A pioneer of strata law, a mentor to many, and a true gentleman.
A pioneer of strata law, a mentor to many, and a true gentleman
On behalf of the Bugden family and everyone at Bugden Allen, we want to express our heartfelt thanks for the many messages of love, support, and remembrance following the passing of Gary Francis Bugden OAM on Monday, 6 October 2025.
The tributes we have received — from across Australia and around the world — have brought immense comfort to the family, and everyone at the firm. They have reminded us just how many lives Gary touched, how many careers he shaped, and how deeply his influence continues to be felt in the strata community and legal profession.
Particularly heartwarming was the messages we received from fellow lawyers, academics, colleagues, and the hundreds of comments on social media, that all talked about Gary’s immense contribution to the industry and his generosity, patience and kindness.
Gary Francis Bugden was born in 1947 in Casino, New South Wales, the only child of Francis and Nita Bugden.
Gary and his beloved mother, Nita
His early education was at St Mary’s Primary School in Casino. He later attended Marist Brothers Casino before going onto St John’s College, Woodlawn.
From humble beginnings, he became one of the most respected and influential property lawyers in Australia — and the world.
He had a rare combination of technical genius and creative vision. He was also an entrepreneur, setting up multiple, ground-breaking businesses at the time initially with his mother, and later, with his son David.
After finishing his articles in Casino, he decided to give Sydney a “crack”. His grandmother bought him a train ticket and with $45 in his pocket, he set out to make his mark.
His first solicitor role was at Saywell Blackshaw & Co. in Double Bay in 1971, right in the heart of the Australia’s apartment boom at the time. He was eventually admitted to the partnership, and the firm later changed its name to Blackshaw Lindsay & Bugden. Michael Allen, who lived next door to Gary in Casino and had known him his whole life, joined him a few years later.
This would be the start of a professional partnership that would last nearly 45 years.
By the late 1970s Gary was acting on strata development projects, and by the early 80s he was almost entirely focused on the development space.
He travelled extensively — 11 overseas study tours in the US and throughout Asia — researching master-planned communities, resort projects, and airspace developments.
He bought these learnings back with him and in the early 1980s, he pioneered airspace developments in Australia. Soon thereafter he pioneered master planned communities in New South Wales.
He was instrumental in introducing community titles in NSW. He also played a major role in the design and development of Queensland innovative modular community titles laws. A learned colleague said soon after his passing “the structure, detail and balance of Queensland’s body corporate legislation can be credited to Gary. It inspired change in many other parts of Australia and across the world.”
In 1987, Gary became a partner at Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Australia’s largest and most influential law firm. He served as Brisbane’s Managing Partner and sat on the national board for eight years.
Gary Bugden, with Buzz Aldrin and other fellow Mallesons Partners (circa 1990’s)
He was immensely proud to be the first person appointed partner at Mallesons without a university degree.
Michael Allen soon joined him at Mallesons and the two of them went on to become the gurus of structured title developments across the eastern seaboard, shaping projects such as King Street Wharf, Barangaroo, Sydney Olympic Park, Southbank Brisbane, Southbank Melbourne, Bennelong, and even Brisbane and Sydney airports.
After Gary and Michael retired from Mallesons, they continued consulting — often together on the same projects. Six years ago, David convinced the band to get back together, and Bugden Allen was born.
Gary’s reach extended far beyond Australia.
He was engaged by the World Bank to review and modernise land laws in Vietnam and Cambodia.
He advised on strata and condominium laws for Fiji, New Zealand, Vanuatu, and even a free trade zone in China.
In 2007, the Dubai Lands Department appointed him to help develop strata and community title laws for the Emirate.
Lunch at the villa of H.E. Eng. Marwan Ahmed Bin Ghalita (circa 2001), along with James Fox, David Bugden and Michael Hurley
The property services firm Gary and David founded in the United Arab Emirates went on to consult to some of the region’s largest developers. Gary and his team designed the legal and governance frameworks for truly iconic projects throughout the Middle East such as the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, and Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi.
The Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Soon after, he led Abu Dhabi’s Real Estate Laws Project, advising on policy and drafting legislation for the city’s entire regulatory system. He did the same for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Most recently, he was assisting the Government of Papua New Guinea on their new strata development laws, including establishing a professional strata management course for PNG students, in partnership with Bond University.
Gary’s contribution to law reform and property development was formally recognised when he received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2006, and in 2007, Griffith University awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of the University.
For such a humble man, those were quietly proud moments — especially receiving his doctorate without ever having attended university.
As he liked to say, “the boy from the bush did alright.”
Just don’t ever call him “Doctor.”
Gary lectured in commercial law, real estate, and strata titles at TAFE, the Real Estate Institute of NSW, and the University of Technology, Sydney, where he was later appointed Adjunct Professor of Law.
He also served on the Council of Bond University for 7 years – six as Deputy Vice Chancellor. More recently he was a lecturer in the Faculty of Law where he shared his extensive practical experience in strata title law with his students.
He was the editor of multiple legal publications, and the author of numerous books and loose-leaf services for CCH Australia — these publications became the foundation of modern strata law and management practices and are still in active use today.
His leadership extended to professional bodies as well. As the Founding President of the Australian College of Strata Lawyers (ACSL) and Life Member, Gary set a standard of integrity and intellectual rigour that continues to shape the profession. Even after his presidency, he served tirelessly on councils and committees, always giving his time to strengthen the sector he helped to build. He was also a proud Life Member of Strata Community Association (NSW and QLD), an honour that recognised his unparalleled influence and dedication.
Tribute to Gary at the SCA (QLD) Awards dinner, soon after his passing.
Gary was deeply respected not only for his knowledge, but for his kindness, humility, and unwavering support of others. He championed diversity and inclusion within the profession, often lending his voice, time, and experience to support emerging initiatives and practitioners. His early support of “Women in Strata” and participation in community-led events are testament to his belief that strata should serve everyone — fairly, ethically, and sustainably.
He had time for everyone — students, colleagues, young lawyers, clients — and he treated them all with patience, humility, and respect.
In the past few weeks, we have heard from countless people whose careers were shaped by him: lawyers who had him as their first boss, students he encouraged, academics who sought his counsel and partners who sought his guidance.
All spoke of his generosity with his time and knowledge.
For all his achievements, Gary’s proudest legacy was his family. He is survived by his beloved wife Margaret, his children David, Anthony, and Karen, and his eight adored grandchildren — Rio, Phoebe, Louis, Alec, Henry, Jack, Sofia and Aurelia.
Gary with his wife of 53 years, Margaret
“Poppy” with 4 grandchildren, Phoebe, Louis, Henry & Jack
“Poppy” with 6 of his grandchildren
Poppy and Margaret with Aurelia, his 8th and youngest grandchild
There is a lot we will miss about Gary, but most of all we will miss his values – his integrity, his kindness, humility and sense of justice.
Gary’s influence will endure through the people he mentored, the communities he helped build, and the generations he inspired. The laws are clearer, the standards higher, and the future brighter because of his life’s work. His legacy will also continue through Bugden Allen, both in name but also in terms of the values we live by – integrity, innovation, excellence and teamwork.
Vale, Gary Bugden OAM.
A pioneer. A teacher. A leader. A friend.
May he rest in peace.
9 September 2025
In the September 2025 edition we cover: FEATURED ARTICLES: NSW: A New Era for Strata Contracts: Unfair Terms Now Banned in NSW QLD: Disclosure or Exposure? Navigating the legal traps…
We are an Australian law firm that specialises in property development, and structured titles such as strata and community titles, company title, leasehold and stratum.
© 2025 Copyright - Bugden Allen Group Legal Pty Ltd ● Privacy Policy
ABN: 14 619 607 368
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
