David Blackburn

David Blackburn

Partner
Phone: +61 2 8915 1008
Mobile: +61 402 375 539

David leads Addisons’ commercial property practice. David is sought out by clients who trust his advice and expertise to guide them through their significant real property transactions.

Many of David’s longstanding clients come from industries such as agribusiness, hospitality, health services, or education. For them, real property transactions are not necessarily their core business. Each transaction represents an exciting new opportunity as well as significant investment and potential risk.

Clients value David’s experience and expertise across the range of potential issues affecting a commercial property project, including stamp duty, financing or Foreign Investment Review Board approval. He always takes the time to understand their business, drivers and risk profile. Then he and his team provide imaginative, thorough, practical, responsive and efficient advice, focusing on the key matters of concern to their business and situation.

Atlassian

acting for Atlassian since 2016 in respect of its ongoing substantial office leasing footprint in George Street, Sydney. The footprint includes 363 George Street, 345 George Street and 24 York Street.

Autorecyclers

advised on the $68 million sale of 57-69 Tattersall Road, Kings Park.

Bega Cheese Limited

advised Bega on its $115 million sale and leaseback of its Vegemite Factory in Port Melbourne to Charter Hall.

Colgate

sale of 22.16ha industrial site at Captain Cook Drive, Arundel, Qld.

Dairy Farmers

acted on the aggregation of Australian Cooperative Food Limited, Queensco Unity Dairy Foods, Malanda Dairy Foods and Dairy Vale Limited and its ultimate disposal to Lion Dairy & Drinks.

Fairfax

sale of “Elaine” at Double Bay for a national household price record of more than $70 million

Fairglen Farms

acted for Fairglen Farms (owned by the Fairfax family) on its strategic aggregation investments in large scale broiler chicken farms in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia.

LEDA Group

acted on the provision of acquisition and construction financing for multiple residential development sites in Sydney’s North West.

The Lennox

acted for a joint venture partner and financier of the development known as The Lennox, comprising 47 storeys, 441 apartments and a retail precinct located in Parramatta, Sydney.

Macquarie Group

acted on the acquisition of major portfolio of livestock and cropping properties across Australia from the QATAR Investment Authority – this was the largest agricultural transaction in Australia since 2016; the $120 million acquisition of Cowal Agriculture, a central QLD cropping enterprise, which included six farms across nearly 6000 hectares; and the divestment of Lawson Grains, one of Australia’s leading grain growing businesses with over 90,000 hectares of agricultural land across New South Wales and Western Australia.

Macquarie University

the retail leasing at the University’s Central Courtyard Precinct, which opened in 2021, AU$39 million acquisition of 3 Innovation Road, Macquarie Park, and $80 million sale of “Parklands”, 137-143 Herring Road, Macquarie Park.

Merivale

acting as a long-term adviser for Merivale, including the acquisition of the Newport Arms, Coogee Pavilion, The Duke of Gloucester, Tennyson Hotel, Collaroy Hotel, Vick On The Park, Royal Bondi, Centennial Hotel, Bridge Street, Nortons on Norton and 3 Weeks Rozelle, its major acquisitions in regional NSW and Victoria, including The Quarterdeck, Surf Beach Holiday Park, Whale Inn and The Inlet in Narooma, Tomasetti House and Lorne Hotel in Melbourne, and Cheeky Monkey’s in Byron Bay, its acquisition of 312-318 George Street, Sydney, its acquisition of Kings Green, Sydney being an aggregation site of over 80 titles for $200 million, and acting for the proponent in respect of two strata renewal proposals under Part 10 of the Strata Schemes Development Act 2015 NSW.

Moss

advised on the $116 million sale of 458-472 George Street, Sydney.

Mulpha

advised on various property related projects including the development of Sydney Opera House Carpark (the first PPP in NSW) (long term leasehold), the acquisition (and development) of Sanctuary Cove, Qld (Australia’s leading resort style master plan gated community), the disposal of Novotel Darling Harbour, NSW (long term leasehold) and the sale of premium ultra high-end residences on Hayman Island (complicated structuring required due to Crown leasehold title).

NRMA

advised NRMA on its acquisition of RACT’s tourism portfolio of hotels and marine tourism services, including Freycinet Lodge, Cradle Mountain Hotel and Gordon River Cruises in Tasmania.

Paraway Pastoral Company

acted on the $74 million acquisition of ‘Newstead’ and ‘Paradise’ in New England region, New South Wales.

Strathfield Hotel

acted on the sale of the Strathfield Hotel to Sam Arnout’s Iris Capital by the Whelan family which had owned the hotel for in excess of 100 years.

Best Lawyers in Australia™

2022-2025 | Corporate Law

Doyle’s Guide Leading Lawyers — NSW

2023-2024 | Property & Real Estate: Recommended

  • Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia Foreign Investment Committee,
  • Managing Partner, Addisons
  • Member, Law Society of NSW
  • Bachelor of Arts/Laws, Macquarie University

Experience

Autorecyclers
advised on the $68 million sale of 57-69 Tattersall Road, Kings Park.
Atlassian
acting for Atlassian since 2016 in respect of its ongoing substantial office leasing footprint in George Street, Sydney. The footprint includes 363 George Street, 345 George Street and 24 York Street.
Bega Cheese Limited
advised Bega on its $115 million sale and leaseback of its Vegemite Factory in Port Melbourne to Charter Hall.
Colgate
sale of 22.16ha industrial site at Captain Cook Drive, Arundel, Qld.
Dairy Farmers
acted on the aggregation of Australian Cooperative Food Limited, Queensco Unity Dairy Foods, Malanda Dairy Foods and Dairy Vale Limited and its ultimate disposal to Lion Dairy & Drinks.
Fairfax
sale of “Elaine” at Double Bay for a national household price record of more than $70 million
Fairglen Farms
acted for Fairglen Farms (owned by the Fairfax family) on its strategic aggregation investments in large scale broiler chicken farms in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia.
LEDA Group
acted on the provision of acquisition and construction financing for multiple residential development sites in Sydney’s North West.
Macquarie Group
acted on:
  • the acquisition of major portfolio of livestock and cropping properties across Australia from the QATAR Investment Authority – this was the largest agricultural transaction in Australia since 2016;
  • the $120 million acquisition of Cowal Agriculture, a central QLD cropping enterprise, which included six farms across nearly 6000 hectares; and
  • the divestment of Lawson Grains, one of Australia’s leading grain growing businesses with over 90,000 hectares of agricultural land across New South Wales and Western Australia.
Macquarie University
the retail leasing at the University’s Central Courtyard Precinct, which opened in 2021, AU$39 million acquisition of 3 Innovation Road, Macquarie Park, and $80 million sale of “Parklands”, 137-143 Herring Road, Macquarie Park.
Merivale
acting as a long-term adviser for Merivale, including the acquisition of the Newport Arms, Coogee Pavilion, The Duke of Gloucester, Tennyson Hotel, Collaroy Hotel, Vick On The Park, Royal Bondi, Centennial Hotel, Bridge Street, Nortons on Norton and 3 Weeks Rozelle, its major acquisitions in regional NSW and Victoria, including The Quarterdeck, Surf Beach Holiday Park, Whale Inn and The Inlet in Narooma, Tomasetti House and Lorne Hotel in Melbourne, and Cheeky Monkey’s in Byron Bay, its acquisition of 312-318 George Street, Sydney, its acquisition of Kings Green, Sydney being an aggregation site of over 80 titles for $200 million, and acting for the proponent in respect of two strata renewal proposals under Part 10 of the Strata Schemes Development Act 2015 NSW.
Moss
advised on the $116 million sale of 458-472 George Street, Sydney.
Mulpha
advised on various property related projects including the development of Sydney Opera House Carpark (the first PPP in NSW) (long term leasehold), the acquisition (and development) of Sanctuary Cove, Qld (Australia’s leading resort style master plan gated community), the disposal of Novotel Darling Harbour, NSW (long term leasehold) and the sale of premium ultra high-end residences on Hayman Island (complicated structuring required due to Crown leasehold title).
NRMA
advised NRMA on its acquisition of RACT’s tourism portfolio of hotels and marine tourism services, including Freycinet Lodge, Cradle Mountain Hotel and Gordon River Cruises in Tasmania.
Paraway Pastoral Company
acted on the $74 million acquisition of 'Newstead' and 'Paradise' in New England region, New South Wales.
Strathfield Hotel
acted on the sale of the Strathfield Hotel to Sam Arnout’s Iris Capital by the Whelan family which had owned the hotel for in excess of 100 years.
The Lennox
acted for a joint venture partner and financier of the development known as The Lennox, comprising 47 storeys, 441 apartments and a retail precinct located in Parramatta, Sydney.

Recognition & Awards

Best Lawyers in Australia™

2022-2025 | Corporate Law

Doyle’s Guide Leading Lawyers — NSW

2023-2024 | Property & Real Estate: Recommended

Committees & Memberships

  • Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia Foreign Investment Committee,
  • Managing Partner, Addisons
  • Member, Law Society of NSW

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts/Laws, Macquarie University