At VIC police website under 'Frequently Asked Questions'
http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.as ... t_ID=36210Can I store my firearms at another licence holder's address?
Yes, however the following requirements must be satisfied:
If the licence holder has access to the firearms, they must be the holder of the appropriate licence for the category of firearm/s being stored;
The licence holder where the firearms are to be stored must continue to ensure that the storage facilities are in compliance with legislation. For example, the addition of a firearm/s stored at a particular location may necessitate the fitting of an alarm system;
Licensing & Regulation Division must be advised of that storage address if it is an ordinary storage address; and
The firearm/s are not able to be accessed by anyone who is not the holder of the applicable firearms licence.
If you are the holder of a general category handgun licence and you propose to be absent from Victoria for a substantial period of time or you are temporarily incapacitated, you may arrange for another licence holder to apply for a permit to store your handguns.
Can I store my firearms at an address where there is no licence holder?
Yes, provided that the storage facilities comply with requirements and you ensure that access to the firearms are unable to be accessed by persons not authorised to do so.
So generally yes if the storage requirements are met. If the owner has the keys they should be licenced. If they don't, just 150kg safe or bolted to the wall/floor(this is also how those 24 hours safes work, they cost around 50 dollars/month for 3 rifles, not cheap).
I currently rent in an apartment luckily I have many pro gun friends in the same building and some of the are owners and are willing to bolt a safe in their closet. They even let me keep all my rifle there for free. Most of the time we go target shooting or hunting together, we just gather in one of my friends room to do te prep before trip.
If you don't live around trusty friends(yes, you need to really trust your friends to put your rifles with them) who also to be gun owners, check providers like Kennards.
There might be more companies like this, and as I said, they are not cheap(compared to store with gun dealers and clubs). But they offer 24 hour access and no one could have access to your gun.