Brookfield Asset Management’s Australian logistics platform has grown to A$1.25 billion in assets under management (AUM), with its Connect Central Sydney Logistics Estate at Villawood in Western Sydney now in full operation after reaching practical completion.  

Brookfield’s real estate operating company, Brookfield Properties, has secured leasing commitments over the majority of the estate, with more than 90 per cent leased or under advanced negotiation. Confirmed tenants include Kerry Logistics, Honest to Goodness, Scope Joinery, Ricky Richards, FJT  Logistics, Seima and Euro Car Parts. 

Brookfield has two additional sites in Melbourne scheduled for development. All the logistics sites are  in highly sought-after industrial precincts, close to key infrastructure and major arterial road networks.  Once complete, there will be approximately 330,000 square metres (sqm) of net lettable area (NLA).  

Since 2021, Brookfield has successfully expanded its Australian real estate portfolio into logistics as part of a broader push into alternative sectors. Logistics benefits from strong market fundamentals  including the robust growth of e-commerce, medium-term rental growth and the scarcity of last-mile  facilities in key locations on the eastern seaboard. 

Ruban Kaneshamoorthy, Brookfield Co-Head of Australia Real Estate, said: “We have been focused  on building our exposure to logistics, capitalising on record low vacancy in Australia’s major cities  where there’s a supply and demand mismatch. Our aspiration is to more than double the size of our  portfolio during the next 18 months.” 

Connect Central Sydney Logistics Estate is prominently located on a 12.6-hectare site at 2 Christina Road, Villawood. It has a total NLA of more than 69,000 sqm across 12 individual buildings with areas ranging from 2,000 to 18,000sqm. The sought-after estate targets small and medium-sized  businesses seeking last-mile storage facilities.  

Built by Vaughan Constructions and jointly delivered by Time & Place and Brookfield Properties, the  estate has unrivalled connectivity to Sydney’s Motorways and arterial road network, facilitating access  to Parramatta, Sydney CBD, Sydney Airport and Port Botany. Its strategic infill location provides  access to approximately 4.5 million people and 1.5 million households within a 60-minute drive, which  is just over 80 per cent of Greater Sydney’s total population. 

With a focus on sustainability, the estate delivers solar to each tenancy. Other features include high  clearance warehouse heights of 10.25-12.7 metres, 37-metre super awnings, extensive hardstand  areas, B-double access and ample staff parking. 

Brookfield has a strong pedigree when it comes to logistics. Its global portfolio has more than US$24  billion in assets under management, with 6.9 million sqm of operating space and 8.4 million sqm  under development across 553 warehouses in the US, Canada, Europe, Brazil, the Middle East, Korea, Australia and China.