Where do government and public affairs occupiers lease office space in Melbourne?

Most cluster in Docklands. Rent runs ~720 AUD/sqft ($43 USD) for trophy and prime stock.

What fit-out spec do government and public affairs occupiers run in Melbourne?

Typically high-end at $4100–6000/sqft.

How much office space per seat should a government and public affairs occupier plan in Melbourne?

Plan ~240 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 24,000 sqft.

What NAICS codes describe the government and public affairs vertical?

Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 813, 541820.

What is the talent index in Melbourne?

84/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Government and public affairs occupiers in Melbourne typically cluster in Docklands, plan ~240 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out ($4100–6000/sqft), and pay around 720 AUD/sqft ($43 USD) on Class A.

Preferred submarket: Docklands.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($4100–6000/sqft).
Plan ~240 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
Class A rent context: 720 AUD/sqft ($43 USD).
Typical lease: 7 years with 14 months rent-free.
Talent depth in Melbourne: 84/100.

Government and public affairs office space in Melbourne

Government and public affairs occupiers in Melbourne typically cluster in Docklands, plan ~240 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out">fit-out ($4100–6000/sqft), and pay around 720 AUD/sqft ($43 USD) on Class A.

TL;DR

Preferred submarket: Docklands.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($4100–6000/sqft).
Plan ~240 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
Class A rent context: 720 AUD/sqft ($43 USD).
Typical lease: 7 years with 14 months rent-free.
Talent depth in Melbourne: 84/100.

Where they cluster

Government and public affairs occupiers in Melbourne typically anchor in Docklands. Banking (NAB), telecom, healthcare insurance (Medibank), media.

What they pay

Class A rent in Melbourne runs 720 AUD/sqft ($43 USD) on a 7-year lease with 14 months free. Prime submarkets sit at or modestly above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical government and public affairs fit-out targets high-end specification at $4100–6000/sqft. Branded reception, full client-facing programming, premium furniture, and specialist AV are standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 240 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount public office in Melbourne typically targets 24,000 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Lobbying and public-affairs teams cluster near legislative anchors; long-duration leases and conservative concession packages are normal. Deep professional services, banking, education, and creative talent. Strong feed from University of Melbourne, Monash, and RMIT. English-fluent professional base; multicultural workforce.

Tax and lease context

Headline corporate tax: 30%. Net leases. 7-10 year terms standard. Incentives of 30-45% (combination of free rent, fitout, and rent abatement) typical on a 10-year Class A deal.

Key facts

city	Melbourne
industry	Government and public affairs
naics	813, 541820
preferredSubmarket	Docklands
preferredFitoutSpec	High-end
fitoutBand	$4100–6000/sqft
sqftPerSeat	240
classARentLocal	720 AUD/sqft/yr
classARentUsd	$43/sqft/yr
vacancyPct	18.4%
typicalLeaseYears	7
typicalRentFreeMonths	14
talentIndex	84
corporateTaxPct	30%

Frequently asked questions

Where do government and public affairs occupiers lease office space in Melbourne?: Most cluster in Docklands. Rent runs ~720 AUD/sqft ($43 USD) for trophy and prime stock.
What fit-out spec do government and public affairs occupiers run in Melbourne?: Typically high-end at $4100–6000/sqft.
How much office space per seat should a government and public affairs occupier plan in Melbourne?: Plan ~240 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 24,000 sqft.
What NAICS codes describe the government and public affairs vertical?: Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 813, 541820.
What is the talent index in Melbourne?: 84/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Kenji Watanabe — APAC contributing editor. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

Primary sources for this page

CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
JLL Office Insight — JLL
Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
Savills World Research — Savills
Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

Full sources index · Submit a correction