‘We believe in Cairns:’ New CBD project builds on Kamsler family’s belief in the Far North
A state-of-the-art building set to revolutionise the way people work has opened in the Cairns CBD. See how Cairns tourism stalwarts are kicking off a new tropical migration through COVID-safe offices.
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THE Kamsler brothers Paul and Mark are behind a state of the art new building set to revolutionise the way people work, through leasing of flexible office spaces in the Cairns CBD.
The landmark Art Work Spaces building pays homage to the former colonial-style AMP building that was on the site and demolished in the 1970s. The modern upgrade offers COVID-safe work spaces for sole traders and small office-based businesses.
Behind the aluminium curtain at 36 Abbott Street, tech companies, digital nomads and legal eagles are already taking advantage of the opportunity to do business differently.
Offering short-term leasing of hi-tech and secure office spaces, for one month or for years, the building includes keyless entry, remote booking systems and secure Wi-Fi networks for each suite.
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Art Work Spaces general manager Gregor Davie said marketing businesses, consultants, southern corporations and remote Cape York councils had already moved into the building.
“It’s a broad range of people,” he said.
“We have got doctors looking at it, lawyers are looking at it — it’s a real mix and match.
“We are trying to create a community in the city’s historic heart, where casual conversations in a creative space can lead to collaboration.
“While working from home was a novelty in the early days of COVID, what is coming out now is that people are missing the interaction, space and culture they used to get at the office.”
The project, built by Vis Constructions, is close to the heart of building owners Paul and Mark Kamsler.
After making their fortune in the Torres Strait pearling, trochus shell and big game fishing industry, the Kamsler family built the Pacific Hotel which opened on the Esplanade in 1983.
“We were one of the early supporters of tourism and were the first to build an international hotel in Cairns,” Paul Kamsler said.
Tenants in the new building are referred to as members and have the ability to connect through shared lounges and networking events published through a live app that can be used to book spaces.
It automatically lets users know who is currently in the building. The lift and all locks are operated electronically.
“It’s all about introducing a healthy asset for people’s moods and it’s a very welcoming and hospitable space,” Paul Kamsler said.
“We have got three products, the flexible offices, premium co-working, which is a desk in a common area, or a virtual office. It dovetails beautifully with the effects of COVID-19, working from home and the uncertainty of taking out long leases.”
A gallery on the ground floor displays artwork and throughout the building pieces collected during the Kamsler family’s pioneering Coral Sea ventures and from the private collection of early Cairns hospitality queen Dina Kamsler showcase tropical Far North Queensland and Papua New Guinea to the north of Cape York.
The family was well-known for luring Hollywood celebrities such as Lee Marvin to catch marlin and stay in luxury at the 1960s-era Tradewinds Hotel, built by the Kamslers.
Having built a reputation around tropical innovation, Mr Davie said the Art Work Spaces building further built on the Kamslers’ modernisation of Cairns.
“In the big cities I don’t think it will go back to (working from home). It will be a hybrid type scenario,” he said.
“Opportunities like this with the flexibility they offer is the future of work.
“People don’t have to be in Sydney or Melbourne to work, (COVID) has proven that.
“So if they don’t have to be in Sydney or Melbourne why pay $2m for a house if you can pay half that up here.
“We’ve already had interest from clients overseas and interstate, so we hope this is the start of attracting companies wanting to move their operations to Cairns, strengthening our local economy.”
Paul Kamsler said the opening cemented a long-held confidence in the region.
“We have always staked our investments and our positioning on Cairns, we believe in Cairns — we know it’s having a rough time now but we know it’s going to be back bigger and better and that’s not me talking the market up, that’s the reality,” he said.
Originally published as ‘We believe in Cairns:’ New CBD project builds on Kamsler family’s belief in the Far North
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