Meet the 2026 Awards for Excellence Winners
There was plenty to celebrate on the Gold Coast as the self storage industry came together for its biggest night of the year – the 2026 SSAA Awards for Excellence, presented by VISY Specialties.
Held at The Star Gold Coast on Thursday 12 November as part of GC26 Convention, the Awards recognised the people, businesses and facilities delivering excellence across self storage in Australia and New Zealand.
This year’s winners reflect just how much is happening across the industry. From clever redevelopment and new approaches to security, to AI, sustainability, customer experience and community impact, the Awards celebrate the ideas, investment and people continuing to raise the bar.
Entries were assessed by an independent judging panel, with judges looking beyond the headline achievements to the strategy, execution and impact behind each submission. And after a fantastic night of celebration, we are delighted to introduce the 2026 Awards for Excellence winners.
Excellence in Community Engagement | Presented by Stellar Storage Containers
WINNER: TAXIBOX
TAXIBOX helped make donating as easy as ordering an Uber through its partnership in the Uber and Australian Red Cross Clothing Drive. Facilities across four states were transformed into collection and sorting hubs, with the TAXIBOX team working alongside Red Cross volunteers and filling more than 130 units with donated clothing before it was distributed through the Red Cross Shop network. The 2025 national drive collected an incredible 125 tonnes of clothing – up 56% on the previous year – supporting both the circular economy and Red Cross humanitarian programs. Judges praised a meaningful collaboration that put TAXIBOX’s existing infrastructure to work for the broader community.
Excellence in Industry | Presented by Janus International Australia
WINNER: R6 Automate
As AI moved rapidly into everyday business, many self storage operators were left asking a fairly important question: how do we actually use it safely and effectively? R6 Automate responded with its Self Storage AI Pack – a free, practical resource including a ready-to-adopt AI use policy, readiness checklist and more than 40 prompts built around real facility workflows. Designed for self storage teams rather than tech experts, the pack gives operators of every size practical tools they can begin using almost immediately. Judges described it as a timely resource with broad industry application, helping operators navigate one of the fastest-moving shifts in business today.
Excellence in Innovation | Presented by Storco
WINNER: TAXIBOX
When the warehouse team raised a challenge, TAXIBOX gave a junior developer the chance to solve it with AI – and the result is one of its smartest innovations. Forklift AI uses refurbished phones mounted on forklifts to recognise and track units through computer vision – no barcodes, tags or costly tracking systems required. Finding a misplaced unit once took several staff hours. Now, with the team’s aptly named ‘Crate Expectations’ app, it takes minutes – while freeing up valuable warehouse space. Judges praised a clever, team-driven innovation, impressive in its simplicity and delivered at remarkably low cost.
Excellence in Sustainability | Presented by PTI Security Systems
WINNER: KeepSafe Belmont
Following KeepSafe Joondalup’s success in last year’s Awards, KeepSafe has continued to push its sustainability approach across its growing portfolio, and Belmont has raised the bar again. The facility first focused on reducing energy demand through insulation, Low-E glazing, passive ventilation and smart LED lighting before adding 168 bifacial solar panels and increased battery capacity. The result is impressive: power costs have fallen by more than 91%, with an estimated 80 tonnes of emissions avoided each year. Judges described KeepSafe Belmont as a new benchmark for self storage facilities, demonstrating that strong environmental outcomes can also deliver a clear commercial return.
Facility of the Year – Conversion | Presented by Highway Frontage
WINNER: Roomia Self Storage Chirnside Park
Roomia Chirnside Park shows just what can be achieved with a challenging brownfield site and some very clever adaptive reuse. Two former retail buildings were retained and re-engineered into a two-level self storage facility, with the design working around existing slabs, long structural spans and underground tanks. Even excavated rock was crushed and reused on site. Adding another layer of complexity, the redevelopment was delivered in stages while customers continued to store at the facility. The completed site now offers 926 units. Judges were impressed by the carefully staged redevelopment, reuse of existing materials and the strong operational performance already being achieved.
Facility of the Year – Independent Operator | Presented by Southwell Lifts & Hoists
WINNER: StoreStuff
When StoreStuff took over its Wellington facility in 2023, it was a tired and damp storage site operating inside the city’s former Colgate-Palmolive factory. Three years later, it has become Wellington’s highest-rated storage facility, with a perfect five-star rating across more than 300 Google reviews. A modern digital move-in experience, personalised advice and a free move-in truck have helped lift occupancy and rates, while investment in lockers, individual unit alarms, access control and fire compliance has completely transformed the facility. StoreStuff is proof that a family-run independent can set the standard even in a market dominated by national brands. Judges praised strong results across the board – and an entry with plenty of personality.
Facility of the Year – Regional Location | Presented by VISY Specialties
WINNER: Storage King Wanaka
Set against the snow-capped mountains of New Zealand’s Southern Lakes, Storage King Wanaka is a facility built on strong local connection. Led by Store Manager Wendy Allen, who has been with the facility since day one, the locally staffed team supports households, tradespeople and holiday homeowners through the region’s seasonal rhythms, while also lending a hand to the Wanaka Community Toy Library each year. Named Storage King’s Most Improved Facility for 2026, Wanaka impressed judges with a strong people story, solid operational performance and excellent customer feedback.
Facility of the Year – Multi-Site Operator | Presented by R6 Automate
WINNER: Rent a Space Concord
Opened in February 2026, Rent a Space Concord transformed a contaminated, multi-owner site on Parramatta Road into a striking four-level self storage facility. The development presented no shortage of challenges, including its location above the WestConnex tunnel. Today, the fully enclosed facility offers 992 individually alarmed units, drive-through loading and online move-ins, supported by multilingual staff and a five-star Google rating. Judges were particularly impressed by the development story, embedded sustainability initiatives and community engagement, describing the facility as another example of Rent a Space delivering an exceptionally high standard of self storage into high-growth markets.
Manager of the Year | Presented by Storman
WINNER: Nicole Maher, Rent a Space Oran Park
Nicole Maher has been at the helm of Rent a Space Oran Park from day one, helping turn a brand-new 758-unit facility into a trusted and high-performing local business. A former hairdresser, Nicole has brought a naturally people-focused, listen-first approach to self storage. Customers describe the experience as simple and straightforward, while Oran Park has become the Rent a Space portfolio’s top-performing store for enquiry conversions. Nicole combines operational discipline and value-led sales with genuine support for her colleagues and strong connections within the local community. Judges praised a fantastic nomination brought to life through the stories of the customers and colleagues who experience Nicole’s leadership every day.
Service Member of the Year | Presented by Self Storage Association Australasia
WINNER: Four Leaves
For many owners, buying or selling a self storage facility is one of the biggest business decisions they will ever make. Four Leaves understands the weight of that decision. Its specialist sales, valuation and advisory team takes the time to understand what each client is trying to achieve and provides honest, data-informed advice – including when that means having a difficult conversation. But its contribution extends well beyond individual transactions. Four Leaves actively shares research and thought leadership, mentors those entering the sector and gives generously of its time and expertise. Judges commended the team’s deep understanding of its clients, generous approach to knowledge sharing and genuine commitment to corporate citizenship.
Congratulations to every one of our 2026 Awards for Excellence winners.
To all of our finalists and entrants, thank you for sharing your work, your ideas and your achievements. The strength of this year’s submissions is a reminder of the extraordinary talent, innovation and commitment across the self storage industry.
Our thanks also go to our independent judging panel for the considerable time and expertise they brought to the process, VISY Specialties as presenting partner, and our category sponsors for their continued support of the Awards.
What a way to wrap up GC26.
