From the Dawn Service to 1pm, Anzac Day is considered a day of respect with most businesses avoiding or banned from trading. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty
A shocking number of Victorian home sellers and their real estate agents have defied industry edicts to plan open for inspections before 1pm on Anzac Day this year.
Advertisements seen by the Herald Sun on April 24 indicated more than 1200 homes were intending to have prospective buyers consider properties during the hours in which most forms of business are restricted on April 25.
Anzac Day is regarded as a time of deep respect for Australian service personnel past and present, as well as many non-serving members of the community.
RELATED: Vic real estate agents caught risking illegal Anzac Day auction breach
Victorians face home auction ban unless they disclose reserve price
Allan govt warned: Melb market ‘totally dysfunctional’
The Anzac Day Act expressly bans auctions before 1pm on the day in Victoria, but open for inspections are not part of the legislature.
The Victorian government yesterday confirmed open for inspections are legal, despite the auction ban and the Shop Trading Reform Act barring any trading from retail stores unless they were classified as exempt, such as cafes, chemists and restaurants.
Amendments were made to the Anzac Day Act in 2019 to respond to growing public concerns about auctions on the day, with penalties of up to $20,351 for breaches.
![Melbourne open for inspections have been scheduled before 1pm on Anzac Day - for herald sun real estate](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 865 318"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A home in Melbourne’s south eastern suburs listed with an 11am open for inspection. Image captured April 24.
A western suburbs address that is advertised to open to the public at 11.30am. Image captured April 24.
However, open for inspections were not restricted.
“Anzac Day (April 25) is a restricted trading day in Victoria, with real estate auctions not permitted before 1pm,” a spokesperson said.
Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Toby Balazs said the Institute saw Anzac Day as an occasion for commemoration and remembrance, and that it was important this was respected.
“We once again remind agencies to ensure that no inspections, auctions or other business activity is to be scheduled before 1pm on Saturday April 25,” Mr Balazs said.
The REIV indicated they had sent numerous emails, social media posts and other communications to members throughout the past weeks, urging them not to trade on the day before 1pm.
Most of the state’s biggest real estate firms had also sent orders to their staff and franchisees not to hold any open for inspections or auctions.
A home in Melbourne’s Bayside area was also on the list, with a 10am visit on offer. Image captured April 24.
In the city’s outer east, this address in the $1m price bracket is set to be on show. Image captured April 24.
Despite this, it is expected hundreds, if not the vast majority of the 1200 open for inspections advertised against the industry’s own guidance will go ahead on Saturday.
It is not known if agents and vendors involved were aware of the convention and the industry calls to avoid such activity.
Multiple real estate gents contacted the Herald Sun unhappy to see agents planning open for inspections yesterday, noting they felt it was disrespectful.
Anzac Day posed a particular challenge for real estate agencies this year as it landed on a Saturday, which had not occurred since 2015.
Saturday is generally the busiest days of the week for real estate firms, especially in Melbourne where it is the epicentre of the city’s auction market.
Multiple real estate firms spoken to by the Herald Sun yesterday indicated inspection times had been listed in error, and would be changed.
However not all real estate agencies are members of the Institute, and many of those with inspections listed for Anzac Day were smaller groups with just one or two offices.
![Toby Balazs REIV chief executive - for herald sun real estate](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1280 720"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
REIV chief executive Toby Balazs had called for agents to show Anzac Day respect and to avoid any real estate sales activity, including inspections, before 1pm.
A Returned and Service League Victoria spokesman told the Herald Sun said the date had been set aside to give “all Victorians the opportunity to stop and reflect” when contacted about a handful of auctions slated for the day a week ago.
They encouraged all Victorians to remember the service and sacrifice of all of our service men and women on Anzac Day.
All of the auctions that had been scheduled for April 25 in Victoria were changed ahead of the occasion.
Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.
MORE: Toorak mansion snapped up in secret $45m+ deal
Melbourne Storm’s Cameron Munster and wife Bianca selling in Melbourne
