Renew Australia

What Renew Australia does

Renew Australia is a national Australian social enterprise, founded in 2011 by Marcus Westbury following the success of his 2008 Renew Newcastle initiative, that catalyses community renewal by activating vacant commercial spaces. The organisation matches property owners with vacant retail, office, and heritage spaces to artists, creative enterprises, startups, not-for-profits, and community groups who occupy premises rent-free under 30-day rolling licences. Since 2013, Renew Australia has facilitated over 265 such placements and executed projects across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory, including Renew Docklands, Renew On Q, Renew Cairns, Renew Wollongong, Renew Geelong, Renew Fitzroy Street, and Renew the Far West. Its core technology is an operational methodology rather than a software product: proprietary contracts, insurance systems, engagement strategies, scoping templates, and activation playbooks that support each tailored program.

Renew Australia's service portfolio comprises five offerings: Scoping Studies (feasibility assessments including vacancy mapping and stakeholder engagement), Managed Projects (full-service activation with a dedicated local project manager supported by a national team covering contracts, insurance, and stakeholder management), a DIY Affiliate Program (licensing templates, licences and insurance to organisations self-managing activations), Static and Temporary Activations (murals, art decals, projection installations), and Consulting Services (training, workshops, project management, curation, and social procurement support). The platform architecture is therefore a codified franchise-style playbook delivered by a small national team and licensed through affiliate partners.

The organisation operates a hybrid B2G / B2B revenue model. Primary revenue streams are fee-for-service professional services engagements and managed-services retainers with local councils, state and federal government departments (such as City of Melbourne, Victorian State Government, Queensland Small Business Commissioner, Wollongong City Council, Campbelltown City Council, Cairns Regional Council, and Creative Victoria), supplemented by property-owner engagements and a recurring Affiliate Membership subscription stream. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Renew Australia holds DGR1 status with the Australian Taxation Office and is Social Traders Certified, enabling tax-deductible donations alongside commercial fee income. Governance is provided by a Board chaired by Jerome Gauder with Marcus Westbury as Founder, Alice Henchion-Grant as General Manager and a small operational team of 1-10 staff based across Australia.

Name

Renew Australia

Legal name

Renew Australia

Website

https://renewaustralia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Renew Australia is a national Australian social enterprise that activates vacant commercial spaces by connecting property owners with artists, creative enterprises, and community groups on rent-free 30-day rolling licences, delivering scoping studies, managed projects, and consulting services to local and state government clients across Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Renewal and Placemaking Consulting

NAICS

Services to Buildings and Dwellings (5617), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Urban Renewal, Brownfield Redevelopment & Land Reuse (BPAIANAI)

Keywords

• Vacant space activation
• Placemaking consulting
• Shopfront activation
• Creative enterprise support
• Urban renewal services

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Fee-for-Service Consulting: Renew Australia provides fee-for-service including managed programs, training, research and advice to councils, state and federal government departments, professional consultants, developers and property owners. Revenue from consulting fees allows Renew Australia to subsidize its services as 'community builders' and provide seed funding and support for creative industries.
2. Managed Projects: Fully managed Renew activation projects with local project managers supported by the national team, including contracts and insurance.
3. Affiliate Membership Program: Partial self-management option for organizations who have the resources to run the project in-house, with Renew Australia providing templates, licences, insurance and support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Renew Australia catalyses community renewal by activating vacant commercial spaces through a suite of fee-for-service consulting, managed activation programs, scoping and feasibility studies, and affiliate self-management offerings. The organization connects property owners holding empty shops, offices and buildings with artists, creative enterprises, startups and community groups who occupy the spaces rent-free under 30-day rolling licences, generating activity and foot traffic for councils, government and property owners.

Product overview

Renew Australia is a national social enterprise offering shopfront activation programs that connect property owners with vacant spaces to creatives, entrepreneurs, and community groups. The core offering consists of a unified platform of services: Scoping Studies (feasibility assessments for potential project locations), Managed Projects (full-service activation with dedicated project managers), DIY Affiliate Program (self-managed activation with Renew Australia support), Static & Temporary Activations (murals, decals, projections), and Consulting Services (training, workshops, curation). The company operates various named project activations across Australia including Renew Docklands, Renew Fitzroy Street, Renew On Q, Renew Cairns, Renew Wollongong, Renew Geelong, Renew the Far West, Renew Wagga, and regional programs through the QSBC Regional Place Activation Program. Since 2013, Renew Australia has provided rent-free opportunities to over 265 participants nationally through fee-for-service managed programs, with revenue subsidising community-building services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scoping and Feasibility Studies Feasibility assessments that engage local stakeholders, map vacancies, audit occupied spaces, and connect creatives with property owners to determine viability of a Renew activation project. Delivered to councils and government bodies considering a Renew program.
• Managed Renew Australia Projects Full-service activation programs where Renew Australia provides a local project manager supported by a national team, handling contracts, insurance, stakeholder management and delivery of a tailored activation program.
• DIY Affiliate Program Partial self-management option for organisations that have resources to run activation projects in-house, with Renew Australia providing templates, licences, insurance and support under a membership arrangement.
• Static and Temporary Activations Short-term installations including mural works, art decal series, projection spaces and other static installations to complement leasing and sales strategies for vacant properties.
• Consulting Services Professional guidance including training, workshops, project management, curation services, and social procurement fulfilment for councils, government departments, and property owners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 265 participants provided rent-free opportunities nationally since 2013
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Campbelltown City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership to activate vacant spaces on Queen Street with creative enterprises through the Renew On Q project.
• City of MelbournecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner in the Shopfront Activation Program to revitalize Docklands area. Jointly funded initiative with Victorian State Government to transform empty shopfronts into creative spaces.
• Victorian State GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder of the Shopfront Activation Program in partnership with City of Melbourne for Docklands revitalization.
• Queensland Small Business CommissionercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to offer space activation programs tailored for towns across regional and remote Queensland through the Regional Place Activation Program.
• St Kilda Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-curated the Aperture moving image program, combining networks for ongoing content collaborations with businesses and screen-based organizations.
• City of Port PhillipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Renew Fitzroy Street project to activate vacant spaces in St Kilda, working with Port Phillip Council and Fitzroy Street Business Association.
• Cairns Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered in 2021 to enliven Cairns City Centre by transforming empty shopfronts into creative spaces for three years.
• The District DocklandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Docklands Art Collective project to activate vacant space on Wharf Street with creative enterprises.
• City of Greater GeelongcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder of Renew Geelong project to match vacant properties with creative projects in central Geelong.
• Creative VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder of Renew Geelong initiative to activate vacant spaces in central Geelong.
• Wollongong City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder of Renew Wollongong project to bring life into empty commercial spaces in Crown Street Mall Precinct.
• Alice Springs Town CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded scoping study to explore potential for an activation project in the CBD through stakeholder interviews and on-site assessments.
• Hobsons Bay City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Renew Williamstown project to activate vacant spaces with focus on Douglas Parade, Ferguson Street, and Nelson Place.
• Banyule City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged Renew Australia to deliver Vacant Shopfront Decal Activation Project to transform empty shopfronts.
• Burnie City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Renew Burnie project through Business North West and Business in Burnie 2.0 initiative.
• Regional Development Australia Far West NSWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages Renew Far West NSW project to bring empty buildings in Broken Hill and Far West Region to life.
• Working HeritageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Jack's Reloaded project to activate disused spaces within Jack's Magazine heritage precinct in Melbourne's inner west.
• Eastern Riverina ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiator of Renew Wagga project to breathe new life into empty shopfronts in Wagga Wagga.
• Toowoomba Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiated Creative CBD Toowoomba program using Renew Australia model to provide emerging businesses access to vacant commercial spaces.
• Leadership Great South CoastminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRuns Shop in a Box 3280 affiliate program in Warrnambool using Renew Australia model.
• Sloan LawminorOthersLegal supporter providing pro-bono or discounted legal services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Meanwhile Space CIC: UK-based social enterprise that brokers short-term leases of vacant commercial property to community and creative enterprises. It is the most direct international analogue to Renew Australia's core shopfront activation model.
• Better Block Foundation: US nonprofit that helps communities temporarily transform vacant lots and storefronts into active public spaces. It pursues a very similar meanwhile-use placemaking mission to Renew, with comparable community-led activation methodology.
• Artscape (Toronto): Canadian nonprofit that transforms underused properties into affordable spaces for artists and creative organizations. Its mission of activating vacant space for creative tenants closely mirrors Renew Australia's creative-enterprise activation model.
• Renew Adelaide: Sister project of Renew Australia, established in 2013 in Adelaide using the same Newcastle-originated vacant space activation model. Operates as a state-level peer with shared methodology but distinct geography and governance.
• Empty Shops Network: UK network focused on bringing empty commercial properties back into community use. It is directly comparable as a peer network facilitating meanwhile use and shopfront activation across multiple locations.
• Renew Newcastle: Renew Newcastle is the sister project founded by Marcus Westbury in 2008 that directly inspired Renew Australia. It operates the same vacant-space activation model in Newcastle, NSW, and shares the founder, methodology, and trademark, making it the closest possible peer.

Others

• Creative Victoria: Victorian state government body that funds creative placemaking and co-funds Renew projects such as Renew Geelong. It is a key funder/partner rather than a competitor, making it an ecosystem participant.

Broad incumbents

• Project for Public Spaces: Established US nonprofit and global thought leader in placemaking, advising cities on activating public and commercial spaces. It overlaps with Renew on the urban revitalisation mission but operates at a much larger scale and as a broader consultancy/advocate rather than a project deliverer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutu.be/dUD1Qef3DJs
• Facebookfacebook.com/renewaustralia
• Instagraminstagram.com/renewaustralia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/renew-australia

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Renew Australia