Eastland Shopping Centre
Encyclopedia
Ringwood
Ringwood is a historic market town and civil parish in Hampshire, England, located on the River Avon, close to the New Forest and north of Bournemouth. It has a history dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, and has held a weekly market since the Middle Ages....
, in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria, Australia, which first opened on 31 October 1967.
It is close to Ringwood railway station
Ringwood railway station, Melbourne
Ringwood is a railway station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in the suburb of Ringwood, on the Lilydale and Belgrave railway lines. It is in Metcard Zone 2, is classed as a Premium Station, and is the junction for the Belgrave & Lilydale lines....
, located opposite the centre on Maroondah Highway. The centre features 2 main levels of shops, with a 3rd level containing a Hoyts 12 screen cinema complex and restaurants, forming a total of approximately 235 stores. It is the largest shopping centre in the City of Maroondah, and is located in relatively close proximity to Westfield Doncaster
Westfield Doncaster
Westfield Doncaster is a shopping centre 50% owned by the Westfield Group and 50% owned by LaSalle Investment Management located in Doncaster, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
and Knox Shopping Centre.
History
Construction commenced on the two level enclosed complex in July 1966, with a 14,000m2 MyerMyer
Myer is Australia's largest department store chain, retailing a broad range of merchandise including women's, men's and children's clothing, footwear and accessories; cosmetics and fragrance; homewares; electrical; furniture and bedding; toys; books and stationery; food and confectionery; and...
and a 2500m2 Woolworths supermarket and variety store as major anchors, along with 40 speciality stores and a 1200 space car park. The initial centre cost $13,000,000 (1966) ($138,000,000 (2008)) to construct, on a 5.67 hectare parcel of land just north of the Maroondah Highway in the heart of Ringwood.
In 1993 a massive redevelopment of the centre was announced, which involved the demolition of the existing centre in its entirety except for the 4 storey Myer building (which was simply refurbished), and after a series of 3 staged openings culminated in the relaunch of a new look Eastland in May, 1995. This extension brought the Centre to 53,300 square metres with major retailers Myer, Safeway and Kmart and 170 specialty retailers.
In 1996 QIC purchased the centre from Coles Myer.
In early 2001, after years of rumors and consumer desire for cinemas in Ringwood, QIC announced plans for a stage 4 expansion. Key to this expansion was a Hoyts
Hoyts
The Hoyts Group is an Australian company consisting of Hoyts Exhibition, Hoyts Distribution and Val Morgan.Hoyts Exhibition manages 450 screens across 40 Australian and 10 New Zealand cinema complexes; making it Australia's second largest cinema chain. Val Morgan, the cinema advertising arm of the...
12 screen cinema complex (down from the originally planned 14), a few restaurants (including a Pancake Parlour
Pancake Parlour
The Pancake Parlour is an Australian family owned pancake restaurant chain with locations almost entirely in Melbourne.The first Pancake Parlour restaurant opened in Adelaide in 1965. The company's headquarters are currently located in Melbourne...
), a Big-W store, and a 2nd major supermarket, which at the time was scheduled to be a Bilo Mega Fresh store (but only a regular Bilo store was built), and an additional 50 specialty stores, increasing the centre's retail size by approximately 25,000 square metres.
Big-W and Bilo opened in late October 2002, along with a handful of the 50 specialty stores. The cinemas opened on December 26, 2002.
Stage 5 redevelopment
QIC plans to further expand Eastland. They are said to be investing between $350-500 million in a stage 5 expansion, that would see the centre almost double in size, making it one of the largest shopping centres in Australia.The expansion will have a focus (after customer feedback on the existing mix) on creating more dining and entertainment options for the people of Ringwood, as well as introducing more high-end fashion options into the centre.
Early plans included a large 3-level expansion, connecting the Hoyts end with Maroondah Highway, providing a new entrance to the 3rd level of Myer, and culminating in an outdoor alfresco dining and nightlife area, similar to Knox Ozone. Also included in the plans are an open town centre area and a new public library (to be built on the corner of land currently occupied by Harris Scarfe) and office and hotel towers.
This development was due to get underway in late 2009, but stalled, likely due to the Global Financial Crisis. The Maroondah Leader states that QIC is under contractual obligation with the Maroondah City Council to start the development by early-2011 at the latest. QIC has not yet publicly announced detailed plans for the redevelopment, though it is likely that demolition of the existing buildings and parking structures between Eastland's current entrance and Maroondah Highway, will begin in the first half of 2011.
Though QIC also owns the adjacent Ringwood Market site - which was demolished at the end of 2009 to make way for a new retail/commercial development - there are currently no plans for Eastland to expand westward onto this vacant land. Current plans are for 3 separate 5 storey buildings, including office space, underground parking, and boutique shops/dining along with the space for a 12,000 square metre retail store (Costco
Costco
Costco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
, Ikea
IKEA
IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
and Masters Home Improvement
Masters Home Improvement
Masters Home Improvement is the trading name of an Australian Home Improvement chain, operated by a joint venture between Australian Retailer Woolworths Limited and Mooresville, North Carolina based hardware chain, Lowe's...
are rumoured to be vying for the space), that would only be linked to Eastland via pedestrian access. Costco
Costco
Costco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
Australia managing director Patrick Noone has all but confirmed that their second Melbourne warehouse will be built there.
Major anchors
- MyerMyerMyer is Australia's largest department store chain, retailing a broad range of merchandise including women's, men's and children's clothing, footwear and accessories; cosmetics and fragrance; homewares; electrical; furniture and bedding; toys; books and stationery; food and confectionery; and...
department storeDepartment storeA department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
(19000 m² (204,514.3 sq ft) over 4 levels, currently undergoing major refurbishment). - Harris ScarfeHarris ScarfeHarris Scarfe Department Stores was founded in Adelaide, South Australia in 1849. At its peak, Adelaide was home to several major South Australian department stores , of which Harris Scarfe is the sole...
department store (located exteriorly in the old Safeway/Officeworks building, which is set for demolition as part of the Stage 5 redevelopment). - KmartKmart AustraliaKmart Australia Limited is a discount department store chain owned by Wesfarmers. It operates 172 stores in Australia and 15 in New Zealand, with its head office located in Mulgrave, Victoria. Wesfarmers uses the Kmart name under licence from Sears Holdings Corporation.-History:Kmart Australia...
discount department store (7300 m² (78,576.5 sq ft), refurbished in early 2010). - Big WBig WBig W is one of the largest chain of discount department stores in Australia, with over 150 stores. It is a division of Woolworths Limited, the second largest retailer in Australia. Its main competitors are Kmart and Target, both owned by Wesfarmers....
discount department store(6800 m² (73,194.6 sq ft), refurbished in late 2010). - Woolworths supermarketSupermarketA supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
(4300 m² (46,284.8 sq ft), refurbished in 2009). - ColesColes SupermarketsColes Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741...
supermarket (former BI-LOBI-LO (Australia)BI-LO is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers . Once a chain of 180 outlets, most BI-LO supermarkets were re-branded as Coles Supermarkets during 2006 and 2007. In October 2008, Coles stated it was looking to create a new chain to replace the remaining BI-LO stores...
, rebranded as Coles in 2007, refurbished in August 2009). - HoytsHoytsThe Hoyts Group is an Australian company consisting of Hoyts Exhibition, Hoyts Distribution and Val Morgan.Hoyts Exhibition manages 450 screens across 40 Australian and 10 New Zealand cinema complexes; making it Australia's second largest cinema chain. Val Morgan, the cinema advertising arm of the...
12 screen cinema multiplex (featuring 3 'La Premiere cinemas' and an 'Xtremescreen' auditorium)
Minor anchors
- JB HiFi electronics store.
- PricelinePriceline (Australia)Priceline is a health and beauty retailer with stores in every state and territory in Australia. The Priceline brand has two store types; a traditional Priceline and Priceline Pharmacy. As of March 2010 there were over 330 Priceline branded stores throughout Australia...
health and beauty store. - The Reject ShopThe Reject ShopThe Reject Shop is an Australian discount variety store chain. Founded in 1981 as a "seconds" store in South Yarra, Victoria, the company currently operates over 190 stores in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Australian Capital Territory...
discount variety store.
Food retailers
Eastland also has an extensive food court featuring a number of different fast-food outlets.Examples of what is located within the food court:
- McDonald'sMcDonald'sMcDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
opened 1994 - Nandos opened 2008
- Muffin Break opened 1994
- Gloria Jeans opened 2003
- Ali BabaAli BabaAli Baba is a fictional character from medieval Arabic literature. He is described in the adventure tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves...
opened 1994 - Red RoosterRed RoosterRed Rooster is an Australian fast food restaurant chain. Red Rooster specialises in selling roasted chicken and other related products.- History :...
opened 1994 - Healthy HabitsHealthy HabitsHealthy Habits is an Australian chain of franchised fast food outlets marketed as offering healthy fast food.Offerings include custom sandwiches, roasts and salads....
opened 2004
There are also other food shops situated outside the food court. Examples include:
- Sushi SushiSushi SushiSushi Sushi is a French film, released on 19 June 1991 and directed by Laurent Perrin.-Synopsis:Fed up with university life, Maurice Hartmann leaves his studies and creates his own business: Sushi-Express, a Japanese food home delivery business. His artisinal methods and family craft drive the...
opened 2006 - Donut KingDonut KingDonut King is Australia's biggest doughnut franchise, based in Southport, Queensland.-History:The Donut King chain was founded in 1981 in Sydney, and is currently managed, under license, by the Southport-based Retail Food Group Limited...
- KFCKFCKFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
opened 2003 - SubwaySubway (restaurant)Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
opened 2003 - Pancake ParlourPancake ParlourThe Pancake Parlour is an Australian family owned pancake restaurant chain with locations almost entirely in Melbourne.The first Pancake Parlour restaurant opened in Adelaide in 1965. The company's headquarters are currently located in Melbourne...
opened 2003