This year the UDIA Victoria celebrated 50 years as a peak membership organisation of the property development industry and the state of Victoria.

The organisation and its members have made significant contributions to the state’s urban development through advocacy, innovation and community impact.

Bert Dennis, founder of the Dennis Family Corporation and past-President of the UDIA Victoria, remembers being asked to join in the early 1980s.

“I got this persistent buzz in my ear, it was a bloke named Ray Peck – ‘Bert, you’ve got to join the UDIA, we need you Bert.'”

It was a difficult time for the UDIA Victoria, fees were drastically reduced to stimulate membership and regular lunches were held in the Stockland boardroom to cut back on costs.

“We’d sit around the table and invite the Planning Minister to discuss issues with us,” Bert remembered.

“We’d offer them a party pie and sandwich, we couldn’t afford anything else!”

Fellow life member of the UDIA, Geoff Underwood, said the organisation would not be the respected peak body it is today without the work done by members in the early 1980s.

He said the organisation’s status came about through the hard work of its members over an extended period of time.

“The first 30 years was about the establishment, the re-establishment and the building of the presence and reputation of the UDIA, and getting it to a status as a peak body that was listened to.”

Bert went on to be the National President of the UDIA from 1995 to 1997 and was awarded Life Membership of both the UDIA Victoria and the UDIA National.

The Dennis family has since served different branches and functions of the UDIA.

Adele Levinge (nee Dennis), the eldest of Bert’s children, was the inaugural Chair of Women in Property for the UDIA National.

“For many years the UDIA has been a very important advocate for positive development in this state and in this country.

“In particular, the value that founders have added to our industry is immeasurable,” Adele said.

“I would recommend anyone in the development industry join the UDIA and being part of it to help develop this great state in this great country.”

Grant Dennis served as President of UDIA Queensland from 2002 to 2003, before going went on to hold the role of National President a decade after his father, leading the organisation from 2005 to 2007.

In 2025 the UDIA Victoria continues to be a respected voice in the policy-making process, representing a strong and collaborative community.

Learn more: udiavic.com.au