For many office workers, the idea of working from the comfort of your own home is pretty appealing. After all, you get to wear your PJs all day, choose your own hours and skip the dreaded commute! But as anyone who has actually done it will tell you, it’s not always sunshine and roses. When working en casa, you have to contend with the constant allure of TV breaks, noisy neighbours who are inexplicably always around in the middle of the day and a lack of formal structure. Plus, it can be hard to feel like a productive member of society when you’re rocking your coffee-stained pyjama shorts at 3 pm. Then, there’s the fact that most of us feel a little loopy after 8 + hours with zero human contact.
To get around this, many freelancers and entrepreneurs head to a local cafe for a bit of background noise. But there’s only so many coffees you can order before the barista gives you the side-eye for hogging the table. Luckily, there’s now another option for empire-building girlbosses — co-working spaces! This type of office arrangement originated in the startup hub of Silicon Valley almost 10 years ago and has been popping up in major US cities like NYC over the last few years. Now, the co-working space trend finally has made its way to Aussie shores.
So, what is a co-working space?
Co-working spaces are a hub where entrepreneurs, creatives and small businesses can work independently under the same roof. Much like temporary office spaces, co-workers can pay a membership fee to rent a designated desk. However, there’s usually also the option to pay less and sit wherever you feel like! Most co-working spaces have meeting rooms and communal kitchens and some even have cool stuff like ping-pong tables, nap rooms and in-house yoga classes. Basically, it’s like a library, but with less books and more hanging plants, trendy interiors and super inspiring people. Here are some of our favourites around Australia:
Sydney: Hub Australia
Sydney has no shortage of beautifully designed co-working spaces. But one of the best things about this type of working arrangement is the sense of community, and Hub has plenty. Centrally located in Darlinghurst, the huge space offers weekly events and classes, lunches and even Friday arvo drinks! If that hasn’t sold you, it’s also pet-friendly and there’s unlimited coffee. The Hub is a great option for anyone who regularly travels interstate, as you pay for a base membership but can also access their spaces in Melbourne and Adelaide.
Find out more about Hub here.
Melbourne: One Roof
Unfortunately, some co-working spaces can be a bit of a boy’s club. But One Roof in Southbank is (literally) the opposite. This women’s only co-working space is all about giving female entrepreneurs the tools they need to make sh*t happen. Not only is the gorgeous space an interior-lover’s dream, your membership gives you access to plenty of inspiring events and workshops. There are a few different flexible membership types that allow you to hire a private office or hot-desk.
Click here to read more about One Roof.
Perth: SpaceCubed
Whether you want to collaborate with like-minded creatives or go it solo, WA’s largest co-working space is the place to go. A SpaceCubed membership not only gives you access to the chic, modern space, but to plenty of other awesome benefits like expert advice and scholarship programs. Oh, and there’s a cute little wooden house with beanbags for when you feel like you need to retreat for a rest.
Find out more about SpaceCubed here.
Brisbane: Fishburners
If you do your best work outside the confines of four walls, you’ll love this co-working space. There’s an awesome rooftop overlooking Brisbane city where you can get some fresh air and take in the view. There’s also plenty of room indoors, with the option to rent dedicated desks, shared and even standing desks. You can also sip on unlimited beer, cider and wine (or coffee) as you work and attend their member-led workshops, in-house movie nights and other cool events.
Read more about Fishburners here.
Darwin: Regus
Regus is relatively no-frills in its decor, but good lord — that view! Overlooking the Darwin esplanade, the centrally located space has a range of drop-in and reserved desk membership options. The best part is, your membership gives you access to over 2000 Regus co-working spaces worldwide. It’s also open 24/7 (with security around the clock), so is ideal for anyone who has their best ideas in the wee hours of the morning.
Check out Regus here.
Hobart: Parliament Co-working
Parliament works a little differently to some of the other co-working spaces, in that you can only rent dedicated desks (no desk sharing). But if you’re looking for somewhere that you can treat as your very own office (but without the 9-5 hours), this 24/7 space is for you. Located on the Hobart waterfront, the brightly decorated space boasts amazing views and great vibes.
Find out more on Parliament here.
Canberra: GoodWork
The name is fitting: we guarantee you’ll get a bunch of good work done in this inspiring space. Decked out with chic, minimalistic interiors, GoodWork wouldn’t look out of place on an #officegoals Instagram feed. You can choose to be a ‘nomad’ and work at their collaborative bar, or rent a desk as a full-time or part-time ‘resident.’ There’s also super fast internet, a large meeting room and plenty of awesome after-hours events.
Read more about GoodWork here.
Adelaide: DEW
If your ideal work day involves plenty of food and beverages, you can’t go past DEW in Adelaide’s CBD. The name stands for Drink Eat Work and the space is part healthy food cafe, part co-working space. Your membership not only gives you access to one of their 11 desks, but also to discounts on their raw salads, fresh juices and smoothies and Columbian coffee. What more could you need for a productive way of work?
Check out DEW here.
