Tradie Jack Chadwick started an electrical services business last year in Werribee and hasn't looked back. He said 2016 was "my best financial year ever".
![Owner operator Jack Chadwick of Chadwick Electrical Contracting is juggling a new business and contract work.](/web/20170125175927im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/w/b/x/2/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtwoio.png/1485212894656.jpg)
The 24-year-old is behind one of 7159 businesses that registered in the outer suburban growth hub, which is 32 kilometres south-west of Melbourne.
Data from government agencies shows Werribee and Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne's west, Liverpool in Sydney's south-west and Toowoomba in Queensland emerged as the hottest hubs of new business activity in Australia.
"Last year we saw a 36 per cent increase in ABN registration," said co-founder of business registration firm Veromo, Luscheyne Mellon.
![Business registration firm Veromo's co-founder Luscheyne Mellon said the gig economy is a contributor.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170125175927im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/w/p/e/z/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1485139610749.png)
Ms Mellon said the gig economy is a contributor.
"The sharing economy growth is contributing to the need for people to hold an ABN but we are also seeing a rise of the sole trader, people going out on their own," she said.
New venture
Werribee sparkie Chadwick took the plunge when he lost his job at an elevator company and went to sub-contract for a friend in Melton. He used his redundancy compensation and worked as a sub-contractor to raise money for his new business.
"I had never seen inside a small business before. It was new," Chadwick said. One year on, Chadwick now does electrical fittings for 15 to 20 clients.
The young tradesman says in Werribee social connections often turn into business connections.
"It has a small town feel to it," he said. "People are willing to take a chance on you."
Despite his business success, it was not all smooth sailing for Chadwick. He says he wasn't aware of any support he could receive from the government.
In fact, he still works as a sub-contractor.
"It's hard waiting on invoices all the time," he said. "I want to be sure something is coming in each week."
The data shows areas where existing development and infrastructure and are happening are also drawing strong small business investment.
"Liverpool, what's in Liverpool?"
Johnny Bui, who runs a cafe called Rustic Greens in Liverpool, New South Wales, said he had no idea what the suburb was like until last year when he opened. He joined 6642 new business registrations in the Liverpool, 32 kilometres south-west of the CBD.
"I heard about it from a friend of mine who has a Vietnamese restaurant here," said Bui. "At the time I was also looking for an area to open, and he explained what's happening here in terms of the University of Wollongong opening a new campus and lots of other development.
![NSW Premier Mike Baird at the official announcement of the establishment of the University of Wollongong's South Western Sydney Campus](http://web.archive.org./web/20170125175927im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/j/u/x/l/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1462179490146.png)
Former NSW premier Mike Baird at the official announcement of the establishment of the University of Wollongong's South Western Sydney Campus. Photo: Kate Geraghty
Liverpool is home to more than 140 languages and its population of more than 24,000 was found last year to make the most online shopping purchases.
"There's still not many healthy eating options in Liverpool, so I opened Rustic Greens to have something different. We do juices and salads as well as sandwiches and coffee," Bui said.
"I'm definitely expecting business to really grow in the next couple of years."
Macro and micro
Like Liverpool, Toowoomba and Werribee are all seeing huge investment in infrastructure, education and property as well as business.
Toowoomba, for example, recently opened the Wellcamp airport, and is already a site for business negotiations around chilled beef export to China.
Werribee in Melbourne is also going through incredible growth.
![Parking at a premium at the Werribee train Statioin.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170125175927im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/7/o/y/u/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1440986257199.png)
Parking at a premium at the Werribee train station. Photo: Jason South
Pacific Werribee Shopping Centre (formerly Werribee Plaza) has undergone a $400 million redevelopment making room for more small business.
"As part of the redevelopment, we opened 17 new eateries, many of which are owned by a franchisee from the local area including Schnitz, La Porchetta and San Churro. Small businesses like Makan Place and Hello Juice have also opened during this period," said centre manager Jonathan Codman.
The development is in line with statistics that point out Wyndham, which neighbours Werribee, is Melbourne's fastest-growing suburb.
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