Australia Post has launched its first parcel-only locations in Fitzroy, Melbourne, and Waterloo, Sydney, with plans to expand to more sites before reaching Queensland and Western Australia. Additional locations are set to open in St Leonards, Sydney, and Chadstone, Melbourne soon.
These new Australia Post Parcels centres will provide both in-person assistance and 24/7 self-service options. While they will be staffed from 8am to 6pm, it’s important to note that they will not offer banking or traditional post office services. The initiative arises from a significant increase in parcel deliveries, highlighted by the record of 100 million parcels sent during the last Black Friday peak.
The primary aim of this new format is to complement existing post offices, rather than replace them. According to Josh Bannister from Australia Post, this move acknowledges the substantial growth in parcel deliveries driven by the e-commerce boom. He emphasised that the main reason customers visit post offices today is to collect parcels, predicting that the e-commerce market and parcel volume in Australia is expected to double over the next decade.
This strategic shift is essential for the ongoing adaptability and survival of Australia Post. Additionally, as part of this transition, the price of a stamp will increase to $1.70 next month.