| Location | Kirwan, Queensland, Australia |
|---|---|
| Management | DEXUS Property Group (formerly known as DB RREEF) |
| Owner | DEXUS Property Group |
| No. of stores and services | 130 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 6 |
| Total retail floor area | 38,000m2 |
| Parking | 1,700 Bays (approx) |
| No. of floors | 2 (1 retail, 1 Rooftop Carpark) |
| Website | www.willowsshoppingcentre.com.au |
| Information from DB RREEF.[1] | |
Willows Shopping Centre is a sub-regional shopping centre, located in Kirwan, a suburb of Townsville, Queensland. Once stage one of the centre opens, It will be one of Townsville's largest shopping centers with a total of 130 retail stores. The centre will boast Townsville's biggest foodcourt and will have northern Australia's only Oporto fast food outlet. An Australian Breastfeeding Association five-star-rated parents' room will be provided, complete with children's play area, as well as a state of the art new male, female and disabled room facilities. Willows Shopping Centre will also host Northern Australia's largest Big W Department Store at 8500sqm as well a revamped Target Department Store with new feature facades and ceramic and wooden floor tiles inside the store.[2]
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The centre was originally opened in 1985 and contained Woolworths, Franklins and approximately 70 shops. In 1994 Coles and Target opened at the present sites. Soon after, Franklins closed and moved across the road and the space was converted to Crazy Clarks. In the latest expansion (2009) this space was used to create space for the mall heading towards Big W and Best & Less.
The centre was purchased by RREEF (which has since rebranded to DEXUS Property Group) in 2006 for approximately A$100 million (2006).[3]
Willows Shopping Centre will become four times bigger. Dexus has gained approval to expand the retail floorpsace up to four times which includes a cinema and commercial space as part of a 20-year masterplan. The shopping centre is well placed to service much of the region's growth with the new Townsville Ring Road opening access to the east and west and 69 per cent of the region's population growth predicted to occur within its main trade area to the west and north.
Stage one on construction of the expansion has commenced in August 2008, with works expected to take 18 months to complete. The expansion includes an 8500 square metre Big W store, two mini majors, about 60 new specialty stores, 600 additional car spaces and upgrades to amenities including new outdoor areas. The 20-year masterplan calls for floorspace of 82,500 square metres the centre now is 38,000 square metres. An extra 50,000 square metres of retail space is being sought in three stages. The expansion is to be accommodated within the Willows' existing 15ha site.[4]
Willows Shopping Centre has been named as a competitor to the Stockland complex as a site for a Myer store in Townsville. The department store giant is committed to Townsville and is hopeful to be trading in late 2011. The original deal Myer had for Townsville was with Stockland and representatives are still working with Stockland closely on potentially agreeing to a final plan for that site, However Myer is conducting discussions with the Dexus group for Willows, but at this stage Myer has no plans to enter into discussions outside of Stockland and Willows.
Myer are working through the business case on both of these proposals to determine which is the best fit for the Myer brand. The proposed store would be 12,000sq m over two floors and stock all categories from fashion for men, women and kids, to homewares, electrical and general merchandise. There have been ongoing delays due the global economic downturn with the viability of Stockland's expansion to include Myer as securing capital and funds for major projects hit many hurdles when the economy was going backwards.
A decision between Stockland and Willows would be made in the 'not too distant
Myer has decided to open a new store at Stockland Townsville. Although Myer has stated that they will open a 2nd store in Townsville after the 2012 opening at Stockland Townsville.
Willows has started consulting council and nearby residences about stage 2. Work could start in 2013/2014 depending on approvals. Willows stated that there will be an option for a relocated supermarket and more specialty shops.
Willows Shopping Centre's owners Dexus have submitted a D.A for a $65 million dollar expansion which will see the relocation of Woolworths (next to Big W) and 40 new stores and three mini majors.
Updated DA to council 26/10/2011:-
WILLOWS Shopping Centre will be transformed into the largest shopping complex in North Queensland after a $130 million expansion.
Kmart is the first major retailer secured for the centre, which will also include at least six new "mini-majors", 75 speciality stores, a relocated supermarket - believed to be Woolworths - and 365 new shaded car parking spaces.
A fresh food market place with greengrocers, fishmonger and deli, and a community hub including a community centre and art space and enclosed 300sq m children's play area adjoining an expanded food court with new cafes are other major features.
Pending council approval, the project is expected to start in 2013, with the grand re-opening scheduled for late-2015. The expansion is expected to generate 1110 jobs during and after construction.
These include about 500 construction jobs and 600 retail positions.
It will make Willows the largest shopping centre in North Queensland, with more than 56,000sq m of floor space, boasting 200 speciality stores, two supermarkets, eight to 10 mini-majors and more than 2600 car parks.
Its size surpasses nearest rival Cairns Central, which has 53,000sq m of floor space and 180 stores, and will be larger than Stockland Townsville which, once the $180 million expansion and Myer construction is complete, will have about 46,000sq m net lettable area.
It comes just two years after the $82 million first stage redevelopment of the Willows which included a new Big W store and is part of the 20 year master plan for the complex.
The bulk of the expansion will be centred around the current Woolworths entrance, bordering Kern Brothers Drv and Carthew St, creating greater connectivity between Cannon Park and Sunland Plaza. The bus stop and taxi rank would be moved to the southwest corner near the new Kmart.
The blueprint is the result of 12 months' community consultation, in which residents expressed a desire for larger speciality stores, more health service providers such as Medicare and additional youth fashion.
Owners Dexus Property Group yesterday lodged a development application for the proposed expansion with Townsville City Council. The next stage is to begin negotiations with other major retailers interested in space.
Dexus asset and development manager Tyrone Dodds said the expansion was an expression of the company's confidence in the city, the state's fastest growing regional hub.
"Population is forecast to grow by some 40,000 people over the next 10 years, and 75 per cent of those will be to the west and south in Willows' main trade area," Mr Dodds said.
Dexus head of retail asset and development management Nick Read said the Willows expansion was a most significant investment in the company's retail arm in Australia and the US.
"Following the outstanding success of the $82 million first stage of redevelopment in late-2009, we are now responding to community feedback for a second Kmart store in Townsville along with other improvements," he said.
Plans can be viewed at the Willows from today.
The centre is serviced by public transportation run by Sunbus Townsville.
Major retailers within the centre include (Post Expansion):
Major food retailers within the centre include: