Yarraville Unlocked: Trusted local agent Leo Dardha Joins Woodards in Strategic Office Expansion

Woodards has announced a strategic expansion in Melbourne’s inner north-west arc with leading agent Leo Dardha and his high-performing team joining the boutique brand in Yarraville.

The move ensures Mr Dardha’s extensive local market knowledge and long-formed relationships will remain in the community he has lived and worked in for the past 21 years, now backed by the reach and reputation of the Woodards brand.

Woodards CEO Nigel O’Neil said Woodards Yarraville was a key step in strengthening the brand’s footprint across Melbourne’s inner west.

Nestled in the heart of Yarraville Village, the new office will seamlessly and purposefully link with Woodards Carlton and Woodards Ascot Vale, under the stewardship of Jason Sharpe, John Piccolo and Sam Abboud, with Mr Dardha leading sales in the office.

“From a brand perspective, having someone of Leo’s calibre — whose values align with our culture of high-performance and always doing the right thing by our clients — is a significant step,” Mr O’Neil said.

“Bringing Leo and his team into the Woodards network is a key milestone in strengthening our footprint across Melbourne’s inner west, and it reflects our ongoing commitment to creating opportunities for high-performing partnerships, like that of Jason, John and Sam, to continue growing within the brand.”

Mr Sharpe said welcoming Yarraville into the network was a meaningful step in building a cohesive and connected presence across key growth markets.

“Yarraville is another link in the chain and creates a strong north-west arc, which we perceive as a really good strategic move,” he said. 

“Growth has been a significant part of what we’ve already achieved and being a part of the Woodards network has been integral in that development. 

“It has given us the opportunity to look at new markets that adjoin our current footprint.”

Mr Sharpe said Mr Dardha and his team would bring their dedicated local expertise and trusted, community-minded ethos to existing and new clients alike.

“Leo knows Yarraville like only a local can,” he said.

“They are entrenched in that market and come with a tremendous amount of experience.

“But most importantly, they have very similar values to us and when you work with great people that have great values, you can only have success.”

The progression to the Woodards brand comes 21 years after Mr Dardha started as a real estate agent in the Yarraville market, noting his connection to the community and his dedication to delivering excellent results is unmatched in the region.

“I have spent my career in the one town, the one neighbourhood and the one community,” he said.

“I have a long history of not just serving the community, but being involved in it. My children go to the local primary school and kindergarten. 

“The office is in the heart of Yarraville Village, surrounded by the coffee shops, fruit market and local businesses we all know and love.

“It’s the kind of connection that only comes with time and a genuine commitment to doing right by our clients, especially when they’re also our neighbours.”

Mr Dardha said joining the Woodards brand would deliver clients broader reach, access to a wider buyer pool and provide him and his team greater resources to do what they do best - foster strong client relationships and list and sell more homes with exceptional results.

“We’re the same people they’ve come to know and love, we’re just joining a bigger, stronger network with high-performing partners and high-performing connecting offices to really take the service and result we deliver for our clients to new heights,” he said.

“I’m proud that Yarraville is their home, my home and now it’s Woodards’ home too.”