Australia Post will build a new multimillion-dollar parcel facility in Hobart, its largest sorting operation in Tasmania, as the state’s online shopping spend continues to surge.
The 12,000 square metre facility is set to open in late 2027 and will be capable of sorting up to 6,000 parcels per hour.
It is designed to cut delivery times for customers across southern Tasmania.
Darren Mackenzie, Australia Post’s general manager of network operations south, said the investment was driven by strong growth in online shopping across the state.
“Tasmania continues to see strong online shopping growth, with $1.6 billion spent online in the past year – an 11% increase year-on-year,” he said.
“Suburbs like Howrah are recording some of the highest parcel volumes in the state and this new facility will help us meet that growing demand while giving local retailers the confidence to grow.”
Mackenzie said the facility’s location next to Hobart Airport will be a major advantage.
“Its convenient location right next to Hobart Airport gives us direct airside access to our dedicated A321 freighter, making Australia Post the only express service provider operating out of Hobart Airport and enabling faster deliveries for customers,” he said.
He said safety was built into the design from the start.
“Safety has been central to the facility’s design, with increased automation significantly reducing manual handling and parcel touchpoints,” he said.
“This not only improves efficiency but creates a safer working environment for our team members.”
Jess Crowley, chief executive of Tasmanian supplement company Bulk Nutrients, said the new facility gave her business confidence to keep growing locally.
“We’re looking forward the opening of the new parcel facility, as it gives us confidence that Australia Post can support our next phase of growth while keeping our operations local,” she said.
“Having the capacity to manage higher volumes means we can plan ahead and continue delivering a reliable service for our customers.”
Australia Post said the site will target five-star Green Star accreditation and is to include a 200kW rooftop solar system, battery storage and electric vehicle charging.
