Article | Creating Resilience
Business Insights | How Wilmac Altona North is redefining the conventions of industrial parks
The modern demands of industrial parks have changed, and Wilmac Altona North is providing the answer by championing a design-led and people-focused approach.
September 9, 2025
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How people work and businesses reach their goals is rapidly changing.
In today’s vital landscape of Industrial & Logistics space, it’s a shift driven by a polarising question: Do all industrial parks need to be concrete jungles?
Wilmac’s Altona North didn't just address this question; it transformed the answer into a vibrant reality. Today, it exemplifies a thriving business community and real estate solution, empowering individuals and businesses to succeed in a contemporary setting - a standard that's crucial in today's dynamic world.
According to findings from a CBRE supply chain and logistics event, developers, investors and occupiers are zeroing in on how to foster a sense of community within industrial estates. They're also looking at ways to combat the mental health and loneliness issues that can arise from the often-repetitive work involved in warehouse and transport & logistics roles.
“We’re seeing a shift in thinking, with a greater emphasis on people and their communities, and a growing concern for the impacts of industrial buildings and business activities on nature,” explained guest speaker Ella Mudie, Market Engagement Lead for Green Star at the Green Building Council of Australia.
“It’s very different to the experience of being in a CBD office environment; it’s about looking at what you can create on site to help people be active, whether that’s offering some gym facilities, or can you do more with landscaping so there’s outdoor amenity.”
When it comes to Wilmac Altona North, CBRE’s Cameron Giles sees the clear parallels with this observation across the booming sector.
“As Melbourne’s inner west undergoes transformation, businesses are seeking well-located, lifestyle-integrated estates that offer both functionality and amenity, something rarely found in traditional industrial developments.”
Wilmac Altona North is the answer to the overwhelming demand for this new industry trend, and it was only possible through a partnership with CBRE.
Wilmac Altona North is a unique business community when compared to other industrial developments. This status comes down to two core principles:
“This project offers street-fronting panorama warehouses with showroom-style visibility, and a rare mix of amenities including retail, childcare, fitness, and dining, all within walking distance,” says Cameron.
“The project is well connected to major freeways and logistic hubs. It enjoys a prime position just 8km from the Melbourne CBD and 7km to the Port of Melbourne, making it an attractive location for businesses.”
Having the right foresight is equally as important as features. For Wilmac Altona North, it was about responding to growing expectations around sustainability and workplace wellbeing. That’s why the project includes features like solar capability, EV charging, and landscaped green spaces.
“These trends, combined with strong investor interest and low vacancy rates, position the estate as a forward-thinking response to evolving market needs,” Cameron explains.
“The success of the Wilmac Altona North project was strongly influenced by selecting a real estate partner that offered more than just transactional expertise - what mattered most was alignment in the vision for the development, and values between both organisations,” says Cameron.
“CBRE was chosen because they understood the long-term ambition for the estate and were genuinely invested in its success.”
The project was able to benefit from CBRE’s exclusive breadth of expertise, enabling a highly collaborative partnership built on:
These three core traits of the partnership enabled real-time feedback loops, campaign agility, and shared decision-making that was crucial for adapting to market shifts and accelerating opportunities like the early release of the project’s stage three.
This dynamic relationship reinforces CBRE as a partner capable of elevating the project from a standard industrial offering into an aspirational, lifestyle-integrated business destination. And Wilmac Altona North is a standing showcase of CBRE’s ability to go beyond just traditional sales roles.
At Wilmac Altona North, dynamic solutions were efficiently devised through the unification of Wilmac and CBRE as a single team, as opposed to operating in traditional silos. During Stage 2, feedback on street frontage and design enhancements prompted a swift campaign refresh, resulting in a marked increase in inquiries and conversions. This proactive responsiveness and shared sense of ownership played a key role in driving the estate's success and maintaining its momentum.
From a community perspective, the project is designed to positively transform the lives of people in and around it by creating a business environment that is not only functional, but also enriching and accessible.
For business owners, it offers the opportunity to own high-quality, flexible workspaces in a prime location, empowering them to grow sustainably and invest in their future. Owning one of these workspaces allows these businesses to meet their growth aspirations.
Employees and visitors meanwhile receive all the benefits of the integration of lifestyle amenities like retail, dining, childcare, and fitness within walking distance. These inclusions fundamentally enhance daily convenience and wellbeing of the community.
“The broader community benefits through the elevated standard of industrial development in the area, one which fosters a vibrant, connected precinct that supports both economic activity and quality of life,” says Cameron.
In today’s vital landscape of Industrial & Logistics space, it’s a shift driven by a polarising question: Do all industrial parks need to be concrete jungles?
Wilmac’s Altona North didn't just address this question; it transformed the answer into a vibrant reality. Today, it exemplifies a thriving business community and real estate solution, empowering individuals and businesses to succeed in a contemporary setting - a standard that's crucial in today's dynamic world.
According to findings from a CBRE supply chain and logistics event, developers, investors and occupiers are zeroing in on how to foster a sense of community within industrial estates. They're also looking at ways to combat the mental health and loneliness issues that can arise from the often-repetitive work involved in warehouse and transport & logistics roles.
“We’re seeing a shift in thinking, with a greater emphasis on people and their communities, and a growing concern for the impacts of industrial buildings and business activities on nature,” explained guest speaker Ella Mudie, Market Engagement Lead for Green Star at the Green Building Council of Australia.
“It’s very different to the experience of being in a CBD office environment; it’s about looking at what you can create on site to help people be active, whether that’s offering some gym facilities, or can you do more with landscaping so there’s outdoor amenity.”
When it comes to Wilmac Altona North, CBRE’s Cameron Giles sees the clear parallels with this observation across the booming sector.
“As Melbourne’s inner west undergoes transformation, businesses are seeking well-located, lifestyle-integrated estates that offer both functionality and amenity, something rarely found in traditional industrial developments.”
Wilmac Altona North is the answer to the overwhelming demand for this new industry trend, and it was only possible through a partnership with CBRE.
An industrial project like no other
Wilmac Altona North is a unique business community when compared to other industrial developments. This status comes down to two core principles:
- A design-led and people-focused approach
- An integration into a broader lifestyle and business ecosystem
“This project offers street-fronting panorama warehouses with showroom-style visibility, and a rare mix of amenities including retail, childcare, fitness, and dining, all within walking distance,” says Cameron.
“The project is well connected to major freeways and logistic hubs. It enjoys a prime position just 8km from the Melbourne CBD and 7km to the Port of Melbourne, making it an attractive location for businesses.”
Having the right foresight is equally as important as features. For Wilmac Altona North, it was about responding to growing expectations around sustainability and workplace wellbeing. That’s why the project includes features like solar capability, EV charging, and landscaped green spaces.
“These trends, combined with strong investor interest and low vacancy rates, position the estate as a forward-thinking response to evolving market needs,” Cameron explains.
A strategic partnership beyond transaction
“The success of the Wilmac Altona North project was strongly influenced by selecting a real estate partner that offered more than just transactional expertise - what mattered most was alignment in the vision for the development, and values between both organisations,” says Cameron.
“CBRE was chosen because they understood the long-term ambition for the estate and were genuinely invested in its success.”
The project was able to benefit from CBRE’s exclusive breadth of expertise, enabling a highly collaborative partnership built on:
- A proactive and strategic approach
- Consistent and open communication
- A deep mutual trust
These three core traits of the partnership enabled real-time feedback loops, campaign agility, and shared decision-making that was crucial for adapting to market shifts and accelerating opportunities like the early release of the project’s stage three.
This dynamic relationship reinforces CBRE as a partner capable of elevating the project from a standard industrial offering into an aspirational, lifestyle-integrated business destination. And Wilmac Altona North is a standing showcase of CBRE’s ability to go beyond just traditional sales roles.
Ensuring genuine benefits to clients and the community
At Wilmac Altona North, dynamic solutions were efficiently devised through the unification of Wilmac and CBRE as a single team, as opposed to operating in traditional silos. During Stage 2, feedback on street frontage and design enhancements prompted a swift campaign refresh, resulting in a marked increase in inquiries and conversions. This proactive responsiveness and shared sense of ownership played a key role in driving the estate's success and maintaining its momentum.
From a community perspective, the project is designed to positively transform the lives of people in and around it by creating a business environment that is not only functional, but also enriching and accessible.
For business owners, it offers the opportunity to own high-quality, flexible workspaces in a prime location, empowering them to grow sustainably and invest in their future. Owning one of these workspaces allows these businesses to meet their growth aspirations.
Employees and visitors meanwhile receive all the benefits of the integration of lifestyle amenities like retail, dining, childcare, and fitness within walking distance. These inclusions fundamentally enhance daily convenience and wellbeing of the community.
“The broader community benefits through the elevated standard of industrial development in the area, one which fosters a vibrant, connected precinct that supports both economic activity and quality of life,” says Cameron.
