68 | Gillies Group REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T Karen Phelps Three decades and still growing A significant project was the transformation of the former Dunlop tyre factory into Brewtown. For Gillies Group founder Malcolm Gillies, three decades in business have passed in the blink of an eye. “It’s gone quickly - I can’t believe it to be honest,” he says. “Given the type of business we’re in and the many ups and downs, I’m grateful that we’ve survived, continued to provide employment opportunities and delivered a great product. We’ve been very fortunate.” Malcolm established the Upper Hutt-based land development and construction company in 1996. Over the past 30 years, Gillies Group has grown from a local operation into a significant residential and commercial developer across the Wellington region. The Group has developed more than 3000 residential sections and has been involved in building more than 2,000 homes. Major projects have included Riverstone Estate, a 600-lot development; Mount Marua, a gated community of approximately 90 homes; and Wallaceville Estate, a substantial community comprising around 900 residential lots. The Group also developed the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS), a major sporting, accommodation and commercial facility that has hosted leading teams including the All Blacks, Wellington Phoenix and Hurricanes. Another significant project was the transformation of the former Dunlop tyre factory into Brewtown, a popular entertainment destination now home to more than 35 businesses. “I’m really passionate about Brewtown,” Malcolm says. “I worked in that old Dunlop tyre factory when I was an apprentice.”
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