HE WAS a part-Chinese orphan struggling against the White Australia policy during the 1920s.
Leslie Joseph Tingyou changed his surname to Hooker in 1925 and most would now, almost 20 years after his death, link his name to one of the most recognised real estate companies in Australia. Read more…

The real estate empire known as LJ Hooker has become a household name but until recently little was known about the late founder and his humble beginnings. Read more…

THE vast real estate empire known as LJ Hooker has become a household name but until recently little was known about the late founder and his humble beginnings. Read more…

Looking up from my writing, I smiled at the black and white photograph in front of me. It was like Grandpa was encouraging me to tell his story. Thousands of Australians know of the real-estate agency LJ Hooker. But not so many Australians know about the Back-seat heroes man behind it. And neither did I, until I started researching. Read more…

Article in Weekend Gold Coast Bulletin :: 23th April 2011

He built an empire from nothing but few knew the secret of LJ Hooker.
Now his granddaughter’s book charts the rise of this most Australian entrepreneur
by: Michael Jacobson Read more…

Article in The Sunday Times :: 13th March 2011

Natalia Hooker, the granddaughter of Sir Leslie J. Hooker, has written a biography of her famous ancestor who founded a real estate empire in Australia.
Living in Europe didn’t stop the sister of the current owner – Janusz Hooker, who bought the company back into family hands for $67 million in 2009- from coming to Australia for two months of each year of her research that stretched over six years. Read more…

Article in The Sydney Morning Herald :: 26th February 2011

The story of the man behind the LJ Hooker real estate chain has been written by his granddaughter, Natalia Hooker.
While most Australians are familiar with the group and its “nobody does it better” slogan, very few know the man behind its foundation was actually Leslie Joseph “LJ” Tingyou.. Read more…

Article in The Australian:: 4th February 2011

In these multicultural times it is hard to appreciate the pressure the White Australia policy put on young people of mixed race to cover up their background.
A book published this month tells the amazing and poignant story of one of the best known names in Australia real estate, Leslie Joseph Hooker, founder of the LJ Hooker empire, one of the largest property companies in Australia at the height of the 80s boom. Read more…