Described as Fort Knox, Stash is the place where you keep either one – or fifty – of your priceless four-wheeled assets.
There’s no debate – cars have become a legitimate and universally accepted asset class, no different to fine art and real estate.
Whether it’s businesses creating superannuation funds that pay returns based on the trading of rare and unique cars, or people simply hoarding and profiteering off internal combustion’s finest, it’s never been more challenging to own something rare and unique metal.
On top of the huge demand and skyrocketing prices comes other predicaments too. Regardless of whether it’s $20,000 Japanese metal or $2,000,000 European tin that gets you off, cars deteriorate when they’re not stored correctly.
They’re big objects to store too, so you can’t simply park one on your shelf, even if it’s appreciating in value and a good idea to keep it. It’s a predicament that car storage business Stash is here to answer.
Stash is Australia’s first ground-up built and dedicated car storage facility. I know that sounds uninspiring, but we’re talking about Australia’s only purpose-built Fort Knox that can potentially store up to 500 rare and special cars.
Stash is owned and run by Scott Shedden, and his business partner, Josh Climpson. The pair met each other in high school as the Shedden family grew their furniture retail business in the Hills district of Sydney, about 45 minutes north-west from Sydney’s CBD.
The Sheddens wisely invested in the land around the Sydney suburb of Rouse Hill, where it created one of Australia’s most state-of-the-art warehouses for its OZ Design Furniture business.
It’s here where Scott used his hereditary entrepreneurial skills to repurpose some of the facilities destined under the planned works at the family’s Rouse Hill site. It eventually needed a carpark, however Scott saw an opportunity to expedite construction and use the facility in other ways.
“We’re planning a multi-stage and on-going construction effort on our site here in Rouse Hill” added Scott.
“As a car collector myself, I saw the opportunity to use a future car parking facility for storage. The family loved the idea, so we expedited its construction, and tweaked it to suit the storage of rare vehicles”.
It means that simple things like like a single entry and exit point, thermal mass perimeter, natural and mechanical air ventilation, solid epoxy floors, and plenty of power points for trickle chargers were all factored into the build.
“Our biggest concern is discretion and security so we have gone above and beyond. We have 24/7 on-site guards, closed circuit surveillance, and a borderline impenetrable gate. It’s as safe as houses”.
Stash offers its customers two solutions to car storage called “archive” and “drive”.
The first is pretty clear, they’ll store your vehicle in a safe and humidity-controlled environment, tick it over when required, and keep it well maintained.
This solution can also work for self-managed super fund investments with classic cars – they require the asset to be managed (and not driven) by an independent third party. If not, and your car is merely an expensive project that doesn’t run, they’ll still humour you.
The second is a solution for the driver. It costs more, but it means you can access your car pretty much whenever you want during business hours, and over the weekend.
Your favourite car becomes one that’s just one phone call away. I was treated to a tour of the facility, but had to be mindful of the photographs I took. It’s a private place, and I know that not everyone successful is excited to tell the world about what they have hidden away.
Rest assured, there’s everything in here from vintage 1970s-era Bathurst race cars through to the rarest and most-expensive Honda Civic ever made, just to whet your appetite.
Stash runs regular cars and coffee events however, so if you ever want a peep inside the place, make sure you head on down and say g’day.
If you’re interested in learning more about Stash and its products, visit its website.
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