Chadstone Shopping Centre: Historic photos as Chaddy turns 60
From the radio station and doughnut stand, to shopping at New World and Brashs, this is the Chadstone you might remember from your childhood.
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From humble beginnings to shopping mecca, Chadstone has certainly changed a lot over the years.
The biggest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere is celebrating its 60th birthday, and is inviting the community to share their memories.
Chadstone 60 Year Ambassadors, Murrumbeena couple Kaye and Graeme Andrew, met at the State Bank of Australia at Chadstone in 1968 as junior tellers.
Hiding their love affair from their colleagues for nearly 18 months, they married in August, 1969.
After having children, Kaye returned to work at Myer Chadstone as the womenswear store manager where she stayed for 20 years.
Mrs Andrew said Chadstone’s arrival changed the face of shopping in Melbourne.
“It was pretty incredible; we’d never had anything like it before in our lives, everything was there in one place, and shops that had only originally been in the city were now in the suburbs, at Chadstone,” she said.
“It just came from nowhere and it was so unbelievable,” Mr Andrew said.
“Kaye was like me, our mums took us into the city to shop if we needed clothes, there was nowhere else to go.
“It was the first Myer to be built outside the city.”
Mrs Andrew has fond memories of the 3UZ radio station and Downeyflake Doughnut stand at the centre.
“For a teenager, it was fabulous,” she said.
“In your lunchtime to go out and sit on the grassed area, and you could either sit on grass or on chairs and listen to the latest from 3UZ and the DJ was sitting in this glass booth, he was a one-man band.”
Mr Andrew said the station would play the latest music and a lot of rock stars would come and perform.
The couple also has fond memories of watching the moon landing on TV while working at the bank in 1969.
“How could you forget?” Mr Andrew said.
“The manager bought in a portable black and white TV and sat it on the counter so people in the banking foyer could watch it as well.
“Everybody just froze, nobody served, nobody spoke, it was monumental.”
Mr Andrew also remembered kids bringing along remote-controlled cars and using the big flat carpark, where David Jones is now, to race them.
The couple also remember Chadstone Bowl, an indoor bowling alley, based under the Myer store.
Mrs Andrew also remembers using the carpark for driving lessons, after the shops closed at lunchtime on Saturdays.
The couple, who have three children and five grandchildren, say Chaddy has a special place in their hearts.
“Without Chadstone, Kaye and I wouldn’t be here today and our kids and grandkids wouldn't be here today,” Mr Andrew said.
They still shop at the centre weekly.
“You can’t turn your back on the place without it growing,” Mr Andrew said.
“But it’s never deterred us from going back there.
“It’s never got too big for us.”
Chadstone will be asking the community to share their memories of centre to commemorate its milestone birthday.
The best of this trove of memories and mementos will be shared in an exhibition planned for September.
Customers can share their Chadstone Memory by submitting via the Chadstone website, social media channels using hashtag #mychadstonememories or in-person at the concierge desk, located ground level.
CHADSTONE THROUGH THE YEARS
CHADSTONE – THE FASHION CAPITAL KEY MILESTONES
– 1960 Chadstone officially opened, built at a cost of £6,000,000
– 1983 John Gandel purchased Chadstone from Myer for $37m
– 1984 The original mall was enclosed, Target added to the retail mix
– 1986 Development included the addition of Chadstone’s first cinemas
– 1989 Bi-Lo came to Chadstone as fresh food offer expanded
– 1990 The Galleria Mall was built including Australia’s first food court and additional specialties
– 1991 The first office spaces were opened at Chadstone
– 1995 Chadstone Corner, K Mart introduced
– 1998 Expansion included Myer, 20 specialties
– 1999 David Jones opened along with another 40 specialty retailers
– 2000 The entertainment precinct was opened – Hoyts expansion, Time Zone food, offer
– 2007 Expansion of fresh food including Safeway and the development of a five-level office tower
– 2009 West Mall opened, including ground and lower ground levels, as well as luxury retailers
– 2016 Stage 40 opened including LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Hoyts, H&M, Uniqlo, Zara, food central, dining terrace, more luxury and Tower One commercial office building
– 2017 Luxury Cross Mall Expansion featuring first to Australia luxury brands Celine, Saint Laurent, Loewe and Moncler
– 2018 Victoria’s Secret, Fresh Food Atrium and Youth Precinct Redevelopment
– West Piazza Development welcomed Calia and Yu Kitchen along with the much-anticipated Visitor Lounge and Valet Parking
– 2019 Hotel Chadstone opened its doors to guests in conjunction to The Link – the connective pathway between Vicinity Tower One, Hotel Chadstone and The Fashion Capital
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