Burwood One: Shopping centre with 24-hour Kmart to undergo $20m upgrade

It’s home to Melbourne’s original 24-hour Kmart store, and now this shopping centre is set to offer even more for shoppers as part of a multimillion-dollar revamp.

A popular Whitehorse shopping centre home to Australia’s first Kmart store is set to get a new look, more stores and parking in a $20m upgrade.

The works at Burwood One will focus on the western side of the U-shaped shopping centre, which boasts its dining and food precinct and its Coles supermarket.

A new facade, signage and two extra levels will be built to provide more space for new shops in the precinct.

Parking will remain free and almost 100 extra parking spots will be created in the southwest corner of the centre through the expansion of its existing multi-level carpark.

The centre, which is managed by real estate agent Fitzroys, will also carry out works to improve safety, connectivity and traffic flow around the precinct.

Burwood One general manager Amy Zhang said it was timely for the centre, first established as Kmart Plaza in 1969, to undertake the upgrades to cater for the future needs of the community.

“The pandemic has reinforced the importance of walkable retail offerings to local communities,” she said.

“The addition of parking bays and an improved entry experience, which we’ve enhanced based on community feedback, reiterates our commitment to ensuring the centre always serves the people at its heart — our valued customers.”

The plans received five objections from nearby residents who were concerned about construction noise as well as overlooking of their backyards and loss of security once the project was finished.

Whitehorse Mayor Andrew Munroe said Burwood One was “a much-loved community shopping centre with a long history of serving the residents of Whitehorse and beyond”.

“It’s a modest upgrade to the centre and it’s going to add to the range and the offering to make it more attractive option for our residents and shoppers,” Cr Munroe said.

“As we come out of Covid-19, to have opportunities for people to get out and get back shopping again is to encouraged”.

The works are set to commence in the second quarter of 2022 and be finished by mid-2023.