Fishburners, a well-known start-up hub in Sydney, went into voluntary administration in May 2026. The not-for-profit group appointed KPMG’s Phil Quinlan and Gayle Dickerson as administrators on 6 May. The board blamed old rent debts and later losses. Fishburners kept running while the administrators looked for a buyer or new investors.
Key Facts
- Who: Fishburners, a not-for-profit co-working space for start-ups, started in 2011.
- Administrators: Phil Quinlan and Gayle Dickerson from KPMG.
- Why: “Long-standing rental legacy debt” and “subsequent operating losses”, the board said.
- Community: More than 35,000 entrepreneurs, SmartCompany reported.
- Creditors’ meeting: 18 May 2026.
What Went Wrong
Fishburners was based at the government-backed Sydney Startup Hub for several years. The board said it could not solve rent debts from that time. Those debts, plus later losses, led to administration.
What Happens Now
KPMG said Fishburners would keep trading. It planned a fast sale and recapitalisation process. Gayle Dickerson said Fishburners had been “a pillar of the Australian startup ecosystem” for more than 15 years.
A Bit of History
Fishburners was started by Mike Casey and Pete Davison in Ultimo. Founders of companies like Koala and v2food have been part of it, SmartCompany said.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is voluntary administration?
It is when a company asks outside experts to take control and try to save the business or sell it.
Is Fishburners still open?
It kept trading during administration, KPMG said.
Who are the administrators?
Phil Quinlan and Gayle Dickerson from KPMG.
Conclusion
Fishburners helped many young businesses get started. Its future now depends on finding new backers.
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