Commuting to the city could be a thing of the past for many Melburnians in the western suburbs with a new Waterman workspace moving into the Highpoint Shopping Centre early 2023.
Waterman, which already operates a number of workspaces across Melbourne's suburbs, will take over 4,600 square metres on the top level of the shopping centre.
The new flexible workspace will include private offices, meeting rooms and coworking desks, and be capable of servicing 600 to 1,000 businesses at full capacity once complete.
Founder and Managing Director of Waterman, Neville Waterman, said it confirmed the company's position as Melbourne's leading provider of flexible, suburban workspaces.
"We are absolutely thrilled to be joining the Highpoint community, and The GPT Group, as the centre's major flexible working space provider," Mr Waterman said. "Our rapidly expanding footprint across Melbourne's suburban ring gives commuters from almost every angle of the CBD the ability to work closer to home."
The GPT Group's Head of Retail, Chris Barnett, welcomed Waterman to the centre.
"We are pleased to welcome Waterman to Highpoint, one of Australia's leading retail centres," Mr Barnett said.
"Highpoint plays a distinctive role within the cultural, social and economic landscape of Melbourne's west. Our customers don't just come to Highpoint to experience our retail mix – they come here to play, eat, work out, and be entertained.
"Waterman's co-working facility is a great addition as Highpoint continues to evolve as a retail destination providing in-demand services and retailers to our customers, in offering the West of Melbourne a new place to work, meet and conduct business."
Waterman operates business centres in Chadstone, Narre Warren and Scoresby, with their newest centre in Eastland Ringwood opening early next year.
More than 1,200 businesses – or 3,696 individual workers – already use their spaces, including some of the world's biggest tech companies, major local and international retail brands, as well as government and financial firms.
Mr Waterman said existing clients of the flexible workspace provider had made it clear that consolidating existing leasing arrangements was driving post-pandemic real estate strategies.
"Flexible office spaces in key areas such as Melbourne's western suburbs - where commuter congestion is among the worst in the city - are the 'win-win' solution that businesses have been crying out for," Mr Waterman said.
"It is no secret that more and more Melburnians want to spend less time commuting to work, and more time on the things that matter. That's why we are in the suburbs; the major growth areas of Melbourne where more people are choosing to live their lives."
Mr Waterman said the announcement of Waterman's entry into Highpoint was a signal to all businesses that times are changing - rapidly.
"We've come a long way since the virus struck in 2020," he said. "Cities are more decentralised than ever; peoples' work-lives are no longer bound to the CBD; and millions of people are realising the benefits of a meaningful work-life balance. Business needs to adapt, and Waterman is here to help it do just that."
Key Points
● Waterman Centre to open in Highpoint February 2023.
● To be located on 4,600 sq mt on level five of the centre.
● Site will be capable of housing 600 to 1,000 businesses at full capacity once complete.
● Will be Waterman's fifth centre in key suburban areas, once complete.
● Will be the first business centre in the Highpoint complex.
● Car parking: 7,300 free spaces at Highpoint, including undercover, all-day and 4-hour.
● Public Transport:
○ Tram and bus services directly to and from Essendon, Moonee Ponds and Footscray stations. Bus routes directly to or from Highpoint:
215 - Caroline Springs – Albion – Braybrook - Highpoint
223 - Williamstown Road - Footscray - Highpoint
406 - Footscray - Highpoint – Keilor East
407 - Milleara Road - Avondale Heights - Highpoint
408 - St Albans - Sunshine - Highpoint
409 - Yarraville – Footscray - Highpoint
468 - Essendon - Highpoint
Key stats
● The number of co-working spaces worldwide is expected to more than double by 2024.
● Some 5 million people are forecast to work from co-working spaces by 2024 - up 158 per cent compared to 2020.
Occupancy levels at Waterman centres to July 2021
Waterman Business Centres Location |
July 31 2020 Occupancy |
July 31 2021 Occupancy Current |
Chadstone |
56% |
93% |
Narre Warren |
60% |
96% |
Scoresby |
48% |
90% |
