Thousands of the region’s properties have sold under the auctioneers gavel since founder Dorothy Westerman first hammered in a waratah and put up a ‘for sale’ shingle, with her name and three digit phone number, over 50 years ago. Dorothy’s vision, after she and husband Paul arrived from Hawke's Bay in the early 1950’s, predicted Taupō’s holiday destination potential.

Her vision became the firm's trademark, successfully carried on by the successive generations of the family. Taupō during the 1950’s-60’s resembled a frontier town; pumice roads and choking dust storms, broom and a fledgling tourist industry based on trout fishing. For Dorothy, juggling nine children, the town’s central location and vacant land offered unrealised potential.

“Dorothy was always able to see the big picture,” says daughter, and company director, Yvonne Westerman. “When she and Paul honeymooned in Taupō, they could see the potential, there was never any intention to go back to Hawke's Bay.” Dorothy was roundly criticised when deciding to expand the business in the 1970’s and buy the Ruapehu and Roberts St corner property where Westerman Property Solutions and Bayleys are situated today. Yvonne says. “Everyone told her she was crazy. It was windy - the ‘bum’ end of the town, but she persevered and bought it anyway.”