Gold Coast locals rush to shopping centres after COVID-19 restrictions lifted at Harbour Town, Pacific Fair

Retail outlets on the Gold Coast have gone from being ghost towns to thriving hubs after COVID-19 restrictions were eased.

The Coast’s largest shopping centres have reopened many of their stores today, with Queenslanders allowed to travel within 50km of their house for non-essential outings from midnight last night.

Harbour Town and Pacific Fair prepared for the rush of people with signage reminding customers about social distancing located across the centres, stores restricting how many customers are allowed inside and noticeably more security monitoring the malls.

With limits on customers inside stores, some Harbour Town outlets had lines of people waiting to shop before opening.

COVID-19 restrictions around shopping and go out in public have been relaxed. Shoppers lining up to enter Peter Alexander at Harbour Town Premium Outlets. Picture: Jerad Williams

Burleigh Heads resident Jennifer Woodman, 58, was fourth in line at the Peter Alexander and said she had to get there 40 minutes early to secure the spot.

“I work in a hospital so I was looking forward to doing something normal again,” she said.

“After this I’m going to meet up with a friend and grab a coffee, find a park and sit down there.”

COVID-19 restrictions around shopping and go out in public have been relaxed. Shoppers Chloe Tucker, Lindsey Walker and Kilani Walker, 2, at Harbour Town Premium Outlets. Picture: Jerad Williams

Pimpama couple Chloe Tucker, 28, and Lindsey Walker, 29, started their day with two-year-old daughter Kilani shopping at Harbour Town before making the most of other eased restrictions.

“We had a motive to get me some sunglasses today,” Ms Tucker said.

“We’re going to Kelly’s parent’s house for lunch later, now we’re allowed to go,” Mr Walker said.

COVID-19 restrictions around shopping and go out in public have been relaxed. Shoppers being temperature checked before entering Mecca Maxima at Pacific Fair Shopping Centre in Broadbeach. Picture: Jerad Williams

The owner of Sanctum Kitchen and Bar Luke Turner said it was a relief the shops around his business in Harbour Town have been able to reopen.

“For the last four weeks there has been nobody,” he said.

“We have been down plus 80 per cent.

“This morning we have had a queue of couple and coffee sales have been good.”

Across the city at Pacific Fair, COVID-19 hygiene measures were also been taken seriously, including customer’s temperatures being taken at the entrance of the Mecca Maxima.

COVID-19 restrictions around shopping and go out in public have been relaxed. Culture Kings Store manager, Dylan Harris, at Pacific Fair Shopping Centre in Broadbeach. Picture: Jerad Williams

Culture Kings store manager Dylan Harris said business hasn’t returned to normal but is on its way.

“Today it has been better than expected,” he said.

“There were some pretty lean weeks for business before we temporarily closed for two week.

“At first it took a little bit of time to manage the distancing but everyone has been really good about listening to our directions.”

COVID-19 restrictions around shopping and go out in public have been relaxed. Shoppers Jolon Taylor and Kelly Taylor at Pacific Fair Shopping Centre in Broadbeach. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mother of three Brooke Emagher made the most of the chance to shop with her sons at the Broadbeach shopping centre.

“These are birthday present for Taj’s 12th birthday next week,” she said.

“We got here about 9.45am and got straight into shopping.”

Mermaid Beach couple Jolon and Kelly Taylor also were doing birthday shopping at Pacific Fair and said they were happy to have some normality back in their lives.

“We are locals and when we came through the doors I was like wow this is the most amount of people I’ve seen for weeks, maybe even months,” Mr Taylor said.

“We‘ve missed birthdays and have some birthdays coming up, so we’re catching up on all of them,” Mrs Taylor said.