Australian native sought vacant sleeping-place (5)
I believe the answer is:
roost
'sleeping-place' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'australian native sought vacant' is the wordplay.
'australian native' becomes 'roo' (informal term for kangaroo).
'vacant' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters) (a vacant or emptied out form of the word).
'sought' with its centre removed is 'st'.
'roo'+'st'='ROOST'
(Other definitions for roost that I've seen before include "Colony of bats; perch" , "The cock rules it" , "Birds' resting place" , "Hen house; perch" , "suitable sleeping-place" .)