Stories of Collective Ambitions

The beginning

That’s where not-for-profit social enterprise, Goodstart Early Learning (Goodstart), comes in. Goodstart is one of our largest tenant customers, occupying over 300 of our buildings. Location is everything, and we partner closely to ensure each childcare centre is close to transport nodes and support services like healthcare and community centres. It’s all about supporting a child’s entire ecosystem.

Goodstart is also a co-founder of the Early Learning Fund, which provides fee-relief to families experiencing vulnerability so their children can access early learning and care. To date, they have supported more than 3,000 children. These are children who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, have refugee and humanitarian backgrounds, are at risk of abuse or neglect, or their families are experiencing financial hardship.

“I remember a dad coming to us completely at a loss of how to care for his little boy after losing his wife. He wasn’t defined as “at risk”, so he didn’t meet the criteria for additional subsidies. Thanks to the Early Learning Fund we could get his child in care four days a week, instead of just two, while dad got the help he needed.”

Paula Seidel, Goodstart Smithfield Centre Director

The ambition

The Early Learning Fund is life changing. So of course, we were keen to help.

In 2021 we invested in the Early Learning Fund, to provide fee-relief to 55 children to access two days of early learning each week at their local Goodstart early learning centre. This is the first time in Australia that an early learning provider and a landlord have worked together to improve early learning access for children experiencing vulnerability.

“Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, Layla’s dad and I both lost our jobs. It was do I pay for childcare today, or do we eat tomorrow – that’s how hard it had become. Without the Early Learning Fund, I honestly don’t know where we would be.”

Lauren, mother  

The beginning

For over 100 years, Australia Post has been the nation’s leading distributor of parcels and letters. In financial year 2023, Australia Post delivered more than 2.5 billion items around the country. With such an extensive network, it’s no surprise that they need a lot of space.

The partnership

Our relationship began over 10 years ago, when we acquired a property that Australia Post already occupied. Today, Australia Post leases 153,000sqm across 31 properties in the Charter Hall portfolio, and we are their largest cross-sector landlord across Industrial & Logistics, Retail and Office.

The ambition

Traditionally, Australia Post requires a large single level warehouse for their distribution centres. 

With their lease set to expire in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Australia Post were on the hunt for a new home. After searching for five years with no luck, the team were forced to think outside the box and consider alternatives. 

There was a site in nearby Frenchs Forrest which they had previously used as overflow space. With a fresh perspective and a whole lot of creativity, it became the perfect answer.

Together we innovated a vertical sorting solution using spiral automation that utilised both the warehouse and adjoining two levels of office space. Not only was it a cost-effective, long-term solution, it was the first of its kind. 

‘Previous spaces had multiple levels but never with spiral automation. This has been fabulous.’ Steven Bell Property Manager NSW, Australia Post. 

The innovation has provided further possibilities for Australia Post to rethink the format of their mail and parcel sorting facilities across the country, including in metro areas where warehouse space is in short supply. 

“Charter Hall has a long standing strategic relationship with Australia Post as one of Charter Hall’s largest tenant customers for the past decade.”

Peter Small, Head of Asset Management – Industrial & Logistics