Canberra's growing restaurant scene, cycleways and savvy tech-users have been an alluring recipe for online food delivery service Deliveroo, which is launching in the city on Wednesday.
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The British company has arrived in the nation's capital after establishing itself in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Deliveroo country manager Levi Aron said it always had its eye on Canberra too.
"Especially due to the high proportion of people who are innovation focused, as well as the rise over the last few years of a strong foodie culture and great restaurants within Canberra," he said.
The gig economy service, which uses independent contractors to deliver food from popular restaurants, will cover inner-south and inner-north suburbs.
Deliveroo has signed up 40 restaurants in Canberra and expects to include more, particularly those that do not typically deliver.
"These are restaurants that everyone would be familiar with and places that you would usually go with partners, friends or colleagues," Mr Aron said.
Deliveroo expects Canberra's cycle-friendly geography may speed its take-up compared to other cities.
More than 50 riders have already put their hands up.
"We expect this to increase as the word gets out and demand starts to soar."
All Deliveroo riders are covered by workers compensation, Mr Aron said.
"As the Deliveroo riders are independent contractors we also ensure that public liability insurance is in place before they get out onto the road and ride for Deliveroo."
UNSW architecture student Hugh Bosman has signed on to deliver while he looks for full-time work.
"If I get a job, I can still keep doing it," Mr Bosman said.
ANU student Will Anderson said Deliveroo would give him more disposable income while studying.
"I crave flexibility," he said.
"It's paying me to ride my bike, which is my hobby," he said.
Canberra's quick embrace of ride-sharing service Uber showed it would be fast to use Deliveroo, Mr Anderson said.
Since starting with 40 restaurants across Sydney and Melbourne in 2015, it's signed up about 2,400 more and is growing 30 per cent month-on-month in its other five Australian cities.
Deliveroo will initially service: In the north, Civic, Braddon, Reid, Campbell, Turner, Ainslie, Dickson, Lyneham, Downer. In the south, Parkes, Barton, Kingston, Manuka, Narrabundah, Forrest, Yarralumla and Deakin.
