Pacific Square
An indoor and outdoor shopping centre in Maroubra, in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Pacific Square is a mixed-use shopping centre in Maroubra, New South Wales, serving the surrounding residential communities in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. The centre occupies a site with a long entertainment and retail history. It was originally associated with the Vocalist Theatre, which opened in 1939 and closed in 1961. After the theatre was converted for a period into an ice-skating rink, the Westfield Group acquired the site in 1963 and developed a Coles New World supermarket and a small shopping arcade. Stockland acquired the property in the late 1970s and replaced the earlier buildings with a larger two-level centre. Stockland Mall Maroubra opened in 1981 with major tenants including Grace Bros, Coles New World and Franklins, together with 67 smaller stores arranged around a courtyard. Its trading performance was later affected by competition from Westfield Eastgardens, which opened in nearby Pagewood in 1987. In 1994 the property was repositioned as Stockland ShopSmart Maroubra, becoming Stockland's first mall to be converted into a factory-outlet format. Grace Bros was transformed into the GoodBuy Clearance Centre, which sold discounted merchandise and clothing sourced from Grace Bros and Myer stores around Australia. The clearance-centre concept continued until 2002, when the property closed in preparation for redevelopment. The original shopping mall was demolished in 2003. A new mixed-use development, Pacific Square, was then constructed with retail, office, residential and public-realm components. The first stage opened in November 2004 with a Coles supermarket, 29 specialty stores and a town-square area containing outdoor dining, with apartments and offices above. The first stage reportedly represented an investment of approximately A$101 million; a second stage was reported at approximately A$99 million, although these historical figures are not independently detailed here. The second stage introduced Aldi and about 30 additional specialty stores. Its later 2007 completion also brought Fitness First, Maroubra Medical Centre and Pacific Square Physiotherapy to the complex. The combination of retail, services, apartments and offices made the property a substantial strata-based mixed-use scheme rather than a conventional enclosed mall. Charter Hall purchased Pacific Square in April 2015 for a reported A$137 million. In 2017 the centre began a major fresh-food precinct refurbishment. The works included an expanded Aldi, relocation of Liquorland and changes intended to accommodate a larger Coles supermarket. The refurbishment was completed in late 2018. Major retail tenants identified in reference material include Coles, Aldi and Fitness First. Pacific Square's stated floor area is approximately 13,778 square metres.
History
The Pacific Square site began as an entertainment venue rather than a shopping centre. The Vocalist Theatre opened in 1939 and closed in 1961. After closure, the building was used as an ice-skating rink for a period. In 1963, Westfield acquired the site and developed a Coles New World supermarket with a small shopping arcade. Stockland acquired the property in the late 1970s and undertook a more substantial redevelopment. The theatre was demolished, and Stockland Mall Maroubra opened in 1981. The two-level centre contained Grace Bros, Coles New World, Franklins and 67 stores arranged around a courtyard. Coles and the car-park access were located on the lower level, Franklins occupied the upper level, and Grace Bros operated across both floors. The arrival of Westfield Eastgardens in 1987 increased competitive pressure on the Maroubra centre. Stockland responded with a format change in October 1994, renaming the property Stockland ShopSmart Maroubra and converting it into a factory-outlet centre. The former Grace Bros space became the GoodBuy Clearance Centre, offering discounted products and apparel from Grace Bros and Myer stores. GoodBuy operated until 2002, when the centre closed. The property also experienced significant disruption from a fire on the night of 23 June 1998. Eight courtyard shops were destroyed, although the incident occurred late at night when only Coles was open and there were no reported deaths or injuries. Businesses in the affected area were closed or moved for varying periods, and the courtyard was restored and reopened in May 1999. After the centre closed in 2002, demolition began in 2003. The former mall was replaced by Pacific Square, a mixed-use project combining retail space with apartments, offices and a public town square. Stage one opened in November 2004 with Coles, 29 specialty retailers and an outdoor dining area. A second stage added Aldi and approximately 30 specialty stores. The later part of the development opened in November 2007 and included Fitness First, Maroubra Medical Centre and Pacific Square Physiotherapy. The completed complex was described as one of Sydney's larger and more complicated strata schemes. Charter Hall acquired Pacific Square in April 2015. In May 2016, a fire deliberately started at a juice bar caused substantial damage to a shopfront and led to the evacuation of residents from the apartments above. In August 2017, the centre commenced a reported A$7.1 million upgrade of its fresh-food precinct. The works included expanding Aldi, moving Liquorland and creating space for a larger Coles. The refurbishment was completed in late 2018. The centre's major identified tenants include Aldi, Coles and Fitness First. Its approximately 13,778-square-metre footprint supports a local-neighbourhood retail role while also integrating food, health, fitness, office and residential uses.
- 2018
Refurbishment completed
[1]The fresh-food precinct refurbishment was completed in late 2018.
- 2017
Fresh-food precinct upgrade starts
[1]A major refurbishment began, focusing on Aldi, Liquorland and Coles-related fresh-food facilities.
- 2015
Charter Hall acquires the centre
[1]Charter Hall purchased Pacific Square in April.
- 2007
Second development stage completed
[1]The later development stage added Aldi, specialty stores, Fitness First and health-service tenants.
- 2004
Pacific Square stage one opens
[1]The first stage opened with Coles, specialty retail, outdoor dining, apartments and offices.
- 2003
Former mall demolished
[1]Demolition began to clear the site for the Pacific Square mixed-use redevelopment.
- 1998
Courtyard fire
[1]A fire destroyed eight courtyard shops and temporarily disrupted trading in the affected area.
- 1994
Factory-outlet repositioning
[1]Stockland Mall Maroubra was renamed Stockland ShopSmart Maroubra and converted into a factory-outlet format.
- 1987
Westfield Eastgardens opens nearby
[1]The opening of Westfield Eastgardens was associated with a downturn in trade at the Maroubra centre.
- 1981
Stockland Mall Maroubra opens
[1]A two-level Stockland shopping centre opened with major department-store and supermarket tenants and 67 stores.
Products and positioning
A community-oriented mixed-use shopping centre combining supermarkets, specialty retail, dining, fitness, health services, offices and residential accommodation.
Supermarket · 2004
Coles
Coles is one of Pacific Square's principal supermarket anchors. A Coles presence dates back to the site's earlier retail development, and the Pacific Square redevelopment opened with a Coles supermarket in 2004. The later fresh-food precinct works included changes intended to accommodate a larger Coles store.
Supermarket · 2007
Aldi
Aldi was introduced as part of the second stage of Pacific Square's redevelopment. The retailer was subsequently expanded during the fresh-food precinct refurbishment, strengthening Pacific Square's everyday grocery offering alongside Coles.
Fitness club · 2007
Fitness First
Fitness First forms part of Pacific Square's service-oriented tenant mix. Its inclusion in the later development stage broadened the centre beyond conventional retail by adding a substantial health and fitness use.
Retail precinct · 2018
Fresh-food precinct
The fresh-food precinct is a core component of Pacific Square's supermarket-led proposition. Its 2017–2018 refurbishment included an expanded Aldi, relocation of Liquorland and works associated with a larger Coles supermarket.
Brand decisions
2017
Fresh-food precinct refurbishmentOtherBackground
The centre sought to update its grocery-led retail offer and improve the fresh-food area.
Action taken
Pacific Square commenced a reported A$7.1 million project involving an expanded Aldi, relocated Liquorland and works to make room for a larger Coles.
Aftermath
The refurbishment was completed in late 2018.
Refurbishment cost. A$7.1 million (2017–2018)
2015
Charter Hall acquisitionM&ABackground
Pacific Square was sold after operating as a mixed-use shopping centre.
Action taken
Charter Hall acquired the property in April 2015.
Aftermath
The centre later underwent a substantial fresh-food precinct refurbishment.
Reported acquisition price. A$137 million (April 2015)
2003
Redevelopment as Pacific SquareStrategyBackground
The former shopping centre had closed and was scheduled for replacement.
Action taken
The old mall was demolished and replaced with a mixed-use project combining retail, public space, offices and apartments.
Aftermath
Stage one opened in 2004 and the later stages were completed in 2007.
1994
Conversion to a factory-outlet centreStrategyBackground
Trading pressure followed the opening of Westfield Eastgardens nearby, prompting Stockland to reposition the Maroubra property.
Action taken
The centre was renamed Stockland ShopSmart Maroubra and converted into Stockland's first factory-outlet mall. The former Grace Bros space became the GoodBuy Clearance Centre.
Aftermath
GoodBuy continued until 2002, when the centre closed before demolition and redevelopment.
Sources1 sources
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