Happy Spaces – The Surfcoast's Coworking Community in Torquay
More Than a Desk: Where Productivity Meets Genuine Connection on the Surf Coast
Nestled in the heart of Torquay, Happy Spaces is the vibrant Coworking Space in Torquay where productivity meets genuine community connection. Founded by Matty and warmly managed by Kerstin, they offer Surf Coast freelancers, founders, and remote workers a truly supportive and welcoming place to connect and grow.
Inspired Connections: Situated perfectly above Gilbert Street, the space connects you to the coast with ocean glimpses, while Matty and Kerstin deliberately cultivate a warm community through regular shared lunches, coffee meet-ups, and social events, sparking both professional and personal bonds.
Thoughtful Flexibility: Recognising diverse needs, they offer carefully considered options from hot desks to private offices with 24/7 member access. Kerstin’s personal induction ensures everyone feels well-supported to use the space effectively from day one.
Productivity by Design: The layout thoughtfully balances an open-plan design fostering interaction with dedicated private rooms for deep work, creating an environment proven to boost focus away from home distractions (with 90% of members feeling more productive).
This thoughtful blend attracts a diverse mix of local professionals who find not just enhanced focus, but invaluable collaborations born from the vibrant atmosphere, lasting friendships, and a real sense of belonging.
Surfcoast Connect know’s the passion Matty and Kerstin bring. We confidently recommend Happy Spaces as a place where authentic community spirit and professional drive genuinely flourish on the Surf Coast.
Curious to experience the Happy Spaces vibe for yourself?
Book a personal tour – Kerstin provides a famously warm welcome and will help find the perfect fit for you and/or your team. Dive deeper below to explore their flexible membership options and hear inspiring stories directly from their members.
Connect with Coast & Community: Coworking in Torquay
Searching for a Coworking Space Torquay that genuinely connects you with the local coast and a vibrant community, going far beyond just providing a desk? Happy Spaces, passionately guided by Matty and Kerstin, is designed precisely for this. It’s a place built to combat the isolation often felt in remote work, fostering an environment where inspiration flows from both the stunning coastal setting above Gilbert Street and the meaningful relationships built within its walls, offering a welcome escape from sterile office environments.
How Matty & Kerstin Weave Connection into Happy Spaces
Coastal Setting & Vibe: Located in the heart of Torquay with ocean glimpses, the space itself connects you to the Surf Coast lifestyle, offering an inspiring backdrop that enhances the workday.
Active Community Rhythm: Matty and Kerstin intentionally cultivate connections through a regular schedule of events like weekly BYO lunches, monthly coffee shouts supporting local cafes, balcony drinks, and even group ocean dips – creating natural opportunities to bond.
Genuinely Welcoming Atmosphere: Kerstin ensures a friendly, approachable environment where “everyone welcome” isn’t just a phrase, it’s the lived experience. This fosters a supportive space free of office politics, where members feel comfortable being themselves.
Founders’ Passion: It’s clear community is their strength – Matty loves sparking connections and bringing people together initially, while Kerstin excels at nurturing and cultivating those bonds, making the community feel warm and cohesive.
Open By Design: While private spaces exist, the open-plan philosophy is intentional, designed to encourage members to naturally “bump into each other,” leading to spontaneous conversations, shared ideas, and unexpected collaborations.
Beyond Work: Finding Your Community & Inspiration
Choosing Happy Spaces means joining a community actively nurtured by founder Matty and General Manager Kerstin, where the ‘everyone welcome’ vibe fosters real friendships and valuable professional connections. This focus combats isolation and sparks collaboration, leading to the inspiring atmosphere members love – contact Kerstin for a tour to feel it for yourself. You can also read the full inspiring story behind Happy Spaces and their community focus here.
Flexible Coworking Space in Torquay – Hot Desks, Dedicated Desks, and Private Offices
Need the flexibility of a hot desk, the routine of a dedicated desk, or the quiet focus of a private office right here in Torquay? Happy Spaces, carefully managed by Kerstin, provides thoughtfully designed workspace options catering to the diverse needs of Surf Coast freelancers, founders, and small teams. Whether you thrive on variety, value a personal setup, or require privacy for calls and collaboration, they offer a far more suitable and professional environment than improvised home setups or inflexible traditional leases, ensuring you find the perfect fit for your unique work style.
Choosing Your Ideal Space: Options & Access Explained
Hot Desks: Perfect for those seeking flexibility and the chance to work alongside different people each day in an open, social part of the coworking space. Ideal for casual use or dropping in.
Dedicated Desks: Provides consistency and convenience for professionals who value routine, offering your own personal desk space ready for you each day within the shared environment.
Private Offices: Offers quiet, enclosed spaces ideal for focused work, confidential calls, client meetings, or small teams needing dedicated, private headquarters within the vibrant community.
Seamless 24/7 Access: Following Kerstin’s personal induction, all members are fully empowered with secure, 24/7 access, allowing truly flexible work hours tailored to individual needs without needing staff present – a truly “tension-free” system.
Find Your Productive Zone, Stress-Free
Happy Spaces offers more than just a spot to work; they provide workspace choices genuinely tailored to how you work best. Kerstin’s thorough personal induction ensures you feel comfortable and completely empowered to utilise the space and its amenities effectively from your very first day. This focus on providing the right fit and seamless, tension-free access means you can simply arrive and focus on your work, whenever inspiration strikes. Chat with Kerstin on a tour to explore the options and find your perfect workspace fit.
Torquay Workspace: Free from Home Distractions & Office Politics
Struggling with home distractions or mental clutter and looking for a truly productive Torquay Workspace? Happy Spaces is intentionally designed to be your dedicated zone for focus, helping you achieve more without the usual frustrations. It provides a vital escape from domestic duties demanding your attention and the often-draining experience of traditional office politics, allowing you to dedicate your energy purely to your work in a supportive setting.
Designing for Deep Work and Positive Culture
Dedicated Focus Zone: Simply walking through the doors helps shift your mindset. It’s a dedicated space purely for work, signalling to your brain it’s time to focus, free from the mental (and physical) clutter often present at home.
Escape Home Distractions: Leave the laundry pile and the endless list of home tasks behind. Members find they can concentrate better without the constant pull of domestic responsibilities visible.
Private Spaces for Calls & Meetings: While encouraging connection, Happy Spaces provides five private rooms, perfectly offsetting the open plan for confidential calls, virtual meetings, or periods requiring deep concentration without interruption.
Motivational Atmosphere: Working alongside other motivated individuals running businesses or excelling in their jobs creates an inspiring environment that naturally encourages focus and productivity.
Clear Work-Life Boundary: Members consistently value how Happy Spaces helps create a healthy separation. You arrive to work, get things done, and importantly, leave work at the space, allowing you to be more present at home.
No Office Politics: Because members work for themselves or different companies, the typical hierarchies, gossip, and “fluff” of traditional workplaces are refreshingly absent, fostering a genuinely supportive and collaborative culture.
Achieve More in a Refreshingly Positive Space
The results are clear: founder Matty notes surveys show 90% of members feel more productive working at Happy Spaces than at home, thanks to this dedicated focus and freedom from distractions. Experience the relief of a workspace without office politics and gain a healthier work-life balance by truly leaving work behind at the end of the day. Visit Happy Spaces to discover how this supportive, focused environment can significantly boost your own productivity.
Customer Success Stories – How Happy Spaces Helps Surfcoast Locals
More Than Just a Desk: Finding Inspiration & Connection – Paz’s Story
Paz, founder of The Community Collective, found Happy Spaces about three years ago and quickly realised it offered far more than just a place to work. As a founder without a locally based team, she sought not only a productive environment with beautiful ocean views but also a way to connect with people, share ideas, and feel part of the vibrant Surf Coast community she had moved to join.
Productive Haven: Paz finds she’s “way more productive here than I am at home,” arriving early to a calm, focused environment before the main buzz begins, allowing her to get deep work done.
Daily Ritual & Connection: Her 15-minute bike ride, locking up undercover, and passing MortaDeli create a positive daily routine, integrating her workday with the local Torquay rhythm.
Spontaneous Inspiration: Paz highlights that “some of the best ideas I’ve had have been in this space from a two-minute conversation in the kitchen,” showing the value beyond structured meetings.
Building Real Relationships: Weekly BYO lunches and other interactions have directly led to Paz finding new clients and partners for The Community Collective, turning casual connections into valuable collaborations.
Community Contribution: Paz felt so connected she even helped Matty shape the community events rhythm, demonstrating a deeper level of belonging and contribution beyond just being a member.
For Paz, Happy Spaces became the productive, inspiring hub where professional growth and genuine local connections thrive side-by-side. Experience for yourself how spontaneous conversations in the right environment can spark your next big idea.
Professional Vibe Without the Politics: Sam’s Story with Assemble Agency
Sam and his team at Assemble Agency sought a professional and inspiring base in Torquay, moving beyond typical office setups. Drawn immediately to the welcoming community fostered by Matty and Kerstin at Happy Spaces, they needed an environment that was not only motivational but also facilitated seamless collaboration and client interactions.
Motivational Environment: Sam found working alongside other driven professionals running their own businesses “extremely motivational” and inspiring for his own team.
No Office Politics: He highlights the unique benefit of getting the “office feel and the vibe… without all the politics,” appreciating the supportive culture free from traditional hierarchies and “fluff.”
Knowledge Sharing Hub: Sam values the community Matty and Kerstin built, where people readily “share knowledge and share experience and share expertise,” enriching his team’s perspective without needing a huge internal structure.
Seamless Collaboration: Having access to dedicated meeting rooms proved essential for Assemble Agency, allowing them to easily present ideas, collaborate effectively in person, and host professional client meetings, both online and face-to-face.
Welcoming Hosts: Sam specifically praises Kerstin as the “facilitator of good vibes” and Matty as someone who makes you “want to smile and have a chat,” underscoring the importance of their welcoming presence in creating the right atmosphere.
For Sam and Assemble Agency, Happy Spaces delivered the ideal blend of a professional, collaborative environment and a genuinely supportive, politics-free community; discover how the right workspace culture can inspire your team and streamline your operations.
Network Without the Overhead: Matt’s Story with Wild Boar Bike Racks
As the solo business owner behind Wild Boar Bike Racks, Matt found working alone could be isolating. He joined Happy Spaces seeking not just a desk, but the invaluable connection, camaraderie, and professional network typically associated with a larger team, but without the significant overhead costs.
Combating Isolation: Happy Spaces became a “lifesaver” for Matt, providing a friendly crew to interact with daily, share ideas, and enjoy the social side of work life.
Built-in Network: Matt highlights the benefit of meeting diverse professionals, stating he can “meet a whole lot of other people here that have got different ways of doing things,” tapping into shared knowledge without hiring.
Practical Advice & Tools: He specifically mentions gaining insights into useful software for video editing, audio recording, and even accounting options simply by networking with fellow members.
Beyond the Desk: The social connections extend beyond work talk; Matt enjoys “great fun lunches” and even joined fellow members for an ocean dip one morning, integrating work with the Surf Coast lifestyle.
Cost-Effective Expertise: Matt values being “open to all these different people” and expertise by simply paying for his desk, gaining the benefits of a team network without the associated expense.
For Matt, Happy Spaces provides the perfect blend of focused workspace and built-in professional network, offering essential support and connection for a solo business owner; see how coworking can provide the collaborative benefits of a team, without the overhead.
What Happy Spaces Offers
Happy Spaces provides a vibrant ecosystem designed to support productivity, connection, and well-being for Surf Coast professionals. Here’s a look at what they offer:
Hot Desks
Provides ultimate flexibility for members who enjoy variety and working within the open, social areas of the space.
Dedicated Desks
Offers consistency with your own personal desk within the shared workspace, perfect for establishing routine and having your setup ready to go.
Private Offices
Delivers quiet, enclosed spaces ideal for individuals or small teams needing focused work environments, confidential calls, or a private Torquay base.
Meeting Rooms & Call Pods
Features five private spaces available for booking, ensuring members can conduct focused calls or collaborative meetings without interruption.
Curated Community Events
Fosters genuine connection through a regular rhythm of activities like BYO lunches, local coffee shouts, balcony drinks, ocean dips, and memorable parties.
Networking & Collaboration Hub
Creates abundant opportunities to meet diverse professionals, share ideas and expertise, find partners, and build your local network organically.
Inspiring Coastal Workspace
Offers a bright, motivational atmosphere with ocean glimpses and a prime Gilbert Street location, connecting your workday to the Torquay environment.
Supportive & Inclusive Culture
Cultivates a genuinely welcoming, politics-free environment where members feel comfortable, supported, and encouraged to be themselves.
WhatsApp Interest Groups
Connects members outside work hours through shared interests like hiking, surfing, or cold-water plunges via dedicated community groups.
Business Support & Perks
Includes member benefits like ‘Free Friend Fridays’ and planned access to free business advisor sessions to support professional growth.
Sustainable & Eco-Conscious Space
Operates as a certified B Corp with a commitment to sustainability, featuring recycled/repurposed furniture and mindful environmental practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Happy Spaces offers three main membership types: Flexi, with flexible desk access options for 1, 3, or 7 days; Fixed, which includes a dedicated desk with 7-day access; and Premo, featuring a sit-to-stand adjustable desk. Private office options are also available for teams of 2-4 people. Head to happyspaces.com.au for full pricing.
Yes, Happy Spaces offers day, week, and month passes for those who need flexibility or prefer not to commit to a long-term membership.
Yes, Happy Spaces offers meeting rooms for 7 people, private booths, an event space, and casual breakout areas. Meeting rooms can be booked 7 days a week from 7am to 10pm, and rates range from $25 to $60 per hour.
Members enjoy access to high-speed internet, kitchen facilities, communal areas, private meeting rooms, showers, a balcony with beach views, and undercover parking. There’s also a strong community vibe with weekly events and member activities.
Yes, Happy Spaces is proud to be a certified B Corp Coworking Space in Torquay, reflecting their commitment to social and environmental impact and aligning them with other purpose-driven businesses.
Happy Spaces is located at Level 1, 4 – 6 Gilbert Street, Torquay, with access through the glass sliding door next to Mortadeli. Positioned in Torquay’s main village area, it’s just steps from the beach and close to cafes, shops, and other conveniences, making it an ideal location for Surfcoast professionals.
Happy Spaces has a ‘community rhythm’ featuring regular events like weekly BYO lunches, monthly coffee shouts supporting local cafes, balcony drinks, and larger celebrations. They also facilitate member-led activities via WhatsApp groups for interests like hiking, surfing, and cold water plunges.
Yes, connection is actively encouraged. The open-plan design facilitates spontaneous conversations, regular community events provide structured opportunities to chat, and both Matty and Kerstin actively help members forge new professional and personal connections within this Coworking Space Torquay.
Absolutely. Happy Spaces hosts regular events, free advising sessions, and social meetups to support small businesses and foster valuable connections.
The best way to get started is to jump on the Happy Spaces website and book a tour online. General Manager Kerstin personally conducts the tours, showing you around, discussing your needs, and giving you a feel for the space and community vibe.
Message Happy Spaces or Call: (03) 9521 9278
Location
Level 1, 4-6, Gilbert Street
Torquay, Surf Coast
VIC 3228
Hours
Open 24/7
