Westfield Fountain Gate

Westfield Fountain Gate is a large super-regional shopping centre in Narre Warren, in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, Victoria, Australia. The centre combines department stores, discount department stores, supermarkets, specialty retail, food and beverage, entertainment, community facilities and extensive parking. It serves the Casey region and surrounding south-eastern Melbourne communities, with road and bus connections and proximity to Narre Warren railway station. The complex opened as Fountain Gate Shopping Centre on 11 March 1980. Its original major tenants were Kmart and Coles New World, supported by 48 other shops and the Hotel Fountain Gate, which included pub and restaurant facilities. The centre expanded during the 1980s, first with the construction of a Safeway supermarket in 1984 and then with a second floor in 1988. The latter expansion introduced a Forges department store, later converted to Target, a supermarket, a food court and approximately 40 additional shops. A neighbouring homemaker centre opened in September of the same year. Westfield Group acquired the centre in July 1995 and subsequently undertook a major redevelopment. The redevelopment, completed in stages and culminating in 2001, enlarged the complex with a new eastern wing, a redesigned food court, a Village cinema precinct, Big W, Aldi, a relocated Safeway supermarket, additional specialty stores and a second-floor Bi-Lo supermarket. Former supermarket space was also adapted for retailers and services including The Reject Shop, Dimmeys, later Harris Scarfe, and Australia Post. Safeway was later rebranded as Woolworths, reflecting the wider supermarket brand transition in Australia. A further major expansion took place between 2011 and 2012 following planning approval from the City of Casey in December 2007. The project added a two-level Myer department store of approximately 12,000 square metres, a new Coles store of approximately 4,200 square metres, additional minor-anchor premises, more specialty shops and expanded parking. Target's retail area also increased substantially. David Jones had originally been expected to occupy the principal department-store space, but withdrew from the arrangement in 2010; Myer ultimately replaced it in the expansion. The centre is notable for having all three of Australia's major discount department-store brands—Big W, Target and Kmart—within the broader complex, and has been described as the country's second-largest shopping centre by floor area and number of anchor tenants. It was also the site of Victoria's first Krispy Kreme location. Beyond retail, the complex has incorporated civic and cultural facilities, including the Narre Warren Library in the City of Casey's entertainment and community precinct. Westfield Fountain Gate has also had a visible role in Australian popular culture. It is associated with the television series Kath & Kim, in which the fictional characters are portrayed as frequenting the shopping centre; some scenes were filmed at Fountain Gate. The centre was also used as a filming location for the feature film Bad Eggs, where it was presented under the fictional name Crystal Heights Shop Kingdom. The centre remains an active retail and community destination operated under the Westfield brand by Scentre Group.

Fountain Gate Shopping Centre opened in Narre Warren on 11 March 1980. Constructed by Overland Construction Corporation, it was formally inaugurated by Victoria's governor, Henry Winneke. The initial complex was relatively compact by later standards, comprising Kmart and Coles New World as its principal retailers, 48 other shops and the Hotel Fountain Gate, a pub and restaurant associated with the centre. The first significant addition came in 1984, when a Safeway supermarket was built south of Kmart. In 1988, the centre gained a second floor, substantially increasing its retail capacity. This expansion included a Forges department store, which was later converted to Target, a Harry Heath's supermarket that was subsequently replaced by a relocated Coles New World, a food court and about 40 new shops. A neighbouring homemaker centre opened in September 1988, broadening the site's role beyond conventional mall retail. Westfield Group acquired Fountain Gate in July 1995. Under Westfield's ownership, the centre underwent a major redevelopment that was completed in stages and culminated in 2001. The project created a new eastern ground-floor wing and a larger food and entertainment offer. It introduced a Village cinema precinct, Big W, Aldi, a relocated Safeway supermarket and additional specialty retail. A Bi-Lo supermarket was added on the second floor. The former Safeway premises were reused for further stores and services, including The Reject Shop, Dimmeys, later Harris Scarfe, and an Australia Post outlet. Safeway later adopted the Woolworths name. The next major phase was approved by the City of Casey in December 2007 and carried out between 2011 and 2012. Plans called for a new two-level Myer of approximately 12,000 square metres and a new Coles of approximately 4,200 square metres. The existing Coles location was reconfigured to make room for two minor anchors, while Target was enlarged from approximately 6,884 square metres to 8,368 square metres. The works also created four minor-anchor premises, 114 specialty-store spaces and approximately 1,500 additional car spaces, including ground-level and rooftop parking. David Jones had been intended to occupy the major department-store component, but its relationship with Westfield became prolonged and contentious from a commercial-planning perspective. The retailer had sought to exit its contract since 2003 because the centre did not fit its preferred strategy and demographic focus. In July 2010, David Jones terminated the arrangement, and Myer replaced it in the expansion. The completed development reinforced Fountain Gate's position as one of Australia's largest shopping centres. The centre is notable for its unusually broad anchor mix. It has been described as Australia's second-largest shopping centre by both floor area and number of anchor tenants, and as one of the country's largest complexes containing Big W, Target and Kmart together. It also became the location of the first Krispy Kreme store in Victoria. Retail development has been accompanied by civic and cultural uses. A new City of Casey entertainment precinct was added as a regional creative and community hub, and the Narre Warren Library became one of its facilities. The centre's setting is supported by road and public-transport infrastructure: Narre Warren railway station is about one kilometre away, while bus routes and regional services connect with the complex. The Hallam Bypass, opened beside the centre in 2003 as part of the Monash Freeway network, and the associated Hallam Bypass Trail provide road, pedestrian and cycling connections. Westfield Fountain Gate has also appeared in popular culture. It is identified with the shopping-centre setting associated with Kath & Kim, with filming conducted at Fountain Gate and Westfield Southland. It was additionally used in the feature film Bad Eggs, where the centre was given the fictional name Crystal Heights Shop Kingdom. The property now operates under the Westfield brand within Scentre Group's Australian shopping-centre portfolio.

• 2012

  Expansion completed

  [1]Westfield Fountain Gateen.wikipedia.org

  The 2011–2012 works added Myer, a new Coles, new minor anchors, 114 specialty spaces and approximately 1,500 car spaces.

• 2010

  Myer replaces David Jones in expansion plans

  [1]Westfield Fountain Gateen.wikipedia.org

  Following David Jones's withdrawal, Myer became the planned department-store anchor for the expansion.

• 2007

  Expansion receives planning approval

  [1]Westfield Fountain Gateen.wikipedia.org

  The City of Casey approved plans for a major expansion in December.

• 2003

  Hallam Bypass opens beside the centre

  [1]Westfield Fountain Gateen.wikipedia.org

  A new section of the Hallam Bypass and the associated trail improved the site's road, pedestrian and cycling context.

• 2001

  Major redevelopment completed

  [1]Westfield Fountain Gateen.wikipedia.org

  The redevelopment delivered a new eastern wing, food court, cinema precinct, major retailers and expanded specialty retail.

• 1995

  Acquired by Westfield Group

  [1]Westfield Fountain Gateen.wikipedia.org

  Westfield Group acquired the centre and commenced a major redevelopment program.

• 1988

  Second level and homemaker centre introduced

  [1]Westfield Fountain Gateen.wikipedia.org

  A second floor brought new department-store, supermarket, food-court and specialty retail space; an adjacent homemaker centre opened in September.

• 1984

  Safeway supermarket added

  [1]Westfield Fountain Gateen.wikipedia.org

  A Safeway supermarket was constructed south of Kmart, expanding the centre's grocery offer.

• 1980

  Original shopping centre opens

  [1]Westfield Fountain Gateen.wikipedia.org

  Fountain Gate Shopping Centre opened on 11 March with Kmart, Coles New World, 48 other shops and the Hotel Fountain Gate.

Major regional shopping centre serving Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, with a broad anchor-tenant mix, extensive specialty retail, dining, entertainment and community facilities.

• Retail environment · 1980

  Shopping-centre retail

  The centre provides a broad tenant platform covering fashion, apparel, beauty, electronics, homewares, services and general merchandise. Its large anchor-tenant base is supported by specialty retailers distributed through multiple wings and levels.

• Anchor retail · 1980

  Department and discount department stores

  Westfield Fountain Gate has hosted or included major department and discount department-store formats such as Kmart, Target, Big W, Forges and Myer. The centre is particularly notable for the presence of Big W, Target and Kmart within the broader complex.

• Grocery retail · 1980

  Supermarkets

  Grocery retail has been a recurring part of the centre's offer since the original Coles New World store. Later additions and relocations included Safeway, subsequently rebranded Woolworths, Aldi, Bi-Lo and a new Coles delivered through the later expansion.

• Food and beverage · 1988

  Dining and food court

  Food and beverage facilities include a food court, restaurants, takeaway operators and other dining venues. The food offer was significantly renewed during the Westfield redevelopment, and the centre became the site of Victoria's first Krispy Kreme location.

• Entertainment · 2001

  Entertainment precinct

  The centre's entertainment offer has included a Village cinema precinct. A later City of Casey entertainment and community precinct added civic and cultural functions, including the Narre Warren Library.

• 2010

  Replace David Jones with MyerStrategy

  Background

  David Jones had sought to leave its arrangement with Westfield since 2003 because Fountain Gate did not align with its preferred strategy or target demographic.

  Action taken

  After David Jones terminated the arrangement in July 2010, Westfield selected Myer for the department-store component of the planned expansion.

  Aftermath

  Myer opened as the principal department-store anchor associated with the 2011–2012 expansion.

  Source

• 2007

  Plan a major retail expansionStrategy

  Background

  The centre pursued further enlargement to increase department-store, supermarket, specialty-retail and parking capacity.

  Action taken

  The City of Casey approved an expansion plan in December 2007 involving new anchor space, 114 specialty-store spaces and approximately 1,500 additional car spaces.

  Aftermath

  Construction proceeded between 2011 and 2012 and materially increased the centre's scale.

  Source

• 1995

  Westfield acquires the centreM&A

  Background

  Fountain Gate was an established regional shopping centre that required further scale and tenant diversification to serve the rapidly developing south-eastern suburbs.

  Action taken

  Westfield Group acquired the centre and initiated a redevelopment program that culminated in a substantially larger complex.

  Aftermath

  The property gained new retail, food, cinema and supermarket components and became part of the Westfield Australian shopping-centre portfolio.

  Source

1. 1Westfield Fountain Gateen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Westfield Fountain Gate official websitewestfield.com