Highpoint Shopping Centre

Highpoint Shopping Centre

Highpoint Logo
Location Maribyrnong, Victoria, Australia
Opening date 1975
Developer GPT Group
Management GPT Group
Owner GPT Group
No. of stores and services 500[1]
No. of anchor tenants 7
Total retail floor area 156,000 m²[2]
No. of floors 4
Parking over 6,200
Website http://www.highpoint.com.au

Highpoint Shopping Centre is a major shopping centre located in Maribyrnong, Victoria, in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria and is the fourth largest shopping centre in Australia. The centre has 500 stores including a four-level Myer department store, a two-level David Jones department store, Harris Scarfe, Target, Big W, Zara, Topshop, Topman, Woolworths supermarket, Best and Less, Toys R Us, JB Hi-Fi and Hoyts cinemas and a Digital IMAX theatre.

In 2011 Highpoint underwent a two-year $300 million two-stage redevelopment which added 100 new stores.

Highpoint is Victoria's 2nd largest shopping centre and the 3rd largest in Australia boasting 500 stores, with an annual turnover of $778 million and over 15 million shoppers visiting each year.[2] It is the largest shopping centre serving Melbourne's western and north western suburbs, an area with a population of at least half a million people.

History

Highpoint is built on a hill which looks out over the Maribyrnong River to Melbourne's CBD, hence its name. An anti-aircraft battery operated on the site during World War II for protection of the surrounding military bases and ammunition works in Maidstone and Maribyrnong.

The 50-acre site was previously a quarry, as can be seen by the quarry cliff face walls of the lower carparks. The land was sold by the City of Essendon for $1.85 million in April 1971, with permission required also from the City of Sunshine as the quarry was also located in that local government area.[3] Construction of the initial stage of the shopping complex cost $11 million.[3]

Named originally "Westland Shopping Centre"[4] then "Highpoint West Shopping Centre" it was later renamed "Highpoint City Shopping Centre". It is now marketed as "Highpoint".

Redevelopment 2011 - 2013

The most recent rounds of expansion and redevelopment occurred in two stages, commencing in March 2011.[5] An additional 30,000 m² was added including the first David Jones department store in Melbourne's western suburbs.[6] Expansions, over two levels, incorporated traffic flow improvements, an additional 1,000 car spaces and 100 extra speciality retailers. The first stage of the redevelopment opened 18 October 2012 included a new Woolworths as well as a Fresh Food Market, and an improved car park with "Park Assist" technology. The second stage opened on 14 March 2013 including the David Jones store over two levels, an Apple Store, Australia's 2nd Samsung Experience store, a Topshop clothing store and a Zara clothing store along with 98 specialty stores and an extra 1,000 car spaces. One of the redevelopments aims was to improve the centre's sustainability.[5]

Facilities

Highpoint has 156,000 m² of floor space on four levels.

Major anchors

Minor anchors

Opposite the main Highpoint centre on Rosamond Road there are a large number of other stores and businesses, including Bunnings Warehouse, Harvey Norman, Dick Smith Powerhouse, another JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks, an AMF Bowling Center, The Good Guys and a large number of homeware and furniture retailers in a section called "Homemaker City" such as Freedom and Barbeques Galore. One of the branches of Maribyrnong Library Service is located at the front of the shopping centre on Rosamond Rd.

Ownership

Until 2006, Highpoint was wholly owned by Melbourne's Besen family (also owners of the Sussan retail chain). In March 2006, the GPT (General Property Trust) Group purchased a 50% stake and management rights in the centre for about A$621.2 million.[7]

Transport

There are no trains in the immediate vicinity; Footscray station is 4km away by bus or tram, as is Ascot Vale station (Craigieburn line). Both can be reached by tram route 82.

Melbourne tram route 82 (Footscray to Moonee Ponds) runs along the western side, while route 57 (West Maribyrnong to City) is 450 metres away on Raleigh Rd.

Highpoint Shopping Centre is serviced by the following bus routes:

Bicycle racks can be found at both the "Atrium Level 2" and the "Riverbank" entrances.

References

  1. ↑ Highpoint store directory
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hopkins, Philip (24 February 2011). "DJs to anchor Highpoint's $300m revamp". Age. Melbourne: Fairfax. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Murphy, Allan (1 March 2011). "Centre's high point". Moonee Valley Weekly (Fairfax). p. 14.
  4. ↑ http://www.universalconcretepumping.com.au/attachments/highpoint_shopping_centre.pdf
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.highpoint.com.au/content.aspx?urlkey=highpoint_development
  6. ↑ Jimenez, Katherine (24 February 2011). "$300m makeover for Highpoint shopping centre". Australian. News. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  7. ↑ GPT to acquire 50% of Highpoint, Sydney Morning Herald, 20 March 2006.

External links


Coordinates: 37°46′24″S 144°53′09″E / 37.77333°S 144.88583°E