Melbourne’s newest fulfilment centre (FC) has officially opened in Ravenhall, the second for the city and the fifth Australia-wide. With a massive 37,000m2 footprint, the new FC is the equivalent of nearly two Melbourne Cricket Group fields – meaning at any given time it can house up to six million consumer items from Amazon.com.au! The FC is fully operational with our teams now fulfilling customer orders and packages being delivered to customers from the new site.
On launch day, the team celebrated with the theme of ‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’ with a focus on cultural diversity. The festivities kicked off with a Welcome to Country and a smoking ceremony performed by a member of Djirri Djirri, a Wurundjeri dance group. The Wurundjeri people are the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which the new MEL5 site is located. The theme of diversity continued with three separate performances by local community dance groups, Greek, Chinese Lion dancers and drums, and Bollywood dancers.
The launch also saw the reveal of a large-scale mural by local Aboriginal artist, Mandi Barton.
The work stretches across an entire internal wall of the facility and depicts a platypus swimming through a creek – the platypus being MEL5’s official mascot.
With a career spanning over 20 years, Mandi’s passion is to create art that encourages a sense of belonging and a space for people to feel comfortable.
“I am an Aboriginal (Yorta Yorta) artist. The mural is my visual story of how I view Amazon's essence and connection on this country. The design assists to create a culturally safe space whilst being inclusive of the First People of this country.” Mandi explained.
“Murals make a big impact, both in public settings and workplaces to not just embody Indigenous Australian culture, but also to signal people from other cultures that this is a place they can be themselves and feel respected.”
Mandi explained that the special qualities of the platypus, which once inhabited the Koroit Creek next to the new fulfilment centre, made it the perfect candidate for her mural.
“The platypus has many characteristics, it’s different and unique, it represents independence, creativity, adaptability, and flexibility,” she explained.
“It also signifies yapaneyput (unity) and connection, having many relationships, collaborating, and engaging with many different parties. The lines around the platypus in the water (the creek: nitiya) and the platypus footprints across the lands symbolises its movement and travel. The act carries the platypus to its destination going from location to location forming its connection to the water, the land, and the communities.
The circles across the land, above and below the platypus are the gatherings, of people travelling to come together. Coming together for work, play and wellbeing, for continuing the purpose and responsibilities. The circles also symbolise the different communities, the people, and the relationships across the land.”
Harpreet Pandher, who previously worked at Dandenong and has moved to Ravenhall said, “I’m delighted by the launch of Ravenhall - I was given the opportunity to relocate from Dandenong and into a full-time position. The new location has also allowed me to cut down on travel time substantially. I enjoy coming into work and seeing Mandi’s mural each day, as it commemorates the Indigenous heritage and it also represents and celebrates the diversity of our team at Ravenhall. “
