Decentralisation leads to growing white-collar workforce in Melbourne’s west

16 March 2019

A second strata office in Williams Landing has sold over 50% of units within three months of launch, demonstrating the pace of commercial growth and the rapidly increasing white-collar workforce in Melbourne’s west. 

Developed by ASX listed Cedar Woods, the commercial building located at 101 Overton Road is the second of its kind to be developed in Williams Landing, following unprecedented demand for office space in the area. Construction is due to commence in mid-2019 with completion anticipated in by late-2020. 

Williams Landing is situated within one of Australia’s fastest growing municipalities, Wyndham, where the number of jobs grew by 25,162 to 61,909 from 2006 to 2016. According to a report prepared by economists MacroPlan Dimasi, Williams Landing is one of Wyndham’s most significant new employment precincts and has the potential to accommodate approximately 35 per cent of future white-collar jobs in the area. 

With more businesses choosing to decentralise due to an evolving demographic of people wanting to live and work in the west, the report also identified that 10.6 per cent of workers in Williams Landing are in professional, scientific and technical services, which is 7.2 per cent above the Wyndham average. 

According to Cedar Woods state manager Lloyd Collins, Williams Landing has stepped up as a major commercial hub in the west, providing an attractive place for white-collar workers and businesses to relocate due to its amenity, public transport access and quality of product. 

“Williams Landing has attracted a young, affluent and highly qualified resident population and our latest commercial development will provide modern office facilities that can cater for the growing demand in the professional workforce.  

“The commercial component of our Williams Landing development continues to flourish and 101 Overton Road presents a rare opportunity for small to mid-sized businesses to enter the property market. 

“As a commercial hub, Wyndham is booming and only set to further grow. We are proud that Williams Landing is able to help cater for this,” said Collins.  

With office units ranging from 53m2 to 168 m2, 101 Overton Road will bring an additional 5,700 m2 of high quality strata office space to the west. The building will comprise 71 strata office suites and will also feature ground floor retail premises, with café and restaurant facilities. 

The release of the second strata office follows the rapid success of 111 Overton Road, the first strata office building in Williams Landing, which sold out within seven months of launch and comprised 47 office suites and a ground floor medical centre.

“There are many reasons why businesses are choosing to decentralise and, as a result, our first strata office at 111 Overton Road sold out faster than anticipated. This next release marks another step towards creating a dynamic commercial hub in the west,” adds Collins. 

One of the buyers, who has recently purchased a commercial unit at 101 Overton Road, has decided to move her speech pathology practice from Point Cook to Williams Landing due to its affordability and accessibility, making it the ideal location to expand her growing business. 

“I have been looking to expand my practice for a while, but the search for the perfect opportunity hasn’t been easy. I was really drawn to the fact that the building has a floor dedicated to health care, with permits, car parking and attractive internals. 

“With its high quality transport links, particularly to Melbourne CBD and the Western suburbs, the location is easily accessible for my clients who come from Point Cook, Altona, Laverton, Tarneit and Truganina. I’m sure being in Williams Landing will also open me up to a new patient base too. 

“The commercial offering keeps growing in Williams Landing, and that’s why I wanted to enter this market. It gives small businesses a chance to survive and thrive,” she said. 

Williams Landing is a unique growth suburb in Wyndham with a mix of retail, commercial and residential uses. Williams Landing is also home to the new Target Australia headquarters with 850 staff and a new state government building which will be located at 107 Overton Road, due for completion at the end of 2019.