Globally, online dating sites are a dime a dozen, but high quality, free Australian dating services are far and few between. LonelyHearts.com.au is the first full-scale free dating site in Australia, offering men and women unlimited access to make connections for friendship, casual dating and more.

The driving force behind the site is Martin Speedie, founder of successful websites MagazineSubscriptions.com and FunGifts.com.au. About his latest venture, the Australian / New Zealand focused LonelyHearts.com.au, Speedie comments:

"It's hard to meet people. If you don't work at a nine to five job, office romances are out - and let's face it, dating a coworker isn't a good idea anyway. After a while the bar scene gets jaded. My single friends kept saying there had to be a better way to make real connections. I looked at online singles sites and realized that there was an unmet need in the Australian / New Zealand market - all the sites I visited were either not locally focused, too sexually oriented, or heavily commercialised."

LonelyHearts.com.au is specifically targeted at singles in Australia and New Zealand, and provides the opportunity to screen potential friends based on member selected criteria. The Ideal Match feature allows members to specify pre-defined characteristics, then search for matches who meet their criteria. Facebook style chat is available as well as mail, and a Contact Filter pre-screens interested parties, allowing only those who meet the pre-set criteria to make contact.

Unlike the many dating sites, which are owned and operated by large corporations with an eye on the bottom line, LonelyHearts.com.au is local, community oriented, and free. It's friendly rather than risque, relaxed instead of desperate - LonelyHearts.com.au puts the focus on creating a network of people who are simply looking for a meaningful connection.

The site, still in early stages, is already seeing an influx of new members. With the Contact Filter and the no-pressure atmosphere along with extra perks passed out to members who refer others to the site, the incentive is strong to sign up and encourage friends and family to join as well. Sign up is easy - would be members simply fill out a short profile, activate their account from an email sent to the address they provide, and the have the opportunity to complete a more in depth profile for access to the entire site.

The website's 'Lonely Hearts' are allowed to post photos, list their interests and attractions and communicate with other members. Members can find a friend, a potential dating partner or even a soul mate - how they use the site is up to the individual. LonelyHearts.com.au has only been live for a few short weeks, but is rapidly gaining speed. 

"I think there was really a niche open here, and I was in the right place at the right time to make things happen," Speedie reflects. "If the site makes a couple of Australian and New Zealand singles a little less lonely, it will have served its purpose. There's no huge psychological compatibility test, no 'find your ideal sex partner vibe' - we're not Match.com and we're not one of the 'adult dating' sites, either. It's just a lot of regular people looking for other regular people, to make a connection on whatever level they feel comfortable with.