Australia Post unveils new Perth distribution centre

Australia Post has unveiled a new parcel distribution centre in Perth, with a dual name in the traditional language of the Noongar Nation, Boorna Wangkiny Mia.

Boorna Wangkiny Mia, which culturally translated means ‘Home of the Message Stick’, honours Australia’s oldest form of communication and cultural diplomacy.

Message sticks would be passed from Elders to visitors when entering their lands, seas and rivers and are important cultural and historical emblems that connect people and communities.

Australia Post Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Paul Graham said the dual naming of the facility was an example of Australia Post’s strong commitment towards reconciliation and this new facility represents a significant investment in Perth as online shopping continues to grow.

“We’re proud of our leading role in promoting awareness of reconciliation, which formally began with our first Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy in 1988,” Graham said.

“Working closely with the Traditional Owners to name this brand-new facility is another example of that commitment and reflects our shared purpose of connecting people and communities,” he said.

He continued that as online shopping continues to grow in Western Australia, the facility will be key to meet growing eCommerce needs.

“The automation inside the new facility means significantly reduced manual handling keeps our people safer, parcels are processed faster with more scanning events, which is fantastic for our customers,” he said.

“This state-of-the-art facility is allowing us to deliver in Perth like never before and continue to connect Australians to each other and the world,” he concluded.

Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, who officially opened the new facility, said Australia Post is an important enabler of our digital economy and the growing eCommerce market.

“Australia Post is a cherished national institution, from the red post boxes dotted along our streets, to the red vans rolling down every road to deliver online orders,” Minister Rowland said.

“Australia Post is a recognisable and trusted organisation which provides essential services to communities right across the country,” she said.

“It is however a highly competitive business and ongoing investments, like this facility, are an important part of Australia Post’s transformation strategy to ensure it stays competitive.”

Whadjuk Noongar Elder Professor Len Collard, who worked with Australia Post through Moodjar Consultancy, said the chosen name was fitting as message sticks were the forebearers of modern-day letters and parcels.

“Message sticks were the first way messages were shared. One man couldn’t travel all the pathways, it had to be passed ceremonially to the representative of the next Country,” Prof Collard said.

“They carried specific symbols to be translated to each carrier as it was passed over from one pathway on Country to another, so the name Boorna Wangkiny Mia works very well for a facility like this that helps to transport items on behalf of other people from around Australia and the world,” he said.

At 23,000 sqm, Boorna Wangkiny Mia is Perth’s first facility with state-of-the-art automation and the ability to process close to 200,000 parcels a day during peak periods.

The extra processing capacity delivered by the $82 million investment has already helped Australia Post to process more than 650,000 parcels over the Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2022.

Source: Australia Post newsroom