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Australia’s oldest surviving customs building, Customs House in Sydney, will become home to local coworking operator Hub Australia’s newest Sydney location, bringing its national reach to seven locations with a footprint of over 21,000sqm square metres.
Hub Customs House builds upon the successful opening of Hub Hyde Park, located at 223 Liverpool Street and Hub Australia’s second site in Sydney at the time, in 2018 and continues the company’s focus on transforming iconic buildings into premium coworking communities.
As the country’s largest locally owned coworking operator, Hub Australia will occupy the entirety of levels three and four of the building, the only commercial office levels available, and totalling 2,341 square metres. Hub Customs House will feature a variety of workspaces, including five premium business suites which accommodate teams of 20 and have stunning views of Sydney Harbour, as well as offices for teams from one to 20 people, dedicated desks and flexible workspaces (hot desks).
The Customs House deal comes as Hub Australia’s original Sydney site, Hub William Street, is scheduled for closure on 31 March 2019, due to the current lease ending and the site’s configuration not allowing for upgrades to ensure the high standard of design and amenity consistent with Hub Australia’s other locations. Many of the current Hub Williams Street members will relocate to the Hub Hyde Park site.
Hub Australia CEO and Founder, Brad Krauskopf, says the new Sydney site responds to the considerable demand for high quality coworking spaces in Sydney’s CBD, where office vacancy has tightened. “The demand for quality coworking space is not slowing down, especially in Sydney where office vacancy has hit 4.1 per cent which is the lowest level since 2000. In addition to Customs House, we’re actively looking for more sites in the Sydney market and our focus continues to be building a nationally engaged coworking community for growing businesses, while delivering a premium standard of amenity and design. We’re aiming to secure three or four new sites each year in unrivalled CBD locations and unique buildings.”
“Customs House is a historic landmark building perfectly positioned in the evolving Circular Quay precinct. Our members will benefit from the central CBD location, multiple transport links including the future light rail and wider development in the area such as the Gateway dining precinct, Quay Quarter and Wanda’s One Circular Quay hotel and apartment project,” says Krauskopf.
Tom Buxton, Colliers, who negotiated the lease for landlord, the City of Sydney, commented “Customs House will provide an outstanding space for Hub Australia’s latest site. The buildings stunning heritage features will complement the Hub Australia ‘experience’ and provide its members with outstanding workspaces among some of the best amenity that a central CBD location like this provides.”
In addition to the new Hub Australia coworking space, the building is also home to Customs House Library and internationally renowned restaurant, Café Sydney, as well as playing host to public events such as the National Young Writers Festival launch, Vivid Sydney and various other exhibitions. The historic building still features original heritage elements including sandstone feature walls, and original timber windows and door frames which Hub Australia has incorporated into its design fitout.
Hub Customs House is expected to open on 1 August 2019 and aims to attract professional businesses that seek core CBD office space with high quality amenity and service. Future members of the space will be able to enjoy views across Sydney Harbour as well as premium facilities including a concierge, member café and lounge, library, an immersive fitness studio, media room, relaxation room, parents’ facilities and end-of-trip services.
Ease of access to Customs House is considerable, being immediately adjacent to multiple public transport modes on Circular Quay, and conveniently located a 10 minute walk from Martin Place, 15 minute walk from Town Hall and five minutes from the Sydney Opera House.
