This, gentlemen, is history.

Since Delimiter launched several months ago, we’ve gone through the typical phases of any startup. There was the day where we got slammed by our much larger competitor (actually, that was our first day). There was the day where we forget to eat properly because of working too hard and had our spouse give us concerned looks and cook us a nutritional meal.

And of course, there was the day where we realised how much red tape it takes to run a small business (actually, that was every day).

So, today it’s time to take the next step. In the grand startup tradition, Delimiter has leased its first office. It’s in the sunny suburb of Randwick.

To be honest, it’s unlike any other office we’ve ever worked in. It smells like the restaurant out back, the carpet is atrocious, and it hasn’t been occupied for several years. Before we cleaned it up, there were dead cockroaches everywhere, and the real estate agent had forgotten it existed and couldn’t find the keys.

In short, it is a total shitbox. Which is why we were able to get it *dirt cheap*.

However, it has plenty of space, as well as light and air coming in through the windows … which can be a pain to open at times. Rust. And we don’t think those air conditioners work.

There is also a large wall, which we plan to plaster with butcher’s paper and use as a fun visitor’s book. There will be crayons of all colours!

As you can see, the carpet is atrocious — really atrocious — and we’re going to try to cover some of it up. However, some of the stains are never going to come out. We really do not want to know what they are from.

There is also a spare room, which we hope to sub-let to another new media or tech startup — also at a dirt cheap rate. It’s bigger than it looks like from this photo and could fit half a dozen desks. It has its own window, which looks out upon … well, nothing really, apart from a tiny alleyway and a wall. And more rust.

The sink is also very dodgy, we are going to get a plumber in to look at that. We won’t be drinking from it anytime soon!

Our neighbours provide useful services.

However the telecommunications infrastructure is not yet up to scratch.

But we are very close to one of Randwick’s best Thai restaurants, perfect for those late night writing sessions!

We’re across the road from a lovely park. The office itself is actually only a 20 minute walk from Coogee beach, and a 20 minute bus ride into the Sydney CBD. We’re right in Randwick Junction, with all the shops, eateries and cafes that you could ever need.

We have several goals for this space. First, and most importantly, we want to create a space where Australia’s technology industry can just “drop in” and say hello and have morning or afternoon tea casually with us, without much of the formality that has surrounded media companies in the past.

We’ll have nice couches, 50 different varieties of tea and coffee, and some Arnott’s biscuits. And on Friday afternoons we’ll have an open door policy and beer in the fridge.

Secondly, we want to make it available to other startups and writers (preferably in the new media space) to use. We’re looking for at least one other startup to share the space with, and believe us when we say it will be cheap and come with plentiful internet access, desks, chairs and so on.

We’ll announce more on these plans later on after we settle in.

But in the meantime, the other thing to announce is that we’re having an office-warming to celebrate the new office. Everyone is invited. Delimiter will be providing several cartons of beer, as well as ice and some soft drinks. But there is a bottleshop next door, so we suspect you won’t have too much trouble finding things to drink.

And don’t worry about breaking anything — the office will still be empty at that point ;)

Date: Thursday 1 April
Time: 5pm until late
Location: Delimiter’s office, 1/175 Alison Road, Randwick, NSW 2031 (up the stairs)
RSVP: Don’t bother, just show up with whoever you want
Afterparty: Coogee Bay Hotel
Questions: Contact 02 8011 4539, renai@delimiter.com.au or @renailemay

Image credits: Delimiter

Related posts:

1. NBN Co gets permanent North Sydney digs
2. Thanks a million; now let’s party
3. Who will host an iPhone 4 launch party?
4. Delimiter Christmas Party: 25 November
5. Pirate Party slams Lundy’s ‘censorship lite’

1. Derek
   Posted 25/03/2010 at 1:36 pm | Permalink | Reply

   +1 if there’s going to be a Street Fighter 4 competition.

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 25/03/2010 at 1:41 pm | Permalink | Reply

     I’m happy to bring along my Xbox 360 and my copy of Street Fighter IV for that, but I’ll need someone to volunteer a TV, as I don’t think my wife would happily let ours move ;)

2. Ry
   Posted 25/03/2010 at 2:12 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Nice one – I go past this building every morning on the bus. Wave at the 374 around 8.30 :)

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 25/03/2010 at 2:38 pm | Permalink | Reply

     Heh nice! Maybe we’ll find ourselves on the same bus one day going to an event :)

3. Joel
   Posted 25/03/2010 at 2:49 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Good luck — I’m really enjoying Delimiter, keep it comin!

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 25/03/2010 at 2:55 pm | Permalink | Reply

     Cheers, glad to hear it! Have got some interesting stuff coming :)

4. Colin
   Posted 25/03/2010 at 3:25 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Are you sure this isn’t an April Fools joke ? ;)

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 25/03/2010 at 3:33 pm | Permalink | Reply

     It’s not an April Fools’ day joke. And I’m tired of those anyway — my birthday is actually on April Fool’s Day as well.

5. Jason Cartwright
   Posted 25/03/2010 at 6:15 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Congrats on the new place. Looks like a bit of work, but could come up a treat. Most important thing is to get those ‘telecommunications issues’ sorted. Look fwd to progress shots.

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 26/03/2010 at 3:58 pm | Permalink | Reply

     Cheers mate! Well, I am not bothering with copper this time. I have organised for Telstra cable to installed, apparently it takes 3-5 days. I am planning for two weeks!

     Hopefully it will deliver good latency, according to other cable customers in the area. Ping times to TF2 servers FTW.

6. Chris
   Posted 26/03/2010 at 10:30 am | Permalink | Reply

   Congrats on the new digs. Looking forward to the office-warming…

   -chris

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 26/03/2010 at 3:59 pm | Permalink | Reply

     Cheers! I hope it will be a good night :)

7. Myke
   Posted 26/03/2010 at 2:57 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Booya!

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 26/03/2010 at 3:45 pm | Permalink | Reply

     Booya indeed :)

8. Asher
   Posted 26/03/2010 at 8:18 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Make sure you don’t eat any ice cream at the after party.

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 29/03/2010 at 11:17 am | Permalink | Reply

     hehe I have made it a point since that story never to eat ice cream at the Coogee Bay :) Besides, there are some fine gelato places across the road that I like to patronise instead!

9. Gary Stark
   Posted 27/03/2010 at 9:32 am | Permalink | Reply

   What Asher said.

   And you have Aztecas up the hill and around the corner. That is very good planning, IMNSHO.

   Congrats, and well done.

   • Renai LeMay
     Posted 29/03/2010 at 11:16 am | Permalink | Reply

     Cheers Gary, I am also a fan of Aztecas, so I can guarantee I will be eating some late night meals there :)

10. kaydo
    Posted 28/03/2010 at 7:07 pm | Permalink | Reply

    Congrats on the place – good to see Delimiter is going on strong!

    Also, you totally need black board paint for your visitors wall.

    • Renai LeMay
      Posted 29/03/2010 at 11:13 am | Permalink | Reply

      Cheers! Will have to check that out. Other people have also suggested a massive whiteboard. However I also like the idea that we can keep the butcher’s paper for posterity :)

      Thinking that we’ll have to try a few options out and see which one is best :)

11. Ryan
    Posted 29/03/2010 at 10:39 am | Permalink | Reply

    Love the shabby chic vibe… Congrats on not just the new digs but also the great work you’re doing with Delimiter! Would be there on Thursday if not for the tyranny of distance.

    • Renai LeMay
      Posted 29/03/2010 at 11:14 am | Permalink | Reply

      Cheers Ryan, we’ll have a few drinks for you :)

12. Lyndall White
    Posted 31/03/2010 at 11:41 am | Permalink | Reply

    Will the wallpaper be up by 1st April?? Renee – congratulations on the new digs. Very pleased to see compliance with OH&S standards (the fire extinguisher x 2) :) Have a great opening night, sorry I cannot be there (holidays in easter rain!)

    • Renai LeMay
      Posted 31/03/2010 at 12:05 pm | Permalink | Reply

      hey Lyndall, yup, I will have some form of wallpaper — not quite sure what yet. Maybe not the permanent solution, but definitely something cool :)

      No worries, it is a tricky date for a few ppl becos of Easter!