Australia Post opens flagship “superstore” in Canberra

Australia Post opened its flagship superstore at the heart of Australia’s capital, Canberra, yesterday. The new superstore represents a A$1.5m transformation of the post office on Alinga Street, which aims to cater more for the boom in online shopping and changing consumer habits.

Australia Post is currently rolling out 31 of its superstores across the country by the end of this year, with the first opening last year in Brisbane.

The superstores have dedicated zones geared for particular purposes, including an area dedicated for travel services, allowing customers to organise passport, travel insurance and purchase travel accessories as well as obtain foreign currency.

One key zone is a 24-hour access zone in which customers can access postal vending machines and cash machines, as well as an automated parcel locker terminal that allows local residents and businesses to pick up and send packages any time of day or night.

Other zones include a “digital essentials” area where customers with Apple Macs and iPads can go online.

Self-service

Australia Post’s regional manager for retail services in the Australian Capital Territories and New South Wales, Stephen Price, said the superstores had been developed in direct response to the 10m Australians now shopping online.

“With Christmas around the corner, it’s a perfect time to give our Canberra customers the opportunity to collect and post parcels and access self-service facilities at a time that suits them – on the way to work, on the way home or even on the weekend,” he said.

“As well as the 24/7 parcel lockers, customers can access self-service terminals for bill patent and posting letters and parcels within Australia, vending machines to purchase stamps and packaging products and an Australia Post ATM for quick access to cash.”

Australia Post awarded a $50m contract to purchase parcel terminals from Polish manufacturer InPost last month.

The deal will provide 250 parcel terminals by 2014.