Our business
Aus Property Search provides fast, efficient and accurate online spatial information products and services. We deliver textual reports, imagery, maps and large volumes of geographic data to meet customer needs.
The company, formed in 2003, began trading in March 2004, delivering online support to the conveyancing industry in Tasmania previously provided by Tas Land Search. The venture brought together three very experienced firms to develop and manage a new highly integrated land information portal:
- Tas Land Search provides expertise in conveyancing, geotechnical engineering and engineering geology,
- Geometry specialises in the manipulation and presentation of spatial information, and
- Human Solutions delivers the user interface, accounting services and systems integration.
Our system
Aus Property Search accelerates the conveyancing process by delivering accurate and comprehensive land information in a just few minutes. The new Aus Property Search portal, with the support of our online experts, can deal with even the most complex search with within 24 hours.
Aus Property Search provides Tasmanian solicitors with mining, landslip, geology and groundwater searches, saving our customers, and their clients, significant amounts of time and money. The service features electronic lodgement and processing with full e-commerce facilities, including customer account management, invoicing and credit card payment (Visa, MasterCard, or Bankcard accepted).
The site utilises VeriSign Payment Services to process real-time credit card transactions. Aus Property Search does not see or store any credit card details. Card information is transmitted directly to the transaction facility using 128-bit SSL encryption, with payment authority usually provided within 5-10 seconds.
Aus Property Search maintains close links with Mineral Resources Tasmania (MRT) and the Department of Primary Industries and Water (DPIW) to ensure that mining tenement, landslip and other information used in our service is current.
We encourage all our clients to install broadband Internet connections. The enhanced speed and data volume enabled by broadband technology will allow us to deliver a greater range and volume of land information services over time.
Aus Property Search is committed to the ongoing development of our spatial information portal to provide fast, accurate and efficient land information services to business and government.
This project has been supported by:
- the Tasmanian Electronic Commerce Centre Pty Ltd under the Business Development Fund, an element of the Launceston Broadband Project, funded by the Commonwealth through the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, and
- the Intelligent Island Program, to assist with establishing a web based National Spatial Data Distribution Infrastructure to search information on land and property.
Our people
Aus Property Search has brought together an experienced and committed team to deliver our ongoing services. Our expert consultants, who have provided conveyancing information to solicitors for over fifteen years; are backed up by highly skilled technical team.
Our team includes:
- Gerry Bonner, a practising geotechnical engineer with 25 years of experience and high quality skills in subdivision planning, civil design, and project management and delivery.
- Barry Weldon, a practising engineering geologist with 27 years of experience and high quality skills in the assessment of land stability, foundation, geological regime and groundwater potential.
- Geometry, a leader in the analysis, design, development and implementation of information management systems, where spatial information and Internet delivery are key components.
- Human Solutions, specialists in the design, presentation and management of complex information, with people expert in the principles and practice of interface design, usability, information management and user support.
Gerry Bonner
Gerry Bonner is a multi-disciplinary consulting engineer with over 25 years of civil and geotechnical engineering experience gained in Tasmania, mainland Australia and overseas within the public sector and private enterprise.
Gerry has provided conveyancing information services for over eight years. His civil and geotechnical engineering experience throughout Tasmania has equipped him with a wealth of local knowledge on land issues while his international experience extends his understanding of all land information issues that can be encountered in Australia and overseas. This wealth of knowledge is available to all clients of Aus Property Search.
Gerry maintains close links with all Tasmanian Government Departments and is responsible for obtaining any information for our clients regarding Projects of State Significance.
Gerry Bonner's full CV
(PDF: 141 KB / 5 pages)
Barry Weldon
Mr Barry Weldon is an engineering geologist with over 27 years of geoscience and geotechnical experience gained in Tasmania within the public sector and private enterprise.
Barry has provided conveyancing information for over 15 years. His geotechnical and engineering geology experience throughout the Tasmania has provided him with a wealth of local knowledge, particularly on land instability. He has first-hand knowledge of all proclaimed Tasmanian landslip areas plus experience of many sites that are not within proclaimed landslip areas but which have landslide issues. This wealth of knowledge is available to all Aus Property Search clients.
Barry maintains close links with Mineral Resources Tasmania and is responsible for maintaining the currency of all mining tenement and landslip information used in our service.
Barry Weldon's full CV
(PDF: 118 KB / 2 pages)
Nicholas Bonner, Founder
Nick founded Aus Property Search in 2001, first year after graduating from University of Tasmania with First Class Honours in Engineering.
He conceived the concept of a value-adding info-mediary in the spatial information sector during a third year GIS lecture with Dr. Eleanor Bruce. He researched and developed the concept during fourth year and went into business with $5k startup capital the following year.
Since startup, Nick and his chosen business partners, Tas Land Search, Geometry and Human Solutions, have:
- Established relationships with key suppliers;
- Designed the business model;
- Designed the information architecture for the website;
- Written and implemented a detailed business plan;
- Established the business systems (all online);
- Applied for, negotiated and acquired $500k seed funding from two Australian Government IT Funds;
- Attracted external investors;
- Established a Board of Directors; and
- Employed two staff.
Nick no longer manages the business as he is pursuing his structural engineering career, working for WorleyParsons. He is currently positioned at BHP Billiton's Worsley Alumina Mine in Western Australia. Nick holds a significant shareholding in the company and maintains involvement in the company through the Board of Directors.