Foundation of Theo Maras's broad talents propels continued growth of Adelaide property group
Theo Maras (top left) maintained wide community involvement while handing the daily running of the Maras Group to son Steve (bottom left). The group received national international acclaim for reshaping the East End of the Adelaide city.
Images courtesy Maras Group
The Maras Group continued to grow nationally from Adelaide in the 20th Century, with property investments particularly in the Melbourne and Sydney markets, building on the broad expertise of its founder Theo Maras whose reshaping of Adelaide’s East End attracted national and international acclaim.
The Maras Group was formed in 2006 after it separated from Mancorp Group, a prominent property investor and developer started in 1980. Theo Maras, as one half of Mancorp, was instrumental in shaping South Australia from then. His skills in design and construction extended to planning, leasing and management.
In 2014, the Maras Group won the national award for business support of the mainstreet industry, through organisations including Mainstreet SA, the Property Council of Australia, the East End Adelaide Association, Renew Adelaide, Rundle Mall Management Authority, the cities of Unley and Norwood Payneham & St. Peters.
Although, as chairman, Theo Maras passed the day-to-day running over the Maras Group over to his son Steve as managing director and CEO, he remained a leader in the South Australian property market and community at large with involvements such as Chair, Design Review Panel, Central Market Arcade Redevelopment, City of Adelaide; member, Eighty-Eight O’Connell development project reference group, City of Adelaide; and founding member, Foundation for Hellenic Studies.
His huge list of past involvements included: development strategy and policy committee, City of Unley; The Foundation Australian Centre for Child Protection; Heritage Foundation, Adelaide University; Australian institute of company directors; Royal Australian institute of construction; Rundle Mall management authority; South Australian government expert panel on planning reform; Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia; Ridleyton Greek home for the aged; Common Ground; Helpmann Academy foundation board; State Library of South Australia Foundation; Urban Renewal Authority; Land Management Corporation; South Australian Affordable Housing Trust Board; South Australian Urban Land Trust; Norwood Economic Development Board, City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters; South Australian Development Assessment Commission; State Planning Commission and Joint Industry Committee on Planning.
Theo Maras's many honours included Member of the Order of Australia (AM); officer of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem; honoris causa in recognition of contribution to Hellenism in Australia, Embassy of Greece in Australia; University fellow, University of South Australia; 2014 silver award, chairman of the year, international business awards, Paris; 2013 inaugural property icon, Property Council of Australia (South Australian division).