An overseas business expanding into Australia has leased a strategic industrial site in Melbourne’s west in what is one of the largest hardstand leasing deals in Australia this year.

GF Container Services has leased 48,480sq m of hardstand at 79 – 85 Pipe Road in Laverton North in an off-market deal negotiated by Knight Frank’s Head of Industrial Logistics Joel Davy on behalf of the property owner, Hale.

Hale have plans to upgrade the site and add a further 10,000sqm of container rated concrete hardstand to the already heavy industrial site.

Mr Davy said GF Container Services, who already have numerous shipping yards throughout Asia including in Thailand and Singapore, had leased the strategic site in Laverton North in an expansion move to Australia.

“A number of their customers want a global solution to their shipping and storage, and this is what the Laverton North site can offer,” he said.

“This is one of the largest hardstand leasing deals to be signed in Australia this year, demonstrating the strong demand for this property type.

“The inner western location of this property, with its proximity to freeway linkages, and long-term lease were both key to GF Container Services choosing this location to expand into Australia.”
 
Mr Davy said due to a lack of container rated sites in Melbourne’s inner west there were a number of groups interested in leasing the property during the off-market campaign.

“There are very few hardstand sites left in the north west, with most developers building the biggest warehouses possible on their sites to maximise rental rates.

“We are working with a number of groups who missed out on this property to find a suitable premises to operate from.”