Old Holden factory to transform into $500m parcel hub
Australia Post is breathing new life into Elizabeth’s former Holden factory that was closed in 2017 as it builds its largest hub in the country. Watch the video.
Faster delivery times for South Australians are expected once Australia Post’s new ‘super hub’ at Elizabeth opens in three years.
The group announced today it would make its biggest ever investment in SA in creating the $500 million parcel facility by 2028 at the former Holden factory, which closed in 2017.
It would span 83,000sqm and be the first fully combined Australia Post and StarTrack facility.
Once completed, it will be the largest of its kind in Australia Post’s network.
Up to 400,000 parcels per day were expected to be processed at the site, doubling the capacity Australia Post currently has with its Adelaide Airport centre.
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An Australia Post spokesperson said the airport facility was “already over capacity” and its staff would be moved to Elizabeth.
Growth in demand for e-commerce in South Australia had given Australia Post the confidence to build the ‘super hub’, CEO and managing director Paul Graham said.
“South Australia continues to experience year-on-year e-commerce growth, with 80 per cent of residents shopping online in the past year,” Graham said.
“This new parcel facility will help us meet that growing demand over the next two decades and deliver to customers’ doors faster than ever before.”
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The facility would be developed by Victorian-based Pelligra Group, with chairman Ross Pelligra saying the facility would be “state-of-the-art”.
“This project will provide a broad range of benefits to South Australia, and we’re excited to be a part of that,” he said.
“We’re proud that Australia Post selected us to help them breathe new life and activity into a site with significant industrial heritage and help transform it into a state-of-the-art facility focused on keeping South Australians connected.”
The news followed Australia Post’s announcement that it would roll out 500 new electric delivery vehicles across the country.
The three-wheeled delivery vehicles are capable of reaching speeds of 80km/h, can travel 180km on a single charge, and can hold up to 150 small parcels.
“This rollout is part of a broader transformation as we build the Australia Post of the future, one that is safer, more sustainable and ready to meet the changing needs of our customers,” Graham said.
Meanwhile, the parcel carrier is urging customers to send Christmas presents by December 22 for same-day deliveries and December 19 for interstate deliveries.
Express post parcels should be sent by December 23, and letters and cards should be sent by 18 December at the latest.
The last sending dates were announced this week, with Australia Post noting people sending to or from Western Australia, Northern Territory, Tasmania or regional and remote locations should allow for a few extra days.
“Planning ahead is the best way to make sure your gifts reach your loved ones – and while we’ll still deliver items sent after the recommended dates as quickly as possible, we can’t guarantee they’ll arrive before Christmas,” executive general manager Gary Starr said.
