Published December 2024 Village Voice
19 years into running a co-working space in Brisbane, Debra Fallon loves seeing her tenants’ businesses grow.
Founding Director of Workspace365, Ms Fallon said: “I love seeing other business owners grow… some of them have been with us for 15 years.”
Despite their success, Ms Fallon did not start out in co-working intentionally.
She had purchased a building in Teneriffe and asked a friend for advice about what to do with it.
“He said, ‘serviced offices’, and that’s how I started.”
Ms Fallon’s spontaneous co-working business has now grown to become six offices in prime locations in Brisbane that offer a community of friendly staff and co-workers.
“The culture of the (co-working) business is improved by having a community of different businesses to mix with, it gives you a broader outlook,” she said.
Wayne Shearer, managing director of MagicOrange, has his office at 260 Queen Street, one of Workspace365’s three locations in Brisbane CBD.
He said he likes the conversations it sparks and the opportunities he wouldn’t get if his team were secluded in their own office, as well as the location.
“Being in the city, you are closer to connections and networks. It’s easier to catch up with people,” Mr Shearer said.
Brisbane Business Hub run by the Brisbane City Council is also located in Workspace365, and Ms Fallon calls it “a hub within a hub”.
“They have a lot of workshops and seminars. Every week they’ve got something going on in our board room to broaden everyone’s knowledge,” Ms Fallon said.
Ms Fallon said another key benefit Workspace365 offers for start-ups is flexibility, as businesses do not have to consider bank guarantees, lengthy lease term commitments or other office overheads.
“The rent covers all your outgoings, you know what to budget, there are no surprises,” she said.
Ms Fallon said the co-working industry is continuing to grow in Australia.
This is demonstrated by her success in their new Chermside office, which already had 10 tenants after being open for only two weeks.
