CELEBRATING 30 YEARS

Phil Robbie has been part of the self storage since the mid 80s, proving that great leadership along with imagination and innovation, produces results.

Phil Robbie was an original participant in the innovative investment group formed under the leadership and guidance of the ACT entrepreneur, King Leggett in the early 1980’s. After seeing the successful self storage operation in the US, King Leggett put together an investor group of 10 Canberra businessmen. Each participant put in capital and most importantly was required to bring a relevant skill base to the group. Original participants included architects, civil engineers, builders, trade persons and, in Phil’s case, a background in computing.

The investment group took advantage of the ACT Government’s push to establish new industry in the ACT in the early 1980’s and was able to secure the U-Stow-It site in Belconnen under a favourable lease arrangement which provided an option to purchase in five years at the original land value. Construction on the Belconnen site started in 1983. The buildings were based on a modular form of construction with tilt slab walls set at 6 and 9 metre grids. Final configuration within these modules was flexible and U-Stow-it did a staged fit-out design in response to demonstrated demand in the early-stage occupancy build-up.

U-Stow-It developed an on-site management arrangement providing on-site accommodation and a rotation system for two separate managers. This provided both U-Stow-It and their site managers with flexible operating arrangements.

At that time there was not an established, locally available, management program for self storage so Phil was tasked with building a management and “The Canberra based U-Stow-It Group’s imaginative and incisive thinking allowed it to develop leading edge construction methods, progressive management systems and innovative investment structures in the self storage industry. Phil Robbie managed the Group from 1987 and under his leadership U-Stow-It became synonymous with industry best practice and leadership in the ACT.

occupancy tracking program from the ground up. Phil acknowledges the significant assistance and guidance offered by Jim Miller in the early stages of the development of U-Stow-It. Phil says that Jim provided the Group with the level of confidence to pursue self storage in the challenging early days of the industry. With increased activity Phil took on the role as Managing Director and further drove the development of U-Stow-It. In 1990 U-Stow-It commenced their second facility at Kambah. Final construction extended over two sites in close proximity. Phil recognises the high exposure location as significantly contributing to the success of this facility. Phil remembers the difficulties in securing funds from bank lenders in the early days of the industry and the bank’s general lack of understanding of the self storage industry. As a result of these funding constraints, U-Stow-It expanded their investor base in the early 1990’s and formed an unlisted private company. This increased their investor base to over 40 investors. U -Stow-It investors took a long-term view and original trading profits were reinvested in further growth and expansion rather than being distributed to investors. In 1999 U-Stow-It purchased their site at Fyshwick. This high exposure site was developed in stages and utilised innovative construction and design techniques including two level drive-up access to several buildings on the site. By 2005 the facility comprised over 1,000 units. In 2008 the U-Stow-It facilities were sold to Abacus Property Group and now operate as Storage King facilities. This rewarded investors for their long-term support over the life of the assets. Phil has maintained a strong involvement with the SSAA over the years. He has supported and shared his knowledge and experience with other industry operators.He was designated as a Life Member of the SSAA in 2003 in recognition of his contributions to the self storage industry. Phil continues his interest in the self storage industry and is in regular contact with the many friends he made in the industry. l