No aliens, but playtime will never be the same. One of the slides at Area 51 Castle Hill. Photo: Area 51.
A major new family entertainment destination is coming to Canberra, with growing indoor play centre operator Area 51 signing up to a 15-year lease on a property being built at Fyshwick.
The 4977-square-metre property will become Area 51’s first flagship venue in the ACT, marking a significant milestone for the expanding brand, which already operates successful venues in Queensland and New South Wales.
The long-term lease at 2/16 Ipswich Street was brokered by RWC Canberra, which said the deal underscored strong demand for large-format experiential and recreation-based assets, as operators continued to expand into high-growth metropolitan markets.
Area 51 is known for creating immersive, family-focused entertainment environments designed to bring people together through play and shared experiences.
It has six eye-catching centres in Queensland, including one opening on 28 March in Ipswich, and one at Castle Hill in Sydney.
Activities include ropes courses, giant slides, climbing walls, sports zones, multi-storey soft play areas, interactive floor games and dedicated toddler areas.
Some have immersive, virtual-reality experiences and a Queensland centre even has a 1000 sqm Snow World indoor snow arena, with real falling snow and the temperature set at a chilly -5C.
It won’t just be for the kids, with Area 51 also hosting adults-only nights.
Area 51 is one of three tenants at the Fyshwick site. Image: RWC.
RWC Canberra’s Daniel McGrath said the deal highlighted both the strength of the tenant and the growing appeal of experiential retail.
“We’re seeing a clear shift toward experience-driven uses in this asset class, with tenants prioritising scale, accessibility and the ability to create destination venues,” Mr McGrath said. ”This site ticked all the boxes.”
The large warehouse-style building for Area 51 is one of three commercial operations on the 3.2-hectare site, which previously had been slated for the ill-fated waste-recycling and incineration plant.
RWC Canberra’s Frank Giorgi said the transaction reflected continued confidence in Fyshwick as a strategic location for national operators.
“This lease demonstrates the depth of demand from high-quality tenants seeking well-located, large-scale facilities in Canberra,” Mr Giorgi said.
“With strong population growth and increasing demand for family-oriented experiences, Fyshwick is emerging as a key hub for these types of uses.”
The property is owned by Nikias Diamond and Bronte Group Canberra, who acquired the site in 2022 through RWC Canberra for $12.5 million. It sold in 2015 for $2.1m.
Mr McGrath said the completion of the lease-up marked a significant milestone for the broader development.
“With RWC Canberra having sold the 32,000 sqm raw land site to the current owner in 2022, we are proud to now see the whole site leased to three national tenants — Area 51, Coates Hire and Badminton Worx,” he said.
“Bringing together a complementary mix of tenants has been key to unlocking the full potential of the precinct.”
To stay up to date, visit Area 51 World on Facebook.
Original Article published by Ian Bushnell on Region Canberra.