Steve Collins is asking for people to join him in creating a Canberra coworking space. Here’s what Steve and a couple of other people have in mind:
Here’s what we’ve got in terms of ideas thus far:
- around 80-100 square meters
- in the CBD (as I said)
- 2-4 full-timers with space for a few more
Looking around, rent for this sort of space in the Canberra CBD looks to be in the AU$500-550/week range, on top of which there’s the ongoing costs such as:
- utilities
- Internet
- cleaning
- things to make it look nice (paint, pictures and the like) plus desks, chairs, etc. (I’m guessing that will run to around AU$10000)
If you’re at all interested in joining the conversation or helping out on getting something off the ground, please let me know on trib [at] acidlabs [dot] org.
Good luck, Steve 
The only thing I’d change would be to steer clear of the CBD. Parking availability sucks and it is only going to get worse to the tune of around 10,000 spaces by the end of this year.
Andrew, the only reason Nathanael and I are thinking the CBD is the (fairly obvious) central location for clients and meetings and proximity to good shopping and coffee.
Given my druthers, I’d lop 50% off the rent and go to Phillip. But rent is Woden’s only drawcard.
Hi Steve,
thanks for your comment.
I can see the plusses of Civic - central, everyone knows where it is, and who knows, if enough people get active and jack up about the parking situation then something might get done about it. Cycling is an option for sane folks for about 8 months of the year, and there’s always the {{{shudder}}} buses
You could turn it into the next Silicon Beach!
Speaking of Woden - there is some office space to rent in the new building next to Scarborough in Woden, and Guru is not far away from there
And speaking of Silicon Beaches - what about somewhere like Fern Hill? Apart from the dearth of good coffee, it is still only 10 minutes drive from Civic, and the parking is way better.
I’m keeping an eye on the discussion on FaceBook. Good luck with it.
Cheers, Andrew
In my case location is going to make the difference between a Coworking space being useful to me or not. That’s just me though - and it’s an entirely selfish point of view I know, but I work in Civic and a Coworking space in Civic is going to be more accessible for me to use during lunch or after/before work than one in Woden. However I realise that the same goes for people who are based in Woden, that a Woden Coworking space will be more accessible to them … so although I will be pushing for the CBD for myself, I think in the end the location will if possible be based on a collective of personal needs or other factors entirely.
Hi Nathanael,
thank you for your comment. I take your point, and Steve’s, that Civic is more central. I know from helping out at the Community Technology Centre in Robertson that there are a variety of issues that await, and the good location will make all the difference.
Cheers, Andrew
Hopefully my other project, Fair Canberra Parking (http://www.faircanberraparking.org.au) will help alleviate one of the major problems with CBD - parking; (although it’s not really aimed at making parking more affordable, though if we can wing that too that’d be awesome).
Thanks Nathanael,
I believe that http://www.faircanberraparking.org.au is a good cause - I will do my best to promote it. If you are planning a Facebook group to discuss it please send me an invite - I can think of several other people that feel the parking pain on a near daily basis and would be pleased to participate.
Best regards, Andrew
Facebook group? Ha - good idea, I’ll set one up!
Yes
There should be one, and I can see an invite in my inbox for it now
Cheers, Andrew