What HillPda Consulting does

HillPDA Consulting is an Australian specialist property consulting firm founded in 1990 by Martin Hill AM, headquartered in Sydney with a second office in Melbourne. The firm delivers independent advisory services across three interlocking service lines — Planning, Economics and Analytics, and Property and Development — bridging the technical gap between urban planning, commercial property economics, and feasibility testing. Its client base is weighted toward NSW state government agencies (Transport for NSW, NSW Department of Planning and Environment, NSW Land and Housing Corporation, Aboriginal Housing Office), local councils across NSW, ACT and Victoria (City of Sydney, Campbelltown, Murray River, City of Ryde, Northern Beaches, ACT Government), and selective private developers; supplementary engagements have been delivered internationally (The Palm Dubai for Nakheel, Jakarta Waterfront, collaboration with Beijing Institute of Architectural Design).

Core analytical capability rests on proprietary tools and methodologies developed in-house, including the now-divested EstateMaster feasibility software (sold to Altus Group in 2018), an Urban Capacity Calculator, an Affordable Housing Need Model, and bespoke retail econometric and gravity models supported by GIS and spatial analysis. These tools underpin feasibility testing, highest-and-best-use studies, market and demand forecasting, economic impact and cost-benefit analysis, valuation, and infrastructure contributions work.

Commercially, the firm operates as a bespoke professional services consultancy on a project-by-project engagement model, billing against senior principals (rates are not publicly disclosed). The firm has no external institutional capital, no subsidiaries, and no productised software revenue after the EstateMaster divestiture, with all current revenue derived from consulting engagements, government tenders, and selected sub-consultant roles to tier-one firms such as Arup. The team is multi-disciplinary (planners, geographers, land economists, valuers) and small (11–50 headcount band), founder-led, with Martin Hill AM continuing as Director/Executive Chairman and a deep bench of 25+ year tenured principals.

Name

HillPda Consulting

Legal name

HillPDA Consulting

Website

https://hillpda.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HillPDA Consulting is an Australian specialist property consultancy that bridges planning, economics and property advisory for NSW/ACT/VIC government agencies, councils and private developers, delivering feasibility, valuation, urban economics and policy advisory services since 1990.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Property Economics and Planning Consulting

NAICS

Offices of Real Estate Appraisers (53132), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate Development & Feasibility Advisory (Highest-and-Best-Use, Entitlements Support) (BPAJANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Real Estate Valuation & Appraisal Advisory (FSAEAJAI), Real Estate Public-Private Partnership (PPP) & Infrastructure-Adjacent Real Estate Advisory (BPAJANAL)

Keywords

• Urban planning advisory
• Property economics consulting
• Development feasibility analysis
• Retail economic modelling
• Planning policy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Advisory Services: Consulting fees for planning, economic analysis, feasibility testing, valuation, and development advisory services provided to government agencies, councils, and private sector clients on a project basis.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

HillPDA Consulting is a specialist Australian property consulting firm providing urban and retail economics, planning, valuation, and development advisory services on a project basis. The firm bridges planning, economics, and property advisory to deliver evidence-based, independent advice to government agencies, councils, and private developers. Its work spans strategic planning frameworks, feasibility testing, valuation, economic impact assessments, and policy reviews, supported by proprietary analytical tools including the industry-standard EstateMaster feasibility modelling software (now owned by Altus Group), an Urban Capacity Calculator, retail econometric models, and GIS-based spatial analysis.

Product overview

HillPDA Consulting operates as a professional services firm offering three interconnected service lines: Planning services (including social planning, land use policy, planning proposals, and infrastructure contributions), Economics and Analytics services (covering market research, economic impact analysis, supply and demand forecasting, retail economics, business cases, and data/spatial analysis), and Property and Development services (encompassing feasibility testing, financial modelling, valuation, asset portfolio review, and due diligence). The firm previously developed and owned EstateMaster, an industry-standard feasibility modelling software that has since been sold to Altus Group. HillPDA also developed internal tools including the Urban Capacity Calculator and Affordable Housing Need Model. The company is not a software-as-a-service provider; all offerings are delivered as consulting engagements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Planning Services Strategic, statutory, and social planning advisory for government agencies, councils, and private sector clients. Covers social planning and engagement, land use planning and policy (affordable housing strategies, centre strategies, employment land strategies, growth management, housing studies, land use audits, night time and visitor economy strategies), planning proposals and pathways (infrastructure contribution planning, planning due diligence, planning instrument review, portfolio reviews, submission responses), and social planning (CPTED reports, engagement, infrastructure and community needs, social and socio-economic impact assessments, social infrastructure strategy).
• Economics and Analytics Services Economic analysis, market research, and data-driven insights for property, planning, and development decisions. Covers market, industry, and sector research; economic impact and cost-benefit analysis; supply and demand forecasting and modelling (including the proprietary Urban Capacity Calculator); retail economics (household expenditure forecasts, gravity modelling, retail floor space demand); business cases; and data and spatial analysis using GIS for demographic analysis, land use planning, and market research.
• Property and Development Services Property economics and development advisory for developers, landowners, investors, and government property holders. Covers feasibility testing and financial modelling (using the EstateMaster-derived methodology), valuation (highest and best use, financial reporting), asset portfolio review and advice, and due diligence for acquisition and disposal. Clients include state and local government property portfolios (e.g., NSW Land and Housing Corporation, Northern Beaches Council) and private developers such as the Canley Vale mixed-use project and The Palm Dubai.

Quantifiable outcome

• Developed EstateMaster software now used worldwide by developers, financiers and property valuers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and former core.

• Nakheel (Dubai)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillPDA provided development feasibility analysis for The Palm Dubai, advising on long-term cash flow and staging of construction for this iconic man-made island development equivalent to 800 football fields.
• Beijing Institute of Architectural DesignnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Ryde Central development project providing market appraisal and feasibility assessment for mixed-use development combining residential, commercial, council and community uses.
• UrbanGrowth NSWcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLong-standing partnership on urban renewal projects including Rhodes East Priority Investigation Area, City of Sydney Housing Diversity Study, and various precinct planning projects.
• Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOngoing engagement on portfolio strategies, feasibility modelling for Communities Plus program, and regional housing portfolio analysis across 9 districts in NSW.
• ArupnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSub-consultant role on Nowra CBD Masterplan and Five Dock Town Centre Urban Design Study, providing economic analysis and feasibility assessments.
• EstateMaster (Altus Group)former coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerHillPDA authored and developed EstateMaster software (industry standard feasibility model) and recently sold to Altus Group for further global expansion. Martin Hill remains connected to the product's development trajectory.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Urbis: Australia-based property economics, planning and advisory firm offering feasibility, urban economics, valuation and policy advisory directly overlapping HillPDA's core service lines to government and private sector clients.
• Macroplan: Independent Australian advisory firm providing economic, property and planning consulting including feasibility, retail economics and demographic forecasting — directly comparable to HillPDA's integrated offering.
• Ethos Urban: Australian urban planning, economics and design consultancy serving government and developers on precinct planning, feasibility and policy — closely overlapping HillPDA's planning + economics + development mix.
• SGS Economics & Planning: Australian economics and planning consultancy specialising in urban economics, feasibility, housing and policy advisory for government and developers — a direct competitor across HillPDA's economics and planning service lines.

Broad incumbents

• CBRE Advisory: Global real estate services firm with a large Australian valuation, feasibility and advisory practice; competes for the same developer and government feasibility mandates, with significantly greater bench depth.
• Cushman & Wakefield: Global real estate services firm offering valuation and advisory services in Australia — relevant competitor for HillPDA's valuation and feasibility work targeting private developers and investors.
• JLL (Advisory): Global real estate advisory and investment firm providing feasibility, valuation and urban advisory in Australia — overlaps with HillPDA on feasibility and valuation work but as part of a global platform.
• KPMG (Real Estate Advisory): Big Four advisory practice offering urban economics, feasibility, valuation and policy advisory across Australia; competes for the same government and large developer mandates but as part of a much broader services portfolio.
• Deloitte Access Economics (Real Estate): Deloitte's economics and real estate advisory arm offers feasibility, economic impact analysis, and policy advisory, frequently competing against HillPDA for major government and infrastructure engagements.

Others

• Altus Group: Global real estate analytics and advisory firm that acquired EstateMaster from HillPDA; now a competitor on advisory engagements that rely on the software, while also serving as a former product partner to HillPDA's founder.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInau.linkedin.com/company/hill-pda-property-consultancy
• Xx.com/HillPDA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HillPda Consulting