Westfield Southland parties this weekend to celebrate the big 50
FROM weddings in the rooftop garden to fans fainting over X-Files stars — a lot of wacky things have gone on at Westfield Southland. Here are a few to mark the iconic Melbourne shopping centre’s 50th birthday.
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SOUTHLAND shopping centre turns 50 this week and you’re invited to the party.
On Saturday shoppers can enjoy live saxophone music, a DJ, a photo booth and 50 giveaways on the hour, every hour.
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Westfield Southland will also have an historical installation on display from Thursday to Sunday, featuring photos of customers who have marked milestones or have fond memories of the centre, including celebrity appearances, weddings and school holiday events.
Among the fond (and bizarre) Southland memories are:
TERRY and Kevyn Lavelle get married in Southland’s rooftop garden in March 1980.
FAN hysteria requires paramedics to be on scene for X-Files star Gillian Anderson’s 1996 appearance.
TORNADO from the show Gladiators dirty dances with the manager of Southland Bras n Things … in a sombrero.
RONN Moss from The Bold and the Beautiful kisses babies in appearance in 2002.
MEATLOAF wowing crowds in a technicolour sweater.
Terry Lavelle has a very special memory of the former rooftop garden at the shopping centre — that’s where she married hubby Kevyn on March 8 1980.
Ms Lavelle said it was a great day and she had fond memories.
“It was beautiful — with gardens and a stream and little bridges. It was an awesome place to get married, perfect really,” she said.
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“We lived nearby and most of our guests were from the area so it was easy to get to. It was a little cool and windy up on the roof but the rain stayed off and we had a wonderful day.”
Ms Lavelle said she had “a bit of a cry” when she heard they would remove the gardens to add more stores.
There are about 400 retailers in Southland, and barber Andrew Tsakirakis, the owner of Men’s Clip Joint, has been one of them since the beginning.
”I was here the first day Southland opened. It was amazing. There was about 100,000 people through the centre and TV crews were here,” Mr Tsakirakis said.
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He has seen many changes over the years and has shifted position in the centre three times.
“However, I still have the same number of staff and they have been with me for many years. Customers like the familiarity,” he said.
Like Ms Lavelle, Mr Tsakirakis remembers the roof gardens fondly.
“We used to go up to sunbake in the summer. It was beautiful up there. There was a restaurant up there, too.”
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Westfield Southland centre manager Michael Croxford said 50 years was “an incredible milestone and a true testament to our community’s support”.
“The centre has become a place where people come to connect, experience and share memories and we’d like to thank our customers and retailers for all of their support over the years,” Mr Croxford said.
DID YOU KNOW?
According to the Melbourne 2030 Metropolitan Strategy, Southland is recognised as one of 26 Principal Activity Centres.
The centre is also one of the most profitable shopping centres in Australia, with an annual turnover of $857.9 million recorded in 2016.
designed by Melbourne architects Tomkins, Shaw & Evans, Southland opened in September 1968. It’s had many renovations since then, the first expansion in 1987 when the rooftop garden was replaced by a third floor of shops.
The Village Cinemas complex and food court were added in 1990.
In May 2000 a $300 million redevelopment was completed which included a wide, multi-level retail-pedestrian-vehicle bridge linking the old and new sites across the Nepean Highway.
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