Forest Hill Chase

Forest Hill Chase, commonly known as The Chase, is a regional shopping centre in Forest Hill, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Australia. The centre occupies a prominent site near Canterbury Road and Mahoneys Road and serves the surrounding residential communities with a broad mix of supermarkets, discount department stores, specialty retailers, food outlets, services and entertainment. In its current form it contains approximately 200 shops across three levels and provides parking for more than 3,400 vehicles. The centre originated in a highly ambitious post-war development proposal. In the mid-1950s, Polish-born property developer Paul Fayman acquired a poultry farm of about 3.8 hectares and proposed a large drive-in shopping destination linked to a housing estate, public open space, service stations and extensive parking. Plans announced in 1957 envisaged roughly 75 shops and a development intended to function almost as a self-contained town. Its design was influenced by American regional shopping centres, including the Stonestown development in San Francisco, which project representatives and architects studied during overseas visits. The project experienced prolonged delays caused by financing difficulties, disputes over a proposed hotel and liquor licence, changing economic conditions and the collapse of key financial backers. Construction began in 1959, but incomplete buildings and vacant paved areas remained on the site for several years. After the development returned to Fayman’s control, Maurice Alter and George Herscu acquired a controlling interest and supplied capital and commercial direction. New anchor tenants, including Pratt’s supermarket, McEwans Hardware and Moores department store, helped make a viable reopening possible. The centre officially opened on 30 June 1964 with 70 shops in an open-air mall layout. Its launch attracted approximately 11,000 visitors and included public entertainment and promotional activity. The original design centred on landscaped courtyards and a pedestrian retail spine, with large anchor buildings positioned near the car parks. The centre subsequently underwent major redevelopment stages completed in July 1976 and December 1990. It adopted the name Forest Hill Chase in 1989, replacing the earlier Forest Hill or Forest Hills branding. Over time, the property evolved from its original open-air format into a larger, multi-level shopping and entertainment complex. Its current anchor offer includes Coles, Woolworths and Aldi supermarkets; Target and Harris Scarfe discount department stores; and a Hoyts cinema complex, alongside smaller anchor retailers and specialty stores. The centre’s role is primarily regional and community-oriented: it combines everyday grocery and household shopping with fashion, food, personal services, leisure and family entertainment. Since 2022, ownership has been shared equally by JY Group and Haben Property Fund. The available reference material does not establish a separate operating company, a public listing or a current chief executive for the centre.

Forest Hill Chase developed from a mid-1950s proposal to create an American-influenced regional shopping centre in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Paul Fayman acquired a poultry farm site near Canterbury Road and planned a large retail complex with housing, service stations, open space and extensive parking. The proposal was announced publicly in 1957 and was promoted as a modern drive-in shopping destination. Its planners studied American retail precedents, particularly the Stonestown shopping centre in San Francisco, and sought to apply the emerging regional-mall model to suburban Victoria. The project’s early years were marked by uncertainty. It was variously called Forest Hill, Forest Hills and Stonestown Drive-In Shopping Centre, while local authorities, neighbours and developers debated the appropriate name and the scale of the proposal. Construction tenders were called in the late 1950s, and work began in 1959 after additional investors and development partners became involved. Roads and surrounding housing works proceeded, but the retail project was disrupted by weak economic conditions, credit problems and the financial collapse of important backers. A proposed hotel and liquor licence also generated strong local opposition because of traffic and concerns relating to the nearby high school. The hotel plan was eventually abandoned. By the early 1960s, only part of the centre had been built and some completed premises stood vacant. The collapse of Stanley Korman’s interests and difficulties affecting Payne’s Properties and its parent company, Reid-Murray Holdings, contributed to the project’s receivership-related complications. The unfinished site acquired a reputation as a stalled development. In 1964, the land returned to Fayman, who sought new capital and partners. Builders and property entrepreneurs Maurice Alter and George Herscu then acquired a controlling interest and helped restart the centre. The revived project was redesigned and completed under the supervision of architect-builder Thord Lorich. Rather than simply finishing the existing structures, the team established a more consistent architectural identity and required individual tenancies to conform to common design standards. New anchor tenants were secured, including Pratt’s self-service supermarket, McEwans Hardware and Moores department store. On 30 June 1964 the centre opened officially in an open-air configuration with 70 shops. The opening attracted thousands of visitors and used entertainment, demonstrations and retailer promotions to establish the centre as a major destination. Forest Hill Chase was subsequently expanded and modernised. Major redevelopment stages were completed in July 1976 and December 1990, while the centre adopted the Forest Hill Chase name in 1989. The property later developed into a three-level complex of approximately 200 shops with more than 3,400 parking spaces. Its present offer is anchored by Coles, Woolworths and Aldi supermarkets, Target and Harris Scarfe discount department stores, and a Hoyts cinema complex. In 2022, JY Group and Haben Property Fund became equal owners. The centre remains an active regional and community shopping destination, although the supplied sources do not provide a detailed account of its current management structure or future redevelopment plans.

• 2022

  Equal joint ownership established

  [1]Forest Hill Chaseen.wikipedia.org

  JY Group and Haben Property Fund became 50/50 owners of the centre.

• 1990

  Second major redevelopment completed

  [1]Forest Hill Chaseen.wikipedia.org

  A further major redevelopment stage was completed in December 1990.

• 1989

  Forest Hill Chase name introduced

  [1]Forest Hill Chaseen.wikipedia.org

  The centre adopted the Forest Hill Chase name after earlier Forest Hill and Forest Hills branding.

• 1976

  First major redevelopment completed

  [1]Forest Hill Chaseen.wikipedia.org

  A substantial redevelopment stage was completed in July 1976.

• 1964

  Official opening

  [1]Forest Hill Chaseen.wikipedia.org

  Forest Hill opened on 30 June 1964 with 70 shops in an open-air mall arrangement.

• 1959

  Construction begins

  [1]Forest Hill Chaseen.wikipedia.org

  Construction commenced after new development partners and financing were assembled, although the project later suffered major delays.

• 1957

  Regional shopping-centre proposal announced

  [1]Forest Hill Chaseen.wikipedia.org

  Plans were publicised for a large drive-in shopping centre with about 75 shops, service stations, housing, open space and substantial parking.

• 1955

  Paul Fayman acquires the development site

  [1]Forest Hill Chaseen.wikipedia.org

  Developer Paul Fayman acquired a poultry farm site near Canterbury Road with the intention of creating a major retail and residential development.

A broad-format regional shopping centre combining everyday retail, supermarkets, discount department stores, specialty shopping, dining and cinema entertainment for Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

• Grocery retail

  Supermarket precinct

  The centre’s supermarket offer includes Coles, Woolworths and Aldi. Together these stores provide the everyday grocery, fresh-food, household and packaged-goods range expected of a regional suburban shopping centre and support frequent local visits.

• Department-store retail

  Discount department stores

  Target and Harris Scarfe form part of the centre’s discount department-store offer, covering value-oriented apparel, household merchandise and general retail categories. Their presence broadens the centre beyond grocery shopping and provides larger-format destination retail.

• Entertainment

  Hoyts cinema complex

  The Hoyts cinema complex provides the centre’s principal large-scale entertainment attraction. It complements the retail and food offer and helps position Forest Hill Chase as a destination for leisure as well as everyday shopping.

• Shopping-centre services · 1964

  Specialty retail and services

  Approximately 200 tenancies across the centre provide specialty shopping, dining, personal services, health and beauty, lifestyle products and other community-oriented offerings. The exact tenant mix changes over time and is not exhaustively identified in the supplied sources.

• 1960

  Development financing and receivership crisis

  Forest Hill Chase’s original development was disrupted by the bankruptcy of key backer Stanley Korman and financial and legal difficulties involving Raymond Borg of Payne’s Properties. Reid-Murray Holdings, the parent company associated with Payne’s Properties, subsequently entered receivership-related proceedings, leaving the centre unfinished for several years.

  Source

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• 1964Opening celebrations

  Australia

  The 1964 launch used public entertainment and promotional events to attract visitors before and during opening. Activities included an archery demonstration, a display of valuable models, a motorkhana exhibition and appearances by entertainers including Graham Kennedy and Evie Hayes.

  Outcome. The opening drew approximately 11,000 visitors and established the centre as a significant shopping destination in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

  Source

• 2022

  Ownership transferred to a 50/50 joint ventureM&A

  Background

  The ownership structure changed as JY Group and Haben Property Fund took equal interests in Forest Hill Chase.

  Action taken

  The two property groups established shared ownership of the centre.

  Aftermath

  Forest Hill Chase continued operating as an active regional shopping centre under joint ownership.

  Source

• 1964

  Project restarted with new controlling partners and anchor tenantsStrategy

  Background

  After the original financing structure failed, Paul Fayman sought investors to revive the stalled centre. Maurice Alter and George Herscu acquired a joint controlling interest and supported a comprehensive redesign.

  Action taken

  The development was reconfigured under Thord Lorich’s supervision and relaunched with Pratt’s supermarket, McEwans Hardware and Moores as major tenants.

  Aftermath

  The centre opened successfully on 30 June 1964 and became the foundation of the partners’ later property interests.

  Source

• 1960

  Hotel proposal withdrawnStrategy

  Background

  Developers proposed a hotel and sought a liquor licence as part of the broader centre project. Local residents and community groups objected, citing traffic safety and the proximity of Nunawading High School.

  Action taken

  The developers abandoned the hotel component in June 1960 after sustained opposition and a licensing dispute.

  Aftermath

  The retail development remained delayed and incomplete until new capital and partners enabled its revival in 1964.

  Source

1. 1Forest Hill Chaseen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Forest Hill Chase official websiteforesthillchase.com.au