Canberra Centre

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The new front of the Canberra Centre on Ainslie Avenue

Inside the Canberra Centre

Damage inside Canberra Centre after severe thunderstorm

Water damage after flooding inside Canberra Centre caused by severe thunderstorm

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Canberra Centre is a shopping mall located in Civic, Canberra, Australia. It opened on 6 March 1963 as the Monaro Mall,^[1] then underwent a $220 million redevelopment and became the Canberra Centre in 1989. Canberra Centre was the first shopping centre in Canberra to have a car park operated by Car Park Ticket Machines.

1 History
2 Tennants
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

Prime Minister Robert Menzies opened the original shopping centre, known as the Monaro Mall on 6 March 1963. At the time it was the first Australian three-storey, fully enclosed and air conditioned shopping centre.^[1] The centre was expanded and rebranded as The Canberra Centre. The shopping centre was again extended, adding the upper floor fashion atrium in 1993. Then in 2002, Canberra Centre was expanded across Bunda Street further down Ainslie Avenue (where Target is now). Further expansions completed in late 2007 have seen a new wing added, across Petrie Street on the block known as Section 84. Both redevelopments have been criticised by architects and residents for breaking the axis which runs between Mount Ainslie and City Hill, part of Walter Burley Griffin's original plan for Canberra.

On 28 February 2007, a severe thunderstorm known as a "supercell" passed over Canberra causing flash flooding, severe hail and property damage. The Canberra Centre along with the Australian National University and Campbell High School sustained heavy damage with flooding and damage to internal fit out. Severe damage was inflicted on most parts of the centre including the brand new expansion. The first sign of trouble for those inside the centre came when water began pouring from the ceiling of Dendy Cinema. After ten minutes, staff began a hasty evacuation. Borders also sustained heavy damage and flooding[1]