Macquarie Centre

Macquarie Centre main carpark entrance on Waterloo Road

The older level 2 JB Hi-Fi store in Macquarie Centre. JB Hi-Fi has since relocated to level 4.

Macquarie Centre is a regional sized shopping centre located between Herring, Waterloo and Talevera Roads in the suburb of Macquarie Park in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and opposite Macquarie University's main campus.

The centre contains 250 retail stores over four-levels including David Jones, Myer, Target, Big W, JB Hi-Fi, Woolworths as well as Event Cinemas (a former Greater Union) cinema complex, and an ice rink.

AMP Wholesale Shopping Centre Fund No. 2 wholly owns the centre after an ownership agreement was reached with former co-owner Westfield Management Limited in 2012.^[1]

It is the regional shopping centre for the Northern Suburbs.

Transport

The Epping to Chatswood rail link offers frequent train services to Macquarie University station located directly next to Macquarie Centre. Currently (as of September 2014) rail services run east-south to the Sydney CBD, as well as west to Epping then west/north to Hornsby.

Macquarie Centre currently has bus connections to the Sydney CBD, Lane Cove, North Sydney, Chatswood, Mona Vale, Pyrmont, Parramatta, Blacktown, Auburn, Top Ryde, Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Eastwood, Strathfield, as well as local surrounding suburbs. Majority of its bus services are located in Herring Road in front of the shopping centre's main entrance.

Bus companies include Sydney Buses, Busways, Forest Coach Lines, Transdev NSW and Hillsbus.

History

Macquarie Centre was built in 1981, and has seen many renovations since. A key renovation was in 2000 when the 'Escape' and 'Loft' areas were opened, which included a major facelift to the shopping centre's entrances, extra parking and new retail stores. These included Borders, Dick Smith Powerhouse, Freedom, new food outlets and an expansion of the Greater Union cinema complex, from 8 to 16 cinemas.

Macquarie Ice Skating Rink (located in Macquarie Centre) was used for the 1991 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships.^[2]

Recent developments

Since 5 January 2009, Macquarie Centre has implemented paid parking systems. The system was introduced to keep up with the growing trend of paid parking in other regional shopping centres. The motives of Centre Management can also be observed within the growing developments around the area, such as the new train station, which might have led to unwanted users of the car spaces in future. This can also be attributed to the huge growth in the surrounding business parks and the use of Centre Parking for Business Park Staff. Many of the retail shops and firms of Macquarie Centre have undergone extensions and/or renovations since early 2007. These changes were codified by independent contracts with Centre Management to constantly update the look of the shops, to generate a more dynamic environment for shoppers.

In late 2012, AMP Capital Shopping Centres began work on the $440 million redevelopment, adding an entire new wing to the existing centre. This was completed in October 2014, and consists of:

• A full line David Jones
• A new 2 level mall linking the new David Jones with the existing centre and Myer
• A new Fresh Food Market including Coles and Aldi
• Approximately 130 new retail stores
• Additional 1,050 car spaces

As a result, Macquarie Centre is now the largest shopping centre in New South Wales, is expected to reach $6 billion in spending by 2021, and can support trade for 337,770 people.^[3]

Tenants

Main Major Tenants:

• Myer Department Store (Levels 2 & 3)
• David Jones Department Store (Levels 2 & 3, opened 16 October 2014)
• Big W Discount Department Store (Level 2)
• Target Discount Department Store (Level 1)
• Aldi Supermarket (Level 3)
• Coles Supermarket (Level 3)
• Woolworths Supermarket (Level 3)

International Fashion:

• Forever 21 (Level 2) Opening in December 2014)
• Gap (Level 3)
• H&M (First Sydney store, Level 2 & 3)^[4]
• Uniqlo (Level 3)
• Zara (Level 2 & 3)

Entertainment & Leisure:

• EVENT Cinemas (Level 4)
• EVENT Cinemas GOLD Class (Level 4)
• Strike Bowling Bar (Level 4)
• Fitness First (Level 4)

Mini Majors:

• JB Hi-Fi (Level 4)
• Dick Smith (Level 4, 2000-2012; reopened June 2014)
• The Reject Shop (Level 1)
• Rebel Sport (Level 4)

Stores

• Food Court (Level 3)
  • Subway
  • Oporto
• Bakers Delight (Level 3)
• T.G.I. Friday's (Level 4, currently the only TGIF in New South Wales)
• Priceline (Level 1)
• ABC Shop (Level 4)
• Lowes (Level 1)
• Howards Storage World (Level 4)
• Tender Gourmet Butchery (Level 3)

& Much More

Former stores

• Chandlers (1996–1998)
• Best & Less (1991–2003)
• Lincraft (1989–2001, JB Hi-Fi moved to that location)
• Freedom (2000–2010, Fitness First moved to that location)
• Borders (2000–2011, JB Hi-Fi moved to a portion of that location)
• Franklins (1992/1993 - 2012)
• Darrell Lea (? -2012)
• Nick's Diner (? - 2012)
• Toymate (2012)
• RJ's Sandwichworks (? - 2012)
• Payless Shoes (? - 2012)
• John Brennan Hair (? - 2012)
• Toyland (? - 2012)
• Muffin Break (? - 2013)
• Zap Variety (? - 2013)
• Fun Dollar Variety (? - 2013)
• Crazy John's (? - 2013)

References

1. ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/business/westfield-amp-sign-mall-ownership-revamp-20121025-287fa.html
2. ↑ Smart, G. & Bradbury, S., Steven Bradbury: Last Man Standing, ISBN 0-9757287-8-4, 2005.
3. ↑ http://www.propertyobserver.com.au/finding/commercial-investment/retail/33501-sydney-s-largest-suburban-shopping-centre-amp-capital-s-macquarie-centre-now-open.html
4. ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/hm-to-open-in-sydney-in-october-20140805-100qdq.html

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macquarie Centre.

• The Macquarie Centre web site
• A guide to Macquarie Ice Skating Centre - an ice rink in the shopping centre
• AMP Capital Shopping Centres
• Soma - a church community meeting in the Macquarie Community Centre

Coordinates: 33°46′37″S 151°7′13″E / 33.77694°S 151.12028°E / -33.77694; 151.12028