Amazon chooses Melbourne for country’s largest distribution centre
Amazon will build Australia’s largest distribution centre – spreading a staggering 209,000 square metres – on an AustralianSuper owned site in Melbourne’s north Craigieburn.
The four level robotic fulfilment centre (artist’s impression, top), to be developed by LOGOS, will pip by about 9000 sqm a similar facility which opened in Sydney’s west Kemps Creek last year, doubling the company’s local operational footprint.
The Melbourne property, with the potential to house up to 25 million items, is scheduled for completion in 2025.
It is the second warehouse the IT giant is behind in the suburb, following a commitment to a 15,600 sqm sorting centre – its first in Australia – at Goodman’s Amaroo Business Park last year.
Amazon is represented by CBRE’s Industrial & Logistics Occupier business.
Amazon expands again
An Amazon spokesperson said the Craigieburn fulfilment centre will be 11 times the size of Federation Square and five that of the MCG.
“Once open, [it] will offer a diverse range of job opportunities from part time to full time, in a high-tech, industry-leading workplace,” they added.
IT, HR and engineering roles will be based there.
The property will also contain 1300 car parks (story continues below).
“We’re proud to be making this significant investment in Victoria” Amazon Australia country manager, Janet Menzies, said.
“The site will also help connect Victorian customers to local small and medium sized businesses, enhancing delivery outcomes and selection for customers in the state,” she added.
“We chose Melbourne as the home of our first fulfilment centre when we launched in Australia in 2017, and the introduction of this state-of-the-art robotics fulfilment centre in the city’s north continues our commitment here,” according to the executive.
Invest Victoria’s Danni Jarrett, state member for Kalkallo, Ros Spence, and Hume City mayor, Joseph Haweil, appeared in a joint statement about the project.
“We appreciate the efforts of Amazon Australia and AustralianSuper in bringing this project to the Craigieburn Logistics Estate, which cements Melbourne’s north as a major player in Australia’s logistics industry,” Cr Haweil said.
“The size and scale of this project is unparalleled in Hume City, as are its economic benefits to our locals,” he added.
“Not only will the Amazon Robotics fulfilment centre create thousands of jobs and ongoing opportunities for local businesses to expand their services nationwide, the cutting-edge technology used at the site will ensure our community reaps these economic benefits for years to come,” according to the politician.
AustralianSuper owns the Craigieburn Logistics Estate, which is being managed and developed by LOGOS.
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