Donovan Oates Hannaford

Donovan Oates Hannaford A refreshing approach to legal advice.

📖 Decades of Growth (1982–2018)As Port Macquarie's commercial centre grew eastward in the 1980s, the firm followed, sett...
04/09/2026

📖 Decades of Growth (1982–2018)

As Port Macquarie's commercial centre grew eastward in the 1980s, the firm followed, settling into 111 William Street, home for the next 36 years.

Those decades brought new faces and steady growth: Stephen Quartermain, Rod Besley, Steven Miles, David Reid, Justin Levido and more. The firm expanded its property, conveyancing and estate work, adapting with a region that was changing fast.

In 2018 came the final move to 75 Clarence Street, a modern space overlooking the river, in the heart of Port Macquarie's professional precinct.

This is post #4 in our 80 Years series. Follow along to learn more about the firms history.

📖 A New Name (1971–1982)When Frank retired, John Oates joined the firm. John was qualified in England, South Africa an...
01/09/2026

📖 A New Name (1971–1982)

When Frank retired, John Oates joined the firm. John was qualified in England, South Africa and Australia. A young solicitor named Peter Hannaford came on soon after.

In 1971 they became partners, and the firm took the name it still carries today: Donovan Oates Hannaford.

Through the seventies it flourished, welcoming solicitors including John Roach, Norman Morgan and Brett Scott. One name change, three families, and a firm built to last.

This is post #3 in our 80 Years series. Follow along to learn more about the firms history.

📖 A Family Firm (1957–1966)By 1957 the practice had a new name: “Donovan and Donovan” and a new home at 56 Horton Stree...
21/08/2026

📖 A Family Firm (1957–1966)

By 1957 the practice had a new name: “Donovan and Donovan” and a new home at 56 Horton Street, where it would stay for 25 years. The second Donovan was Frank's son, David, who joined to build the firm as a true family practice.

In 1963, David married Marea, a qualified solicitor who became a partner in her own right. Frank, David and Marea ran the firm together through the 1960s, a decade of growth for the practice and the town alike.

Frank retired in 1966, closing twenty remarkable years that helped shape the legal life of the Hastings.

This is post #2 in our 80 Years series. Follow along to learn more about the firms history.

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A lovely and thoughtful gesture from Make a Difference - M.A.D Port Macquarie. It is a privilege to provide legal advice...
19/08/2026

A lovely and thoughtful gesture from Make a Difference - M.A.D Port Macquarie.

It is a privilege to provide legal advice to an organisation doing such important work in our local community.

Thank you to the MAD team for the beautiful flowers—and for all that you do.

09/08/2026

📖 The Beginning (1946)

In 1946, a former RAAF and RAF officer and barrister named Frank Donovan stepped off into a young coastal town and set up practice as a solicitor. Port Macquarie was still built on timber milling and commercial fishing, and Frank got to work drafting the maritime contracts, trust deeds and co-operative constitutions that helped build the region's earliest institutions.

He'd been an associate to a Justice of the High Court of Australia. That depth of legal understanding was rare in regional NSW at the time, and it set a standard we still hold ourselves to today.

This is where our story starts. Over the next six weeks, as we count down to a milestone celebration, we're sharing 80 years of it. 🕰️

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30/07/2026

Say hello to the newest member of the DOH family, Miranda! 🎉

Miranda joins us as a Paralegal and is already making her mark. She's in her fifth year of a double Law and Criminal Justice degree, has three years of legal experience under her belt, and has a real gift for connecting with clients during what can be some of life's most challenging or exciting moments.

We believe in investing in grassroots legal careers and nurturing homegrown talent, because a strong regional community deserves skilled lawyers who genuinely understand it. Miranda is exactly the kind of local talent we love to support and grow.

Based in Port Macquarie, Miranda loves this community. She's performed on stage here twice for charity, plays multiple instruments, and when she's not studying or working, you'll find her with her family, the very thing that drives her commitment to helping others with theirs.

We're a firm built on 80 years of trusted advice in this region, and Miranda fits right in. Welcome aboard!

We have some news to share! 🎉On Saturday night, Donovan Oates Hannaford was honoured to receive the Professional & Busin...
15/06/2026

We have some news to share! 🎉

On Saturday night, Donovan Oates Hannaford was honoured to receive the Professional & Business Services (6+ Employees) Award at the 2026 Coastline Bank Business Port Macquarie Awards.

A huge thank you to Hit Mid North Coast and Triple M Mid North Coast for sponsoring this award category and supporting businesses across our region.

In a year that marks our 80th anniversary, this recognition means so much. But we know awards like this don't belong to any one person — they're the result of a whole team working together, and a community that has supported us for generations.

⭐To our dedicated staff: thank you for the care you bring every single day.
⭐To our clients: thank you for trusting us with the moments that matter.
⭐To Port Macquarie and the Mid North Coast: thank you for 80 years of support.

We're proud of our history and excited about what's ahead.

Picture: Business Port Macquarie

From 1 July 2026, Australian law firms providing certain legal services will be subject to new anti-money laundering and...
09/06/2026

From 1 July 2026, Australian law firms providing certain legal services will be subject to new anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations. These obligations apply to designated services, including many property, business, company, trust, financing and client money transactions.

As a result, we may need to collect and verify information about your identity, the purpose of the matter, the source of funds, and for companies, trusts or other entities, the individuals who ultimately own or control the client.

These checks are mandatory legal requirements. They are not a reflection of any concern about you personally. Similar checks are already common in the banking and financial sectors.

To avoid delays, please provide requested identification and supporting documents as early as possible. In some matters, we may be unable to commence or continue regulated work until required AML/CTF checks have been completed.

Information provided to us will be handled in accordance with privacy laws, our professional obligations and our privacy policy. Legal professional privilege remains protected.

At Donovan Oates Hannaford we are committed to making these changes as seamless as possible for you. We value your trust and are here to answer any questions you may have.

Read the full breakdown on our latest blog https://www.dohlaw.com.au/new-aml-ctf-laws/

📣 80 years of serving the Hastings region.This is a very special milestone for Donovan Oates Hannaford, and one that ref...
27/05/2026

📣 80 years of serving the Hastings region.

This is a very special milestone for Donovan Oates Hannaford, and one that reflects much more than time in business.

For eight decades, the firm has supported local families, businesses and community members with approachable, practical legal advice. As the region has grown and changed, Donovan Oates Hannaford has continued to evolve its services to meet the needs of the people who live and work here.

As Hadyn Oriti shares in the blog, the firm’s longevity is something to be proud of, but it is the ongoing connection to clients and community that continues to matter most.

Community has always been central to the Donovan Oates Hannaford story, from local involvement and support for community organisations through to pro bono work and giving back where it matters.

This anniversary is a chance to celebrate the people, clients and community connections that have shaped the firm over the past 80 years, and the continued commitment to supporting the Hastings region into the future.

Read the full blog here:https://www.dohlaw.com.au/80-years-of-serving-the-hastings-region/

When an estate matter takes time, steady guidance makes all the difference.Over the past two years, Hadyn and our team h...
21/05/2026

When an estate matter takes time, steady guidance makes all the difference.
Over the past two years, Hadyn and our team have worked alongside Wayne through the estate administration process, providing advice, support and practical assistance from start to finish.

Estate matters are rarely just transactional. They involve people, families, responsibilities and often a lot of emotion. Our role is to help clients understand each step, make informed decisions and keep moving forward until the matter is finalised.

Thank you, Wayne, for your generous feedback. We are proud to be trusted by our clients for the long road, not just the first step.

Donovan Oates Hannaford — A refreshing approach to legal advice.

Address

Suite 1, 75 Clarence Street
Port Macquarie, NSW
2444

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+61265830400

Website

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