Westfield Knox

Westfield Knox is a large shopping, dining, entertainment and professional-services complex in Wantirna South, an outer-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. It opened on 9 November 1977 as Knox City Shopping Centre and has developed from a regional enclosed mall into a broad mixed-use destination serving Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. The complex includes hundreds of retailers, supermarkets, department-store and discount-department-store operators, restaurants, food courts, cinemas, offices, a public library, leisure facilities and extensive parking. It is also associated with the outdoor O-Zone precinct, which contains restaurants, shops and community-oriented facilities. The centre originated in planning work undertaken by the Australian Mutual Provident Society, which applied in 1968 to rezone a 33-acre site near the intersection of Burwood Highway and Stud Road. The proposed centre was initially referred to as Studwood Shopping Centre, but the name was changed to Knox City Shopping Centre. The planning process attracted substantial local opposition and did not receive rezoning approval until March 1970. Designed by McIntyre, McIntyre and Partners, the project used a strongly modern architectural vocabulary with Brutalist elements. Construction required extensive ground engineering because the site had been low-lying swamp and floodplain adjoining Blind Creek. The watercourse was diverted through drainage pipes, the site was raised on engineered fill, and the main structure was supported by more than 1,200 friction piles. At opening, the centre had 87 occupied stores and a deliberately varied tenant mix based on research into the local population. Its original attractions included a three-level Myer department store, Target department store and supermarket operations, McEwans hardware, Dendy Cinemas, a public library and speciality retailers. Major redevelopment during 1989 and 1990 more than doubled the centre’s size, expanded parking, added promenade, market and food-court areas, and introduced Coles and Bi-Lo supermarkets. A Village Cinemas complex opened in 1988, replacing the original twin cinema arrangement. The adjoining outdoor precinct evolved from Knox District Centre into Knox Towerpoint and later Knox O-Zone. A further major redevelopment in 2002 linked the O-Zone area more closely with the principal shopping centre and substantially enlarged the complex. In October 2012, Westfield Group acquired AMP’s interest and rebranded the property as Westfield Knox. Following the 2014 separation of Westfield’s former operating businesses, the Australian centre became part of Scentre Group’s portfolio. A large expansion approved in 2014 was not delivered under its original permit. Scentre Group submitted revised plans in 2019, with a more compact redevelopment focused on fresh food, fashion, casual dining, a smaller Myer footprint and relocation of the public library. Myer announced its closure in 2021, after which Woolworths was selected for the ground floor of the former department-store space and a new library was planned for upper levels. The upgraded area began opening in stages from December 2022 through 2023. It added Woolworths, Aldi, a Dining Hall, new fashion and dining areas, leisure facilities and relocated retailers, including Uniqlo, MECCA, Glassons, General Pants Co. and JD Sports. The centre remains a significant retail and community destination, supported by bus services, taxis and several thousand parking spaces.

Westfield Knox was developed on land near Burwood Highway and Stud Road in Melbourne’s outer east. In 1968, the Australian Mutual Provident Society sought permission to rezone a 33-acre site for a large regional shopping centre. The proposal initially used the name Studwood Shopping Centre, but the planned development was ultimately named Knox City Shopping Centre. Local objections delayed the project, and rezoning was approved by the Victorian Minister for Local Government in March 1970. McIntyre, McIntyre and Partners won the design tender. Their scheme combined modern and Brutalist influences and required considerable technical preparation because the site was low-lying swamp and floodplain beside Blind Creek. A section of the creek was redirected through twin drainage pipes beneath the future car park. The site was raised with engineered fill, while the six-hectare building was supported by 1,208 friction piles. The building’s distinctive white reeded-concrete-block cladding used approximately 500,000 blocks. Landscaping covered more than 28,000 square metres and incorporated extensive native planting. The project’s eventual cost was substantially above its initial budget. Knox City Shopping Centre officially opened on 9 November 1977. Its initial 87-store tenant mix included a three-level Myer, Target, Target supermarket, McEwans hardware, Dendy Cinemas, a public library and speciality shops. The original leasing strategy was informed by demographic and economic research intended to match the centre with the surrounding population. The first major redevelopment took place during 1989 and 1990. The original section was refurbished and the overall centre was more than doubled in size. The project expanded undercover parking, added promenade, market and food-court areas, enlarged Myer and replaced the Target supermarket with Coles and Bi-Lo supermarkets. A ten-screen Village Cinemas complex opened in 1988, replacing the original twin cinemas. An adjacent outdoor shopping area became known as Knox District Centre, then Knox Towerpoint and later Knox O-Zone. In 2002, a further $150 million expansion connected the precinct more closely with the main centre, redeveloped the eastern section and added new retail and public areas. The centre continued to refresh its identity and food court during the 1990s and early 2000s as tenants changed. In October 2012, Westfield Group acquired AMP’s share of the property and renamed the centre Westfield Knox. The 2014 corporate separation of Westfield’s former businesses placed the Australian property within Scentre Group. A large expansion approved in 2014 proposed increasing gross lettable area from approximately 142,500 square metres to 188,500 square metres, adding an international fashion precinct, cafés, parking and relocated transport and library facilities. The proposal did not proceed under the original permit, which expired in 2017 unless extended. Scentre Group released revised plans in December 2019. These were more focused on refurbishment and staged redevelopment, including a smaller two-level Myer, fresh-food and fashion areas, casual dining with outdoor children’s play space, additional office or retail uses and a library relocation into the O-Zone precinct. Myer announced its closure in March 2021. Woolworths was subsequently identified as the replacement for the ground floor of the former Myer site, while a new 2,000-square-metre library was planned for upper levels. The revised redevelopment began opening in stages in December 2022 and continued through 2023. New elements included Woolworths, Aldi, a Dining Hall, a separate food court, a fashion mall, a basketball court, a swim school, a new library and additional mini-major retail spaces. Retailers such as Uniqlo, MECCA, Glassons, General Pants Co. and JD Sports anchored the new fashion offer, while JB Hi-Fi and Rebel were among businesses relocated within the redevelopment. The centre also has a history as a screen location, including appearances connected with the Australian television series Neighbours and the comedy program Full Frontal.

• 2023

  Staged redevelopment continues

  [1]Westfield Knoxen.wikipedia.org

  The new library, fashion areas, food facilities and leisure components opened progressively during the year.

• 2022

  New expansion area begins opening

  [1]Westfield Knoxen.wikipedia.org

  The first level of the redeveloped area opened with Woolworths, Aldi and the Dining Hall.

• 2021

  Myer store closure announced

  [1]Westfield Knoxen.wikipedia.org

  Myer announced the closure of its Knox store, enabling a revised redevelopment of the former department-store space.

• 2014

  Expansion approved

  [1]Westfield Knoxen.wikipedia.org

  Knox City Council approved plans for a large southward expansion, although the original scheme was not completed under its permit.

• 2012

  Westfield rebranding

  [1]Westfield Knoxen.wikipedia.org

  Westfield Group acquired AMP’s interest and rebranded Knox City Shopping Centre as Westfield Knox.

• 2002

  Knox O-Zone integration opens

  [1]Westfield Knoxen.wikipedia.org

  A major eastern expansion connected the former Towerpoint precinct with the principal shopping centre and introduced the Knox O-Zone identity.

• 1989

  Major enlargement begins

  [1]Westfield Knoxen.wikipedia.org

  The centre underwent a major expansion and refurbishment that continued through 1990.

• 1988

  Village Cinemas opens

  [1]Westfield Knoxen.wikipedia.org

  A ten-screen Village Cinemas complex replaced the original twin cinema arrangement.

• 1977

  Knox City Shopping Centre opens

  [1]Westfield Knoxen.wikipedia.org

  The centre officially opened on 9 November with 87 occupied stores, department stores, supermarkets, cinemas and a public library.

• 1970

  Rezoning approved

  [1]Westfield Knoxen.wikipedia.org

  After community objections and planning delays, the proposed shopping-centre site received rezoning approval.

• 1968

  Rezoning proposal submitted

  [1]Westfield Knoxen.wikipedia.org

  The Australian Mutual Provident Society applied to rezone a 33-acre site for a regional shopping centre.

A major eastern-Melbourne regional shopping and mixed-use destination combining mainstream retail, supermarkets, fashion, dining, entertainment, community services and leisure facilities.

• Retail and mixed-use destination · 1977

  Westfield Knox shopping centre

  The core enclosed shopping complex contains a broad tenant mix spanning supermarkets, fashion, beauty, homewares, electronics, discount department stores, services and speciality retail. It is supported by dining areas, community facilities, offices, transport connections and several thousand parking spaces.

• Outdoor retail and dining precinct · 2002

  Knox O-Zone

  The O-Zone is the centre’s associated outdoor precinct, developed from the former Knox District Centre and Knox Towerpoint. It provides outdoor restaurants, shops and space for community-oriented uses, including planned or relocated public facilities.

• Dining · 1977

  Dining and food precincts

  Westfield Knox includes an indoor food court, a separate newer food court and the Dining Hall introduced through the staged redevelopment. The broader offer also includes an outdoor restaurant strip and casual dining areas.

• Retail and recreation · 2022

  Retailer and leisure facilities

  The redeveloped centre adds a contemporary fashion mall, leisure and recreation facilities, a basketball court, a swim school and a larger public-library presence alongside major and mini-major retailers.

• 2021

  Former Myer space converted to new usesGeneration change

  Background

  Myer announced that it would close its Westfield Knox store, leaving a large multi-level department-store site available for redevelopment.

  Action taken

  The redevelopment plan allocated the ground floor to Woolworths and upper levels to a new public library, alongside additional retail and community uses.

  Aftermath

  The reconfigured area opened progressively, with the first major facilities launching in December 2022 and further components arriving in 2023.

  Source

• 2019

  Revised refurbishment strategyStrategy

  Background

  The original expansion permit had expired, while parts of the existing centre required renewal and the former department-store footprint offered redevelopment potential.

  Action taken

  Scentre Group submitted a revised plan focused on fresh food, fashion, casual dining, a smaller Myer configuration, new retail or office space and library relocation.

  Aftermath

  The strategy led to Myer’s departure, the selection of Woolworths for the former Myer ground floor and staged openings from 2022 through 2023.

  Source

• 2014

  Large expansion proposal approvedStrategy

  Background

  The centre required additional retail, dining, transport and parking capacity, and Scentre Group proposed a substantial southward extension.

  Action taken

  Knox City Council approved a plan to increase the centre’s gross lettable area, add new retail precincts and provide additional multi-deck parking.

  Aftermath

  The original expansion did not proceed before its permit expired, and a smaller revised refurbishment plan was later developed.

  Source

• 2012

  Acquisition and Westfield rebrandingM&A

  Background

  The property had previously been associated with AMP and Knox City Shopping Centre. Westfield Group sought to consolidate the asset under its shopping-centre brand.

  Action taken

  Westfield Group acquired AMP’s interest in October 2012 and renamed the centre Westfield Knox.

  Aftermath

  Following the 2014 division of the former Westfield Group, the Australian centre became part of Scentre Group’s portfolio.

  Source

1. 1Westfield Knoxen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Westfield Knox official websitewestfield.com.au