Knox City Shopping Centre

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Facts and statistics
Knox City Shopping Centre


Location	Wantirna South, Victoria, Australia
Opening date	Knox City: 1977 Knox Ozone: 2002
Developer	AMP Capital Shopping Centres
Owner	20% Australian Core Property Portfolio
No. of stores and services	350
Total retail floor area	142,244 m²
Parking	6,344
No. of floors	2 (4 in Myer, 1 in O-Zone)
Website	knoxcity.com.au

Knox City Shopping Centre is a major shopping centre complex located on the corner of Stud Road and Burwood Highway in the Melbourne suburb of Wantirna South, Australia. Incorporating both a conventional indoor shopping centre and an outdoor shopping strip (known as Knox O-Zone), the complex is the largest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere by floor space with 142,674m2 of lettable area. Knox City Shopping Centre is the 7th largest shopping centre in Australia by number of stores.

See: List of Shopping Centres in Australia by size

1 History
2 Transport
3 Design Award
4 References

[edit] History

Planning for the development of the shopping centre commended in 1972 when McIntyre, McIntyre and Partners Pty. Ltd. won a $30 million tender from the AMP Society to design the new complex in Wantirna South. Their successful design led to the construction of a Brutalist-style building.

The shopping centre was officially opened on November 9, 1977. The centre originally included a three-storey Myer department store, a twin Dendy Cinemas complex, public library, Target department store, supermarket, McEwans hardware and 83 speciality shops. A four-story office tower was constructed on the south side of the building at the same time.

Throughout 1989 and 1990, the centre was doubled in size and the original section completely refurbished. A fourth floor was added to the Myer store, the undercover carparks were expanded and a new promenade, market and food court were added. The twin cinemas were replaced with a 10-screen Village Cinemas complex. On the adjacent block an outdoor shopping centre was established, known as the Knox District Centre (later Knox Towerpoint and now Knox O-zone).

In 2002, the centre was extended further at a cost of $150 million. The Knox Towerpoint complex was renamed Knox O-zone and joined to Knox City Shopping Centre through an expansion of the shopping centre eastwards and redevelopment of the O-zone shops. The eastern section of the centre was completely redeveloped and the exterior of the shopping centre painted. The combination of Knox City Shopping Centre and Knox O-zone combine to a total of 142,422 square metres, making it the largest shopping centre in Melbourne by area. Currently there are over 350 retailers throughout the complex and 6,391 car parking spaces available.

Major stores include Myer, Coles, Kmart, Target, Lincraft, Harvey Norman, Dick Smith Electronics PowerHouse, Borders Books and Music, Toys R Us, Rebel Sport, JB Hi-Fi, Virgin Music, Blockbuster, and a fifteen screen Village Cinemas Complex.

Eateries also at Knox Shopping Centre include two KFC and Hungry Jack's outlets, McDonalds, Red Rooster, Nando's, Subway, Krispy Kreme along with many smaller outlets. Knox Tavern is also located within the Knox O-Zone complex, along with two other popular bars.

The Knox O-Zone complex also houses several community services including medical and dental services, Centrelink and a RACV shop. O-Zone also encompasses an AMF Bowling Center and Fitness First gym.

[edit] Transport

A large bus shelter outside the main entrance was built in 1999 in the location of the original 1977 bus terminus, to accommodate buses plying the routes to to Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre, Dandenong and Rowville. (The buses had been relocated to the east of the centre in 1990).

[edit] Design Award

Architect Peter McIntyre was given the Buildings Award Medal by the Victorian Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects in 1978 for the design of Knox City Shopping Centre.