Westfield Mt Gravatt

Westfield Mt Gravatt is a major regional shopping centre in Upper Mount Gravatt, on Brisbane’s south side in Queensland, Australia. The complex was widely known as Garden City, Westfield Garden City, or simply Garbo before its official renaming to Westfield Mt Gravatt on 8 August 2022. It is operated and owned by Scentre Group, the Australian and New Zealand retail property group that manages the Westfield-branded shopping-centre portfolio in the region. The centre began as Garden City, a project constructed by Hooker Projects and pre-sold to department-store operator David Jones in 1960. It opened on 1 October 1970 with a three-level David Jones store, a two-level McDonnell and East department store, a Woolworths family store, specialty retailers, and a Brisbane City Council library. The opening was promoted with an unusual helicopter drop of ping-pong balls, some of which contained prize messages, attracting large crowds to the centre’s car park. Over subsequent decades, the property expanded and changed its retail mix several times. An eastern extension opened in 1980, followed by a food court in 1982. A southern extension in 1986 introduced a Super Kmart hypermarket and additional specialty shops. During the retail restructurings of the early 1990s, McDonnell and East entered receivership and its former space was divided between Toys 'R' Us and the relocated Garden City Library. The Super Kmart format was later discontinued at the site, with the space divided between Kmart and Coles. Venture, another discount department-store tenant, also departed after entering receivership. A substantial internal reconfiguration took place in 1998. David Jones moved into a new two-level store built on the former Woolworths site, Woolworths moved to a new upper-level location, the original David Jones premises were converted into a multilevel car park, and Big W opened in the expanded southern section. In 2000, the centre added Town Square, an outdoor dining and entertainment precinct developed from part of the former bus-station and car-park area. The project also introduced a 16-screen cinema complex, originally operated as Birch Carroll and Coyle Megaplex and later associated with the Event Cinemas brand. Further expansion in 2003 created a new western mall. Coles moved to the end of that mall, while Harvey Norman opened on the level above. The largest later expansion opened in 2014 and added Myer, Target, Aldi, a market precinct, and approximately 100 specialty stores. Kmart temporarily closed during the redevelopment and reopened in a new location when the expansion was completed on 18 September 2014. The centre is closely linked to Brisbane’s public-transport network. It incorporates the Garden City bus station and is adjacent to Upper Mount Gravatt busway station, making it an important interchange for bus services serving Brisbane’s southern suburbs. The property has approximately 4,675 car-parking spaces and includes retail, food, entertainment, public-service, and community facilities such as the Upper Mount Gravatt Post Shop and Garden City Library. The 2022 name change was intended to align the centre more closely with its geographic location and the Westfield naming system. However, the property is in Upper Mount Gravatt rather than the neighbouring suburb of Mount Gravatt. The change generated significant local criticism because Garden City was an established identity for residents, businesses, transport users, and community institutions. David Jones subsequently announced the closure of its Mt Gravatt store after 52 years of trading; its final day was 15 January 2023. The shopping centre remains active under the Westfield Mt Gravatt name, while Garden City continues to be used colloquially and in local references.

The shopping centre originated as Garden City, a retail development constructed by Hooker Projects and pre-sold to David Jones in 1960. It opened on 1 October 1970 in what is now Upper Mount Gravatt, Brisbane. Its original tenant mix included a three-level David Jones department store, a two-level McDonnell and East department store, a Woolworths family store, specialty shops, and a Brisbane City Council library. The opening was accompanied by a promotional helicopter drop of ping-pong balls containing prize messages. The centre developed through successive expansions and tenant changes. An eastern extension was completed in 1980 and a food court was added in 1982. A southern extension followed in 1986, bringing a Super Kmart hypermarket and additional specialty stores. The early 1990s brought major restructuring: McDonnell and East closed after entering receivership, its space was divided between Toys 'R' Us and the relocated library, and the former Super Kmart was split into Kmart and Coles when the Super Kmart format was discontinued. Venture also left the centre after entering receivership. In 1998, David Jones moved into a new two-level store constructed on the former Woolworths site. Woolworths moved to a new upper-level store, the original David Jones building became a multilevel car park, and Big W opened as part of an expanded section of the complex. In 2000, the centre added Town Square, an outdoor dining and entertainment area developed around the main entrance. A 16-screen cinema complex opened as part of the same project; it was initially associated with Birch Carroll and Coyle Megaplex and later became an Event Cinemas venue. A western expansion in 2003 created a new mall, relocated Coles to the end of the new retail area, and added Harvey Norman above it. A major redevelopment completed in 2014 added Myer, Target, Aldi, a market precinct, and approximately 100 specialty stores. Kmart closed temporarily during the project and reopened in a new store when the expansion opened on 18 September 2014. The centre is integrated with Brisbane’s transport infrastructure through the Garden City bus station and its proximity to Upper Mount Gravatt busway station. It also contains or supports community facilities including the Upper Mount Gravatt Post Shop and Garden City Library, alongside dining, entertainment, retail, and extensive car parking. On 8 August 2022, the property was renamed Westfield Mt Gravatt. The change generated local opposition because the centre is in Upper Mount Gravatt and Garden City was a long-established local name. A petition attracted more than 1,000 signatures shortly after the announcement, and the renaming was criticised for potentially confusing public-transport users, businesses, customers, and delivery providers. David Jones later closed its store at the centre on 15 January 2023 after 52 years of operation. The property continues to trade as Westfield Mt Gravatt under Scentre Group operation.

• 2023

  David Jones store closes

  [1]Westfield Mt Gravatten.wikipedia.org

  The David Jones store completed its closure after 52 years, with its final trading day on 15 January.

• 2022

  Renamed Westfield Mt Gravatt

  [1]Westfield Mt Gravatten.wikipedia.org

  The property officially changed its name from Westfield Garden City to Westfield Mt Gravatt on 8 August.

• 2014

  Major redevelopment opens

  [1]Westfield Mt Gravatten.wikipedia.org

  The centre added Myer, Target, Aldi, a market precinct, approximately 100 specialty stores, and a relocated Kmart.

• 2003

  Western expansion completed

  [1]Westfield Mt Gravatten.wikipedia.org

  A new western mall was added, with Coles relocated and Harvey Norman opening above the new retail area.

• 2000

  Town Square and cinema precinct open

  [1]Westfield Mt Gravatten.wikipedia.org

  The centre added its outdoor dining and entertainment precinct and a 16-screen cinema complex.

• 1998

  Department-store reconfiguration

  [1]Westfield Mt Gravatten.wikipedia.org

  David Jones moved to a new two-level store, Woolworths relocated, Big W opened, and the original David Jones building became a car park.

• 1990

  Major tenant restructuring

  [1]Westfield Mt Gravatten.wikipedia.org

  McDonnell and East closed, its space was divided, and the former Super Kmart was later replaced by separate Kmart and Coles stores.

• 1986

  Southern extension introduces Super Kmart

  [1]Westfield Mt Gravatten.wikipedia.org

  A southern expansion added a Super Kmart hypermarket and more specialty retailers.

• 1982

  Food court opens

  [1]Westfield Mt Gravatten.wikipedia.org

  A food court was added near the centre’s main court.

• 1980

  Eastern extension added

  [1]Westfield Mt Gravatten.wikipedia.org

  The centre expanded eastward with additional major and specialty stores.

• 1970

  Garden City opens

  [1]Westfield Mt Gravatten.wikipedia.org

  Garden City opened on 1 October with David Jones, McDonnell and East, Woolworths, specialty stores, and a public library.

• 1960

  Project pre-sold to David Jones

  [1]Westfield Mt Gravatten.wikipedia.org

  Hooker Projects developed the shopping-centre project and pre-sold it to department-store operator David Jones.

Major regional shopping centre serving Brisbane’s southern suburbs, combining department stores, supermarkets, specialty retail, dining, entertainment, public transport, and community services.

• Shopping centre services · 1970

  Retail shopping

  The centre provides a broad regional shopping offer spanning department stores, supermarkets, discount department stores, fashion, specialty retail, homewares, electronics, and personal services. Its tenant mix has changed repeatedly through expansions and restructurings, with major retailers including David Jones, Woolworths, Kmart, Coles, Big W, Myer, Target, Aldi, and Harvey Norman represented at different stages.

• Dining and entertainment precinct · 2000

  Town Square

  Town Square is the centre’s outdoor dining and entertainment precinct, created in 2000 near the main entrance. It includes cafés, restaurants, and access to the cinema complex, providing a social and leisure-oriented complement to the enclosed retail malls.

• Cinema entertainment · 2000

  Event Cinemas complex

  A 16-screen cinema complex opened as part of the 2000 Town Square development. It was originally associated with Birch Carroll and Coyle Megaplex and later operated under the Event Cinemas name, forming one of the centre’s principal entertainment attractions.

• Community facility · 1970

  Garden City Library

  Garden City Library is a public library located within the shopping centre. It began in the original centre layout and was relocated into former McDonnell and East premises during the retail restructuring of the early 1990s.

• Transport facility

  Garden City bus station

  The centre includes the Garden City bus station and is adjacent to Upper Mount Gravatt busway station. Together they form a significant public-transport hub for Brisbane’s southern suburbs and connect the shopping centre with the wider metropolitan bus network.

• 1970Opening-day ping-pong-ball promotion

  Australia

  For the opening of Garden City, a helicopter released about one thousand ping-pong balls over the centre’s northern car park. Some balls contained prize messages, creating a large public spectacle and drawing thousands of shoppers.

  Outcome. The promotion became one of the centre’s notable opening-day features.

  Source

• 2022

  Adoption of the Westfield Mt Gravatt nameStrategy

  Background

  The centre had been known as Westfield Garden City, but its operator changed the name to better associate the property with its geographic location and the surrounding Mount Gravatt area.

  Action taken

  The official name was changed on 8 August 2022 to Westfield Mt Gravatt.

  Aftermath

  The change attracted local criticism because the centre is located in Upper Mount Gravatt and Garden City was an established identity for residents, businesses, transport users, and community facilities.

  Source

• 2022

  David Jones closure decisionOther

  Background

  David Jones announced the departure of its department store from the centre after 52 years of trading.

  Action taken

  The store was scheduled to close in January 2023 and ceased trading on 15 January 2023.

  Aftermath

  The closure ended a long-running anchor-tenancy relationship dating back to the centre’s 1970 opening.

  Source

1. 1Westfield Mt Gravatten.wikipedia.org