A titan of local real estate, Mr Davies was a founding partner of Hore and Davies in the 1970s – now a leading agency and one in only a small remaining handful of homegrown Wagga real estate firms.

The business icon died peacefully last Thursday surrounded by family, aged 92.

He is being remembered as a man of ambition and drive, but also a man of great humility who was dedicated to others.

“Everything Dad did, he did really well – there were no half cuts,” his son John Davies said.

“He always started his day at 5.30am, and would do a whole day’s work on the farm up until 9am. He would change, have breakfast and then spend the rest of the day at Hore and Davies.

“The hole he is going to leave in our lives is gigantic.”

Born at The Rock, the Riverina was in his DNA, so much so that he became an elder statesman among realtors for his razor-sharp knowledge of the property market.

Peter Davies, like his brother Robert, went onto follow in his father’s footsteps in real estate.

There, he looked up to his father as a leader who went above and beyond for his clients – even if it meant getting off the beaten track.

“Dad was dedicated to his clients,” Peter Davies said.

“When he was doing rural sales, he would try to show them as much of the property as possible. We often said he had this unique ability to connect with people. He was highly regarded by all his peers and a lot of people looked to him for advice.” 

A “family man in every respect”, Mr Davies’ retirement in 1984 allowed him to get closer to his loved ones.

He took his grandchildren to Anzac Day services, although rarely talked about his own service overseas. And he had his family fascinated when he notched up his fourth hole in one at Wagga Country Club.

Mr Davies is survived by his sisters Libby and Helen, sons John, Robert and Scott and daughter Kim. He has 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. 

His funeral was attended by more than 100 people on Tuesday.