Australia Fair mall signs Surf, Dive n Ski, Priceline, new cafes

A once-up market shopping centre is facing mass store closures - but its management reveals a revamp is coming and new tenants have been signed.

A ONCE up-market shopping centre facing mass closures – with a competing nearby retail precinct weeks from opening – vows a revamp is being planned with new tenancies.

Southport residents have been left disappointed about the number of vacant shopfronts inside nearby shopping centre Australia Fair – with the Bulletin counting 15 empty spaces when it visited on Friday.

It’s a far cry from the centre’s heyday when it once boasted the most speciality stores out of any Gold Coast precinct when it opened to much fanfare in 1990.

Shoppers said a better food court and more variety in shops could help improve Australia Fair.

“There are a lot of leakages in the roof that they should fix. It makes me feel a bit unsafe,” Upper Coomera resident Samantha Taddei said.

Shopper Dominick Barker wanted more choices available in the centre’s food court.

He added: “They should put in a Target and more shops instead of just Kmart”.

Australia Fair manager Ramon Otten said the centre would be unveiling revamp plans within months: “We have a number of new leases we have completed.”

It included Surf, Dive ‘n’ Ski, a Priceline coming within months and a new cafe fitting out.

Meanwhile, a competing retail precinct called the Queen Street Village is nearing completion at the old Southport hospital site.

The $500m integrated development is set to include new retail, dining, entertainment, residential, childcare, commercial, hotel, health and aged-care facilities as well as a new cinema complex.

The new precinct will connect directly into the Nerang St Light Rail station and be supported by an enhanced new signalled crossing at Queen St on the opposite side.

Stage one was slated for completion in mid-February 2022, including new retail shops, health services, a Dendy cinema complex, IGA supermarket, Asian grocery store, gym, food court, childcare, cultural and social hubs.

Stage two plans include the new hotel and conference facilities, residential developments including age care, student accommodation and mixed commercial tenancy.

Empty stores throughout the Australia Fair shopping centre at Southport. Picture: Glenn Hampson

PHOTO GALLERY: Empty shops on Gold Coast

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Southport resident Noelle Meyer said it was sad to see so many vacant shopfronts in the centre.

“There are a lot of empty shops, which is not very good,” she said.

“I heard they wanted to revamp the shopping centre, so maybe after that it will be better.”

The Bulletin contacted Australia Fair for comment, but did not receive a response by deadline.

Empty stores throughout the Australia Fair shopping centre at Southport. Picture Glenn Hampson

In September last year, Australia Fair flagged plans for its own major overhaul after social media users blasted it as “shabby” and a “ghost town”.

Centre manager Ramon Otten responded to the backlash at the time, saying Covid had stalled works.

He said the owner was committed to an ongoing rejuvenation program along with a proposed upgrade of the escalators.

“Plans are currently underway to upgrade areas of the shopping centre and we hope to share details with the community in the coming months,” Mr Otten said in September.

Australia Fair has injected $50m into the Southport centre over the past five years.

This included a $15m makeover of the centre’s western section into Australia Fair Metro in 2016 and a $5m food court upgrade in 2018.

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Originally published as Australia Fair mall signs Surf, Dive n Ski, Priceline, new cafes