Garden City renamed Westfield Mt Gravatt to dismay of local community

More than 250 signatures have been collected in an online petition to keep the former name of a well-known Brisbane shopping centre. Have your say.

Mt Gravatt’s historic Garden City shopping centre will undergo a controversial name change, much to the shock of local shoppers.

Garden City shopping centre in Upper Mt Gravatt will now be known as Westfield Mt Gravatt, with the retail giant already renaming the centre’s Facebook page and the name of the centre on their website.

A change.org petition to keep the original name was created and has received more than 250 signatures online.

Westfield said the name of their shopping centres were reflective of the areas and communities they were located.

“We’re so proud of our rich history as part of the Mt Gravatt community, so to reflect our location, Westfield Garden City will now be known as Westfield Mt Gravatt.”

Westfield’s Garden City shopping centre has undergone a controversial name change. Picture: AAP/Richard Gosling

Brisbane City councillor Steven Huang (MacGregor) shared his displeasure with the change to the 1970 building.

“I have known this place as ‘Garden City’ since my family came to Brisbane in 1988,” he said.

“Myself and my community feel very strongly about wanting the name to remain Garden City and I would be most disappointed to see the name gone.”

The petition’s founder Josh McKenzie said memories had been made at Garden City for decades.

“This strips Garbo’ of its entire individuality,” he said.

“You can’t just remove such a pillar of our rich society.”

Westfield has been contacted for further comment.