Beach and gym-goers will have increased peace of mind that their belongings are safe while they swim or workout, thanks to newly installed Yellowbox smart lockers at Coogee Beach, Maroubra Beach and the Des Renford Leisure Centre.

The roll out of the free, contactless smart lockers is part of Randwick City Council’s Smart Cities Beach Strategy, which seeks to adopt a wide variety of current and emerging technologies to make visiting the beach easier and safer.

The innovative technology was developed by UNSW Business School graduates who developed their concept as part of internal development program.

Yellowbox smart lockers can be hired free of charge within Randwick City through the Yellowbox app, which is available on both iOS and Android platforms. The app connects to the smart lockers and opens them via Bluetooth technology. The smart lockers also have a keypad so that users can set a code using their phone, store their phone in the locker and open it again using their pre-set code.

“This idea is a wonderfully simple solution to keep personal belongings safe while people are at the beach or gym. It is the brainchild of four UNSW students who have worked incredibly hard to bring their idea to life,” said Randwick Mayor Danny Said.

“I’m so pleased that we can nurture and support young entrepreneurs and offer a valuable service to our residents, all at the same time. It’s a great example of the types of projects and improvements that can be made as part of the Randwick Collaboration Area Group which involves Randwick Council, UNSW, Randwick Hospitals complex and the Australian Turf Club.”

Adrian Brossard, Vanessa Zhao, Ho Jun Tang and Ben Delaney, who are the founders of Yellowbox, studied commerce and engineering at UNSW. They pitched their idea at the UNSW Peter Farrell Cup university pitching competition in 2018 and have since developed the product and technology, implementing a network of smart lockers starting in Randwick City.

David Burt, Director Entrepreneurship at the UNSW Division of Enterprise, whose team delivers the Founders program and prestigious Peter Farrell Cup, congratulated the graduates on their successful venture.

“UNSW empowers our students and alumni with the capability, mindset and networks they need to create positive impact through entrepreneurship," says Burt. “We are particularly excited for Yellowbox's success, having nurtured their growth through our Peter Farrell Cup and 10x Accelerator programs."

View the Yellowbox website here or download the app here.