Unlocking Australia's 'distinctive strength' in the early hours

In Brisbane's South Bank runners, cyclists and early risers seek out a coffee from 5:30am. (ABC News: Claudia Williams) Link copiedShareShare articleIt's just after 5:30am and the sun is yet to rise as Terrance Watson sits at the edge of the Brisbane River with a coffee in hand. It's where he starts his morning about five days a week, often with his bike parked nearby. "It gives me time to plan what I am doing in the quietness," he says. Terrance Watson starts riding at 4:30am before making a stop for coffee. (ABC News: Claudia Williams) He meets a group of four others for coffee, including Andrew Warnes, who arrives about half an hour later. His order, a decaf, extra-hot flat white on oat milk, is made without him having to say a word. For Andrew Warnes, who works from home, getting out for a morning coffee is an "absolute must". (ABC News: Claudia Williams) But the daily habit is as much about the coffee as the people he chats to while drinking it. "To me, it is all about community," Mr Warnes says. That includes Garry Ziser and Deborah Knappick, who sit facing the river. They meet at 5am and walk 5 kilometres, before stopping for coffee. Deborah Knappick and Garry Ziser meet up to four times a week for a morning walk and coffee at 5am. (ABC News: Claudia Williams) "It is just a good thing to do," Mr Ziser says. "I think if you don't do it first thing in the morning, you don't do it, and you need a walking partner." Ms Knappick jokes that the coffee stop is "essentially the only reason we do it". Back beside the river, Julie Newton sits with her dog, Yuki, on her lap. "What I love is seeing everyone else out and about," she says. "I joke with my friends that half of my day is done by 6:30am." Julie Newton with her dog Yuki. (ABC News: Claudia Williams) The cafe in Brisbane's South Bank is busiest from 5:30am to 8:30am, according to owner Deniz Sener. He says they serve about 150 coffees during a decent morning rush. Brisbane's South Bank is a hive of activity from the early hours. (ABC News: Claudia Williams) Mr Sener's cafe is among the 13 per cent of Brisbane food and drink businesses that are open between 5am and 6am, according to analysis by University of Melbourne research fellow Anna Edwards. Between 6am and 7am, the number of venues open jumps to 32 per cent; by 8am, around half are serving customers. An early morning coffee is a daily routine before work for Jan Webster, who has met many friends over the years through her routine. (ABC News: Claudia Williams) Dr Edwards says the river city, and Australia more generally, has a "distinctive strength" when it comes to early morning trading. "And I think we should be promoting and letting people know about it," she says. Dr Edwards has found that the amount of money Australians spend on their cards between 5am and 11am is very similar to that spent between 7pm and midnight. "Except, people are spending their money on different things," she says. "That evening spend is concentrated on restaurants and dining, whereas that morning spend is on the likes of retail as well as restaurants and dining." Brisbane and Perth are Australia's earliest rising cities; 30 per cent of food and drink venues open between 6am and 7am. Dr Edwards says while the climate is likely a factor behind the early start in Brisbane, in Perth the time difference with the east coast may play a role. The proportion of food and drink venues open by 7am drops to 19 per cent in Sydney, 16 per cent in Melbourne, and 15 per cent in both Canberra and Hobart. "We know that Australians are among the earliest risers globally and that shows up in how early our cafes and services open," Dr Edwards says. When it comes to early morning trading, Dr Edwards says it is also important to take into account those who are hitting the gym and working, with about 900,000 Australians on the clock between midnight and 6am. Historically, she has researched the night-time and 24-hour economy, but her focus expanded after reading a social media post by Sydney investor Ivan Power about his observations of Sydney's "morning economy". Mr Power says when he was at Bondi Beach one morning, he noticed that almost all outdoor seats at the cafes were full by 6:30am. "I was sitting there thinking this is incredible, the economy in the morning," he says. Ivan Power posted about the morning economy on LinkedIn alongside this photo, taken just after 7am in Bondi. (Supplied: Aquabumps / Uge Tan) He believes it presents a huge economic opportunity, with an added incentive to invest in outdoor spaces and a point of difference for tourists. "They are not only flabbergasted by it, but they are also addicted to it," he says. Ivan Power says Australia's early morning culture presents a huge tourism opportunity. (Supplied) Looking overseas, in London's Soho district, 9 per cent of food and drink venues are open between 6am and 7am, according to Dr Edwards's analysis. In Downtown Dubai, 9 per

Unlocking Australia's 'distinctive strength' in the early hours

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