its 160-strong portfolio ranges from Far North Queensland to southeast Victoria, to southwest WA and up to the Pilbara. They generate more than $7bn in annual sales.
After winning both publicity and sales last year, Mr Garnaut conceived an “Aussie Legends” campaign alongside more formal honours aimed at recognising volunteers and Aussie spirit.
“Those showing the most patriotism to Australia in the Australia Day week will be very fondly thought of by the majority of sensible non-activist type Australians,” he said.
Fawkner buys and runs essential services properties such as supermarket anchored shopping centres, quick service restaurants, and even regional centres, which it has bought from bigger institutions at a discount.
