Emporium Melbourne

Emporium Melbourne is a major inner-city shopping centre at the corner of Lonsdale and Swanston streets in Melbourne, Victoria. It occupies the site of the former Lonsdale Street premises of Myer's Melbourne department store and opened in 2014 after a major redevelopment. The centre combines fashion, beauty, lifestyle, food and hospitality offerings across multiple levels and forms part of one of Melbourne's largest interconnected retail precincts. The site's retail history is closely associated with Sidney Myer and the development of the Myer department-store chain. Between 1911 and 1934, Myer assembled and developed a series of buildings in Melbourne's central city. A building facing Bourke Street was completed in 1914 and was known as Myer's Emporium. A larger Lonsdale Street building was developed from 1925 using designs by H. W. and F. B. Tompkins, with Classical and Beaux-Arts influences. The resulting department-store complex incorporated earlier structures and developed a complicated internal layout with mezzanines and later pedestrian links between its Bourke Street and Lonsdale Street sections. Myer announced in 2007 that it intended to close the Lonsdale Street store as part of a proposed redevelopment. The plan involved selling the Lonsdale Street buildings while retaining and leasing back the Bourke Street store. Progress was delayed while potential redevelopment models and property transactions were considered. In 2009, concerns were reported about the effect that redevelopment could have on pedestrian movement around the central-city retail district. The Victorian Government approved the shopping-centre redevelopment in 2009, and construction began in August 2011. Construction was affected in 2012 by a prolonged industrial dispute between builder Grocon and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union. The dispute involved demands concerning shop stewards and the display of union material, and included a blockade of the site, court proceedings and police involvement. The work resumed after negotiations in September 2012. The project was ultimately delivered as Emporium Melbourne and was formally opened by Victorian Premier Denis Napthine in April 2014. A separate gala opening held later that year was directed by Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann. Emporium is part of an approximately 188,000-square-metre linked retail precinct that also includes Melbourne Central, the Myer and David Jones city stores, the former General Post Office retail complex and The Strand on Elizabeth Street. Its internal offer has included 224 tenancies over seven retail floors, with an additional floor used for centre-management offices. Major and notable tenants have included Din Tai Fung, MUJI, Genesis Studio, lululemon, Uniqlo, Victoria's Secret, Rebel, Furla, Polo Ralph Lauren, Arc'teryx, On, Mulberry, Aesop, Nespresso, Oroton, Witchery, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Coach, Marimekko, Zimmermann, Rodd & Gunn, Ganni and Chanel Beauty. The centre has also retained a strong connection with the Myer store through pedestrian bridges and an adjoining Myer Emporium area. Myer used the fourth floor as an extension of its Bourke Street department store from 2014, but announced in 2019 that it would leave that floor. The released space was subsequently adapted for co-working use. In 2023, Rebel opened a flagship store on part of the level, described as the largest Rebel store in Australia, while other portions continued to support co-working facilities. Further bridges connect Emporium with David Jones, reinforcing the centre's role as a circulation and retail hub within Melbourne's central shopping district. Food is another component of the positioning. A roughly 30-outlet food court on Level 3 has been designed with a more curated and premium orientation than a conventional mass-market mall food court, drawing inspiration from luxury shopping-centre food halls in Asia. Overall, Emporium presents itself as a contemporary, fashion-oriented city-centre destination that connects legacy department-store retail with international brands, independent food operators, specialty stores and experiential uses.

Emporium Melbourne developed from the historic Myer department-store complex in Melbourne's central business district. Sidney Myer progressively acquired and developed properties between Lonsdale and Bourke streets from 1911 to 1934 as he established the Myer retail chain. The first major new structure facing Bourke Street was completed in 1914 and was called Myer's Emporium. Work on a larger building facing Lonsdale Street began in 1925. Designed by H. W. and F. B. Tompkins, the building drew on Classical and Beaux-Arts architectural ideas and incorporated parts of earlier structures, producing a complex arrangement of floors and mezzanines. The Myer buildings evolved as the central-city department store expanded. In 1962, a pedestrian bridge was added between the first, second and third floors of the Bourke Street and Lonsdale Street buildings, improving movement between the separate parts of the complex. The site was also associated with the career of Adeline Keating, an early Myer employee who rose to become chief buyer and one of Australia's highest-paid businesswomen. Her international buying trips and annual Christmas displays became notable elements of the store's retail culture. The redevelopment's modern phase began when Myer announced in March 2007 that it planned to close the Lonsdale Street store. The proposed transaction involved selling the Lonsdale Street buildings and leasing back the Bourke Street store, with the former site intended for a mixed-use retail, hotel and serviced-apartment project. The sale and development process did not proceed immediately. By 2009, concerns had been raised about how redevelopment of the site might affect pedestrian flows and connections within Melbourne's central shopping district. In August 2009, the Victorian Government approved a shopping-centre redevelopment known as Emporium Melbourne. Construction commenced in August 2011, with the development being advanced by Colonial First State Global Asset Management and originally targeted for completion around the 2013 Christmas period. The project encountered a significant labour dispute in August and September 2012. The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union sought rights for its members to elect shop stewards and display union regalia. When the dispute escalated, workers from builder Grocon were escorted onto the site by Victoria Police after a Supreme Court of Victoria order was not initially followed. The blockade ended on 7 September 2012 after Grocon agreed to further negotiations. The union was later ordered to pay a fine of $1.25 million and a damages settlement of $3.5 million in connection with the incident. Emporium Melbourne opened in April 2014, with the opening conducted by Victorian Premier Denis Napthine. The project's final cost was estimated at $1.2 billion. A gala opening in August was directed by Baz Luhrmann, giving the centre a prominent cultural and promotional launch. The completed centre established a new retail destination while preserving links to the historic Myer operation and integrating with neighbouring city-centre properties. The centre contains 224 tenancies across seven retail floors, with an eighth floor used for management offices. Its offer spans international fashion, luxury accessories, beauty, sportswear, dining and specialty retail. A Level 3 food court contains approximately 30 outlets and was positioned as a more discerning, premium-style food destination, taking cues from luxury food courts in Asia. The centre also has direct or indirect pedestrian connections to the Myer and David Jones city stores, Melbourne Central, the former General Post Office retail complex and The Strand, creating a connected precinct of approximately 188,000 square metres. A major change occurred on Level 4 after Myer announced in August 2019 that it would vacate the space. The former department-store area was adapted for co-working, while in 2023 part of the level became a Rebel flagship store. The Rebel location was described as the largest in Australia, with the remaining area continuing to support co-working facilities. Emporium remains an active central Melbourne retail destination whose identity combines heritage department-store associations with contemporary fashion, lifestyle, dining and mixed-use urban development.

• 2023

  Rebel flagship opened

  [1]Emporium Melbourneen.wikipedia.org

  Rebel opened a flagship store on Level 4, while co-working facilities remained elsewhere on the floor.

• 2019

  Myer announced its fourth-floor exit

  [1]Emporium Melbourneen.wikipedia.org

  Myer announced plans to leave its fourth-floor extension within Emporium, enabling the space to be repurposed.

• 2014

  Emporium Melbourne opened

  [1]Emporium Melbourneen.wikipedia.org

  The centre opened in April, followed by a gala launch in August directed by Baz Luhrmann.

• 2012

  Construction dispute delayed the project

  [1]Emporium Melbourneen.wikipedia.org

  A union dispute and site blockade involving Grocon and the CFMEU disrupted construction before negotiations ended the blockade in September.

• 2011

  Construction commenced

  [1]Emporium Melbourneen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the new shopping centre began in August.

• 2009

  Emporium Melbourne redevelopment approved

  [1]Emporium Melbourneen.wikipedia.org

  The Victorian Government approved the site as a new shopping centre called Emporium Melbourne.

• 2007

  Myer announced Lonsdale Street redevelopment plans

  [1]Emporium Melbourneen.wikipedia.org

  Myer announced plans to close the Lonsdale Street store and redevelop or sell the site while retaining its Bourke Street operation.

• 1962

  Pedestrian bridge connected the Myer buildings

  [1]Emporium Melbourneen.wikipedia.org

  A bridge was constructed between the first three storeys of the Bourke Street and Lonsdale Street buildings.

• 1925

  Construction began on the Lonsdale Street building

  [1]Emporium Melbourneen.wikipedia.org

  Work began on the large Lonsdale Street structure designed by H. W. and F. B. Tompkins in Classical and Beaux-Arts styles.

• 1914

  Myer's Emporium building completed

  [1]Emporium Melbourneen.wikipedia.org

  The first major new building in Sidney Myer's developing Melbourne department-store complex was completed facing Bourke Street and became known as Myer's Emporium.

A contemporary, premium-leaning urban shopping centre combining international fashion and lifestyle brands, department-store connectivity, curated dining and central-city convenience.

• Fashion retail · 2014

  Fashion and apparel retail

  Emporium's principal offer is fashion retail, ranging from international premium and luxury labels to contemporary apparel and Australian brands. Reported tenants have included Uniqlo, lululemon, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Zimmermann, Ganni, Witchery and Rodd & Gunn.

• Luxury and beauty retail · 2014

  Luxury accessories and beauty

  The centre includes premium accessories, leather goods, cosmetics, skincare and fragrance retailers. Notable names associated with the centre include Furla, Mulberry, Coach, Marimekko, Aesop, Chanel Beauty, Nespresso and Oroton.

• Sporting goods · 2014

  Sports and active lifestyle

  Sports and active-lifestyle retail is represented by stores such as Rebel, Arc'teryx and On. In 2023, Rebel expanded its presence with a flagship store on Level 4, described as its largest Australian location.

• Food and beverage · 2014

  Dining and food court

  Emporium's Level 3 food court contains approximately 30 outlets, including independent food operators and established dining brands such as Din Tai Fung. Its design and tenant mix were intended to provide a more curated experience inspired by premium food courts in Asian shopping centres.

• Department-store extension · 2014

  Myer Emporium extension

  From 2014, Level 4 operated as an extension of Myer's Bourke Street department store and was marketed as Myer Emporium. Myer announced its departure from the level in 2019; the area was later divided between co-working use and a Rebel flagship.

• 2014Emporium Melbourne gala opening

  Melbourne · Australia

  A gala opening event held in August formed part of the centre's launch program and was directed by Australian film director Baz Luhrmann.

  Outcome. The event supported the public positioning of Emporium as a major new premium retail and entertainment destination in central Melbourne.

  Source

• 2023

  Opening of the Rebel flagship storeProduct launch

  Background

  Part of the fourth-floor area became available after Myer's announced departure and subsequent conversion of the space.

  Action taken

  Rebel opened a flagship store described as the largest Rebel store in Australia, alongside retained co-working facilities.

  Aftermath

  The opening strengthened Emporium's sports and active-lifestyle retail offer.

  Source

• 2019

  Repurposing of the former Myer fourth-floor spaceStrategy

  Background

  Myer announced that it would leave the fourth floor that had operated as an extension of its Bourke Street department store.

  Action taken

  The vacated area was converted partly into co-working facilities and later partly into a Rebel flagship store.

  Aftermath

  The change diversified the centre's tenant and usage mix beyond traditional department-store retail.

  Source

• 2014

  Launch of Emporium MelbourneProduct launch

  Background

  The former Myer Lonsdale Street site had undergone extensive redevelopment into a multi-level shopping centre linked to surrounding retail properties.

  Action taken

  Emporium Melbourne opened in April 2014 with fashion, specialty retail, dining and links to Myer and other central-city shopping destinations.

  Aftermath

  The centre became part of Melbourne's approximately 188,000-square-metre interconnected central retail precinct.

  Estimated project cost. A$1.2 billion estimated final project cost (At project completion in 2014)

  Source

• 2007

  Redevelopment of the former Lonsdale Street Myer siteStrategy

  Background

  Myer sought to close its Lonsdale Street store and enable a new mixed-use or retail development while maintaining its Bourke Street city-store presence.

  Action taken

  The Lonsdale Street site was repositioned for redevelopment as a new shopping centre, ultimately named Emporium Melbourne.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment received Victorian Government approval in 2009 and construction began in 2011.

  Source

1. 1Emporium Melbourneen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Emporium Melbourne official websiteemporiummelbourne.com.au