| Location | Wantirna South, Victoria, Australia |
|---|---|
| Opening date | Knox City: 1977 Knox Ozone: (as Knox District Centre) 1988 |
| Developer | AMP Capital Shopping Centres |
| Management | AMP Capital Shopping Centres |
| Owner |
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| No. of stores and services | ~350 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 12 |
| Total retail floor area | 142,244 m2 (1,531,102 Sq Ft) |
| Parking | 6,344 |
| No. of floors | 4 |
| Website | knoxcity.com.au |
Knox City Shopping Centre is a super-regional shopping centre and outdoor entertainment complex located in the outer eastern suburb of Wantirna South in the city of Melbourne, Australia. The centre opened on 9 November 1977 with an initial 88 stores and 2300 parking spaces. Presently, there are over 350 stores and over 6300 free car parking spaces, making the centre the second largest in Australia in terms of gross leasable area. The centre boasts major anchor stores such as the Myer and Harris Scarfe department stores, two Coles supermarkets, Kmart and Target discount department stores as well as a Village Cinemas 15 screen multiplex, an AMF bowling alley, a public library, a Toys 'R' US, Dick Smith, Harvey Norman JB Hi-Fi and Retravision electronics stores and over 350 specialty stores and restaurants, There are also a 7 storey office tower located at the southern side of the centre as well as low rise offices dotting the O-Zone precinct. as well as an indoor food court and an outdoor restaurant strip mall.
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Planning for the development of the shopping centre commenced 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. 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.
Construction commenced in 1975 when the shopping centre was originally going to be named 'Studwood Shopping Centre', however this name was later abandoned. The shopping centre was officially opened on 9 November 1977. The centre originally included a four-storey Myer department store, a twin Dendy Cinemas complex, public library, Target department store, Target 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 15-screen Village Cinemas complex, which opened in 1988. On the adjacent block an outdoor shopping centre was established, known as the Knox District Centre (later Knox Towerpoint and now Knox O-zone).
During 1997, the centre saw a minor refurbishment. An updated logo was introduced, along with new signage to complement. The food court was remodelled and introduced food decorations on the walls above the food outlets, palm trees, new tables and chairs as well as the opening of Hungry Jack's. Lincraft was also relocated when McEwans closed down, however it itself has closed down to make way for a new Harris Scarfe in October 2009. Best & Less moved into Lincraft's old retail space. The Reject Shop also moved from opposite Coles to The Market area.
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, which opened on 17 October 2002 with the new Knox O-Zone opening on 31 October. The exterior of the existing shopping centre was also painted. Currently there are over 350 retailers throughout the complex and 6,391 car parking spaces available.
Major stores include
Eateries also at Knox Shopping Centre include two KFC and Hungry Jack's outlets, McDonalds, Red Rooster, Nando's, Subway, 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. '
In case of an emergency at Knox City Shopping Centre, Boronia Fire Brigade is the primary Brigade to respond, along with Support from Bayswater Fire Brigade, Ferntree Gully Fire Brigade & Scoresby Fire Brigade.
Knox City Shopping Centre provides parking for around 6300 vehicles and is serviced by 11 bus routes and taxis.
Parking at the centre is free, however some parking has a three hour time limit. Out of the 6300 car parks, approximately 2700 are undercover. Along the southern fringe of the shopping centre is a two deck car park with centre entrances to both levels scattered throughout. A two deck car park is also located at the rear of the centre with entrances to the Gallery North and Loft malls. The majority of disabled car parks are located on the top deck of this car park near the Loft entrance. A four level multi-deck car park is located near Village Cinemas in Knox O-Zone along with open air street parking scattered throughout the complex. An overflow car park is located at the very east of the centre behind the four level multi-deck car park, with an extended overflow grass area adjacent to this car park.
Knox City is directly serviced by SmartBus route 901 as well as 10 regular bus routes (664, 681, 682, 732, 737, 738, 745, 755, 757, 758), with the bus interchange located outside the main level two entrance to the centre at the southern side of the centre. The 732 bus service provides a guaranteed connection to every tram at Vermont South to and from Knox City. The current bus interchange opened on 27 August 2001 in the same location as the original 1977 bus interchange, after the old interchange between Knox City and Knox O-Zone on Melbourne Street (where Melbourne Circle is currently located) shut down the day before. Two taxi ranks service the centre. A primary taxi rank which is located adjacent to the bus interchange and a secondary taxi rank operates late at night in Knox O-Zone outside The Comedy Club.
The mall has been utilised as a filming location a number of times in recent years for the Australian television soap, Neighbours, particularly the Village Cinemas entrance.
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