John R Barton is this week celebrating 65 years in real estate and as a stock and station agent.
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Mr Barton, who is semi-retired, started out helping his father's business, JA Barton and Co, assisting drafting and penning at sheep and cattle sales while still at school during 1955.
Mr Barton is still selling in the local area, however is set to retire on December 30, 2020, when his licence renewal is due.
"I plan to fully retire and play more golf, tennis, do gardening, grand parenting, and also enjoy more company of my wife Elizabeth and family. We're celebrating 57 years of marriage in August," Mr Barton said.
John's first job was a paperboy delivering the Young Witness three days a week after school to shopkeepers and residents of Boorowa Street, Lynch Street and Main Street, aged 10.
Soon after school, John moved to Tamworth as a trainee auctioneer and quickly grew more confident as his skills developed attending weekly cattle and sheep sales, and pig and dairy cattle sales every fortnight.
He remembers accepting bids of two shillings and six pence.
"It was a great auctioneering experience," he said.
"It gave me great confidence in my career ahead."
John's family were dealt a devastating blow in 1956 when his younger brother Toby, aged 14, died unexpectedly.
The following year, John joined the National Service.
Upon completion he returned home to his father's stock and station agency, which was soon bought by Goldsbrough Mort in September 1958.
John was promoted to second auctioneer and stock salesman.
In late 1959, John started to think about going out on his own, and one day stumbled up an ad in the Witness.
"An advertisement appeared in the [Young] Witness, a long established real estate agency for sale, owner retiring. At the time I was working long hours, had a flair for selling real estate, and was unable to obtain a pay rise."
John completed the goodwill purchase of TE McAlister's Agency and commenced as a sole trader on February 1, 1960. He says this was the "best move I made besides marrying Elizabeth in 1963".
"1960 was an exciting year commencing business on my own account. I sold several houses, commercial property, several rural properties, farm lets, clearing sales, by auction or private sale."
In 1961, the business expanded into selling stock at Young Saleyards. He said a highlight was at a sheep sale in 1965 that featured Stanley Park Corriedales and district breeder's merino sheep.
John continued as a sole trader until 2006 becoming one of Young's most recognised real estate agents.
He's maintained his license operating while semi-retired as Barton Property Young.
John says the backbone of business income has been selling regular houses, rent management and auctions.
His first house sale in 1959 was on Murringo Street, Young for 2500 pounds.
The median cost to buy a home in Young is now at $287,000, according to Domain House Price Report for the December 2019 quarter.
John's son Brett is based in Canberra and continues the Barton genes in real estate, with grandchildren to follow, he says.
John is in the process completing both his father's and son's separate agency reflections 1937 to 2006 and beyond.
He hopes the book is interesting reading for prosperity when completed.
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