Canberra Centre

Canberra Centre is a major shopping and dining complex in the northern part of Canberra City Centre in the Australian Capital Territory. The property began operations on 6 March 1963 as Monaro Mall and was opened by Prime Minister Robert Menzies. Its original design was notable in Australia: it was a fully enclosed, air-conditioned, three-storey shopping centre, at a time when enclosed multi-level retail complexes were still relatively uncommon in the country. The first tenant mix included David Jones, Marcus Clark & Company, Coles New World, McEwans hardware and 58 specialty stores. The centre has been repeatedly enlarged and reconfigured as Canberra's retail geography and consumer expectations changed. A substantial redevelopment was completed during the 1980s, with the complex officially reopened under the Canberra Centre name by Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister Rosemary Follett on 2 November 1989. The redesigned centre brought together major department stores, a fresh-food component and discount retailing across several city blocks. At that stage, access between the principal parts of the complex was not entirely internal, and some areas required customers to cross Bunda Street or use internal travelators and connected routes. Ownership and management changed during the centre's development. It was initially associated with Canberra Advance Bank, which later became part of St George Bank. Queensland Investment Corporation acquired a 50 percent interest in 1992. Subsequent works continued to integrate the complex physically and commercially. In 1993, the Bunda Street entrance was realigned and the upper-level fashion atrium was extended. The largest later expansion began around 2002, when the atrium was extended across Bunda Street and Ainslie Avenue was closed to create a more continuous internal route to the City Market and Target areas. Interior finishes, food-and-beverage facilities, signage and public amenities were also modernised. Further expansion was completed in late 2006. The project converted part of the City Market car park and market area into retail space, added approximately 100 stores, created a second food court and relocated the fresh-food offer into a dedicated Fresh Food Precinct. The northern end of the centre subsequently developed into North Quarter, a dining and entertainment area with restaurants at street level and indoor venues. These changes strengthened Canberra Centre's role as more than a department-store mall, giving it a broad mix of fashion, beauty, food, fresh produce, services and leisure uses. The centre suffered extensive flooding and internal fit-out damage during a severe Canberra supercell thunderstorm on 28 February 2007. Water entered through the building, including the Dendy Cinema area, and Borders was among the premises reported to have sustained serious damage. The event affected both older parts of the property and the recently completed expansion. Recovery and refurbishment continued through later years. A major lower-level food-court refurbishment was completed in 2013, with the renovated food court reopening on 31 October alongside the lower-ground-level areas of Myer and David Jones. Canberra Centre has continued to refresh its tenant mix. A refurbished Monaro Mall section reopened in July 2017 as a beauty precinct featuring brands including Jurlique, Lush, Crabtree & Evelyn, Mecca Maxima, Inglot, L'Occitane en Provence and Aveda. New fashion and sportswear tenants, including H&M, Gorman and Calvin Klein, also opened in 2017. Further openings in late 2018 and 2019 included Superdry, Nike, The North Face, Vans and Levi's. By December 2020, the centre covered approximately 94,259 square metres, contained more than 403 retailers and extended across six city blocks connected by three skybridges. It was designated an Australian Capital Historic Site in 1997.

Canberra Centre originated as Monaro Mall, which opened on 6 March 1963 in Canberra City Centre. Prime Minister Robert Menzies performed the opening. The building was historically significant because it was Australia's first three-storey, fully enclosed and air-conditioned shopping centre. Its initial retail composition combined large department and variety stores with a supermarket, hardware retailer and dozens of specialty shops. The centre was substantially redeveloped during the 1980s and reopened under the Canberra Centre name on 2 November 1989, with Rosemary Follett performing the official opening. The redesigned complex was arranged across four principal city blocks associated with David Jones, Myer, City Market and Target. Early circulation between these areas was partly dependent on external street crossings and travelators. The property's financial and management history included ownership by Canberra Advance Bank, later associated with St George Bank, followed by Queensland Investment Corporation's acquisition of a 50 percent shareholding in 1992. Physical improvements continued in the early 1990s. The Bunda Street entrance was repositioned in 1993, and the upper-level fashion atrium was extended. A more consequential transformation took place from 2002, when the atrium was extended across Bunda Street and Ainslie Avenue was closed to support an integrated internal connection between the centre's retail sections. The project also involved extensive cosmetic and functional refurbishment, including changes to public seating, balustrades, columns, toilets, signage and central promotional features. The late-2006 expansion converted part of the City Market car park and market area into additional retail space. It added roughly 100 stores and a second food court, while relocating the fresh-food offer into what became the Fresh Food Precinct. A northern dining and entertainment district, North Quarter, developed around the northern end of Bunda Street. The expansion helped reposition Canberra Centre as a broad lifestyle destination rather than solely a department-store-led shopping mall. On 28 February 2007, a major supercell thunderstorm brought flash flooding, severe hail and property damage to Canberra. Canberra Centre was heavily affected, including the new extension. Water entered through the ceiling of Dendy Cinema, leading to an urgent evacuation, and Borders also sustained extensive flooding and damage. The event made the centre's continuing refurbishment and asset management especially important. A further public-area renewal occurred in 2013, when the lower-ground-level food court was closed for refurbishment and reopened on 31 October. In July 2017, a refurbished Monaro Mall area was relaunched as a beauty precinct with a range of specialist cosmetics and skincare tenants. Fashion and sportswear expansion continued with brands such as H&M, Gorman, Calvin Klein, Superdry, Nike, The North Face, Vans and Levi's joining the tenant mix between 2017 and 2019. The centre was designated an Australian Capital Historic Site in 1997. By December 2020, Canberra Centre occupied about 94,259 square metres, extended across six city blocks and contained more than 403 retailers. Three skybridges form part of its connections. Its current role is that of a central Canberra retail, food, beauty, service and entertainment destination, combining enclosed mall space with urban-facing areas and precincts.

• 2020

  Centre reaches more than 403 retailers

  [1]Canberra Centreen.wikipedia.org

  As reported in December 2020, the complex covered approximately 94,259 square metres and contained more than 403 retailers across six city blocks.

• 2017

  Beauty precinct and new fashion tenants

  [1]Canberra Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The renovated Monaro Mall section reopened as a beauty precinct, and several major fashion brands opened stores.

• 2013

  Lower-level food court reopens after refurbishment

  [1]Canberra Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The refurbished lower-level food court reopened on 31 October, together with lower-ground areas serving the department stores.

• 2007

  Severe storm damage

  [1]Canberra Centreen.wikipedia.org

  A supercell storm caused flash flooding, hail damage and extensive damage to the centre's buildings and internal fit-out.

• 2006

  Major expansion completed

  [1]Canberra Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The project added approximately 100 stores, a second food court and the relocated Fresh Food Precinct, while supporting the development of North Quarter.

• 2002

  Atrium extended across Bunda Street

  [1]Canberra Centreen.wikipedia.org

  A major integration project extended the atrium across Bunda Street and closed Ainslie Avenue to improve internal circulation.

• 1997

  Listed as an Australian Capital Historic Site

  [1]Canberra Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Canberra Centre received designation as an Australian Capital Historic Site.

• 1993

  Entrance and fashion atrium changes

  [1]Canberra Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The former Bunda Street entrance was realigned and the upper-floor fashion atrium was extended.

• 1992

  Queensland Investment Corporation acquires a half interest

  [1]Canberra Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Queensland Investment Corporation purchased a 50 percent shareholding in the centre.

• 1989

  Redevelopment and renaming as Canberra Centre

  [1]Canberra Centreen.wikipedia.org

  A major redevelopment was completed and the property was officially reopened as Canberra Centre on 2 November.

• 1963

  Monaro Mall opens

  [1]Canberra Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The original centre opened on 6 March as Monaro Mall, becoming Australia's first three-storey, fully enclosed and air-conditioned shopping centre.

A central Canberra destination combining department stores, specialty retail, fresh food, dining, beauty, services and entertainment in a large multi-block urban shopping complex.

• Fashion · 1963

  Specialty fashion retail

  Canberra Centre provides a broad specialty-fashion offer spanning apparel, footwear, accessories and sportswear. The tenant mix has included international and Australian brands such as H&M, Gorman, Calvin Klein, Superdry, Nike, The North Face, Vans and Levi's. These stores complement the centre's department-store anchors and support its positioning as a central fashion destination.

• Beauty · 2017

  Monaro Mall beauty precinct

  The renovated Monaro Mall section was relaunched in 2017 as a dedicated beauty precinct. Reported tenants included Jurlique, Lush, Crabtree & Evelyn, Mecca Maxima, Inglot, L'Occitane en Provence and Aveda, creating a concentrated offer of cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, haircare and beauty services.

• Food retail · 2006

  Fresh Food Precinct

  The Fresh Food Precinct developed from the former City Market component and was relocated as part of the major mid-2000s expansion. It adds fresh produce and food-specialty retail to the centre's department stores, fashion tenants, dining venues and food courts.

• Food and beverage · 2006

  Food courts and dining

  The centre includes multiple food-and-beverage environments, including a lower-level food court, a second food court added during the 2006 expansion and the restaurant-led North Quarter precinct. The food offer ranges from fast casual and takeaway options to street-facing restaurant experiences.

• Department stores · 1963

  Department-store retail

  Department stores have been central to Canberra Centre since its opening. David Jones and Myer formed important parts of the 1989 configuration, while the original Monaro Mall tenant mix also included Marcus Clark & Company. These anchor stores provide clothing, homewares, beauty, electronics and general merchandise alongside specialty retailers.

• 2013

  Refurbish the lower-level food courtGeneration change

  Background

  The lower-ground-level food-and-beverage area required an updated customer environment and coordinated refurbishment.

  Action taken

  The food court was closed during 2013 and reopened in refurbished form on 31 October.

  Aftermath

  The reopening coincided with the return of lower-ground-level areas serving Myer and David Jones.

  Source

• 2006

  Launch expanded retail, food and dining precinctsProduct launch

  Background

  The centre sought additional retail capacity and a broader mix beyond its established department-store and specialty-shop base.

  Action taken

  Part of the City Market car park and market area was converted into retail space, adding about 100 stores, a second food court and a relocated Fresh Food Precinct.

  Aftermath

  North Quarter emerged as a restaurant and entertainment destination at the northern end of the complex.

  Source

• 2002

  Create a more integrated internal mall routeStrategy

  Background

  Parts of the centre were separated by city streets, requiring customers to travel outdoors or use older circulation infrastructure.

  Action taken

  The atrium was extended across Bunda Street and Ainslie Avenue was closed to enable internal access to the City Market and Target areas.

  Aftermath

  The project improved physical integration and supported later expansion of the centre's retail and dining offer.

  Source

• 1989

  Rebrand and reposition the redeveloped centreStrategy

  Background

  The original Monaro Mall required a larger and more integrated format as Canberra's central retail district developed.

  Action taken

  Following a major redevelopment, the property reopened under the Canberra Centre name on 2 November 1989.

  Aftermath

  The renamed centre became the foundation for later expansions and precinct-based retail development.

  Source

1. 1Canberra Centreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Canberra Centre official websitecanberracentre.com.au