Melbourne’s shopping centres: The good, the bad and handy tips
WE spend hundreds of hours a year at shopping centres — and not just driving around looking for car parks — so which are Melbourne’s best?
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MELBOURNE’S major shopping centres, with all their pretty lights and endless sales, can be lands full of wonder and amazement.
And for varied reasons — mainly endless carparks with seemingly no free spaces — they can be a source of frustration.
Today we take you on a tour of Melbourne’s most popular shopping centres, revealing their beauty, underbelly and — if you look close enough — some pretty handy tips to hopefully get you out of there with your sanity and life.
Australia’s biggest shopping centre, Chadstone is known as the fashion capital of the city and, seeing as we’re in the nation’s best city, the country.
THE GOOD
There’s more international fashion and homewares retailers here than you can poke a selfie stick at. There’s Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Tiffany & Co, Zara and Topshop to name a few. You can also find high-end designer stores including Hugo Boss, Chanel, Prada and Jimmy Choo.
For those of us who prefer clean cars to clothes, the car wash in the underground car park is great value and a sneaky way to get a parking spot during Christmas peak.
Fashion and clean car-loving families can enjoy Cheeky Chinos, an Australian first cafe in that it features a supervised play area for tots up to age 6.
Parents can enjoy their coffee in peace while carers keep an eye on the kids for $5 a child for 15 minutes.
And the centre’s other play areas are also a hit with the kids.
THE BAD
You have to be dressed to the hilt with a full face of make-up (guys, you’re excluded with the latter) just to step foot in Chadstone.
And good luck fighting through busloads of shopping tourists to get in from the Tiffany’s end.
And if you thought GPS had usurped the tired old Melways, try using one to find your way around in the undercover car parks.
A major shopping centre in Preston East, Northland is about 11km north of Melbourne’s CBD.
THE GOOD
Great for bargain shoppers who don’t want to spend mega $$$ on clothing but still want to look somewhat groovy.
The classical music/opera music playing at the carpark entrance near the food court may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but has stopped the misbegotten youths hanging around.
And some of the stores seem more like factory outlets, with major discounts to be found.
THE BAD
Northland’s website boasts “4800 FREE parking spaces”, which means “you’ll be able to park with ease any time”.
It fails to mention this is only the case when school is in. Or if it isn’t after hours on Thursdays and Fridays or on Sundays.
And if you are heading there to see a flick and manage to find a park before the curtains roll open there’s a good chance the line for a ticket will be all the way back past the Pancake Parlour.
All the decent clothes shops are bad, small and have next to no stock. We’re talking to you Country Rd and Witchery. And the Myer is like a country town version, possibly the smallest and worst in Melbourne.
Maribyrnong’s Highpoint bills itself as a world class shopping destination featuring more than 500 stores, 7000 parking spaces and a “proud history of bringing many retailers and brands to Melbourne’s west”.
THE GOOD
A swish renovation in 2013 saw international retailers Zara and Topshop move in. The centre also boasts plenty of Aussie fashion labels including Sass & Bide, Gorman and Alannah Hill. A huge new David Jones opened and Myer was given a makeover.
A lot of mums choose to shop at Highpoint just for the parents’ rooms. There would be few nicer or more stylish options for changing a nappy or breastfeeding in Melbourne.
The rooms feature play areas, private feeding rooms, high chairs and TVs.
And if you look hard enough you might find a “New York, London, Footscray” top.
The fresh food precinct they brought in a few years ago is good, especially the big fresh food market. Plenty of variety of fresh and cheap produce.
Not sure if this should be in the good or the bad, but Khloe Kardashian visited the centre in 2013.
MORE: Khloe Kardashian meets Australian fans at Highpoint
THE BAD
It’s difficult to find a car park on weekends, but Highpoint isn’t Robinson Crusoe there when it comes to shopping centres.
And, with a nickname like ‘Knifepoint’, the only place you feel remotely safe is in your car driving around looking for a spot.
Once you’re in you’ll see the benefits of the $300 million makeover. Except someone forgot about the crappy old supermarket in the middle, standing exactly as it was.
Highpoint is Australia’s fourth biggest shopping centre — and it feels like it. It’s almost too big — not a great thing when the roads in have either a single lane or trams.
Yep, there’s monster traffic jams a’plenty at Knifepoint.
Located on either side — and over — the Nepean Highway in Cheltenham, Southland boasts a floor area of 130,000sq m and, according to its website, more than 6000 FREE* parking spaces.
Problem is these parks are often hard to find. Don’t stress, we’re told a “destination” train station will eventually open and lots of shoppers will use it, which will undoubtedly free up parking spots for anyone but people who want to catch the train to work.
MORE:
Southland train station delayed until 2017
Lack of Southland train station carparks will cause traffic chaos, say neighbours
If you want a parking spot on the weekends, or after hours on Friday, head straight for the roof. The Myer side — on the roof — is usually the best place to park.
The centre is renowned for making a mini-social media star out of a well-known shopper who always wore chunky headphones, ran a lot and often danced.
The cleverly-named ‘Southland Headphones Guy’ has a couple of Facebook pages — cleverly titled ‘Headphone Guy from Southland’ and ‘The Headphones Guy At Southland’ — dedicated to his 10,000-odd fans.
*Shopping centres seem to like to capitalise the word ‘free’ on their websites, suggesting they are doing you a favour by not charging you to shop.
THE GOOD
Inside, people who love spacious lifts will absolutely adore the elevator in the cinema area — it fits about 15 people.
People who just can’t wait for dessert after a burger — and, let’s face it, who can? — almost wet their pants when noticing Grill’d is next to San Churros. Genius.
If you like your supermarkets like you like your lifts, you’ll like Southland’s Coles. It must be one of the biggest in the state.
The Cotton On store is also massive and carries plenty of bargains.
Most of the time you forget you’re shopping on top of a highway, but Kathmandu on level 3 boasts Nepean views and the opportunity to see how the traffic is moving.
THE BAD
Grabbing a park during peak-hour at Southland is harder than finding a glowing review of Adam Sandler’s latest flick, unless it is near the cinema when said movie is showing.
And don’t try finding a park on Boxing Day. Just don’t.
The centre itself can be a bit of a maze if you have a pram or wheelchair. You need to cross over the highway on the higher levels and then find a lift to get down to the ground level.
And the lifts are always crazy busy and unfortunately not all super large like the cinema one. A tip for those of you who don’t want to go near the cinema for fear of catching a sneak peek of Sandler’s movie: The David Jones lift is always quiet.
It could do with a revamp, more major fashion retailers and a better food court.
Even though Southland boasts FREE parking spaces, some have 90 minute, two-hour or four-hour limits. Kingston Council manages the carpark and who has heard of a council that doesn’t like handing out parking fines?
Guess what? Parking at Westfield Knox is FREE and can be accessed from Burwood Highway, Stud Rd or Melbourne St.
The centre is set to undergo a $450 million expansion, which will make it Australia’s second largest shopping centre, just 1500sq m behind Chadstone
MORE: Westfield Knox $450m expansion will make it Australia’s second largest shopping centre
THE GOOD
If you like restaurants, you’ll love Knox. It already has some great eateries and there’s a lot more opening up in Ozone. And what would the point of a $450 million revamp be without more restaurants?
There’s usually plenty of parking at the centre and no parking fees, although locals fear the FREE parking will stop when the centre is expanded.
The centre’s library, cinema and Timezone are great. It is also more down-to-earth than Doncaster or Chadstone in that you don’t need to dress up to go shopping.
THE BAD
Some spaces inside the centre are looking very tired. Most of this is in Myer, where the carpet is lifting, paint peeling and there’s a general shoddiness in the changing rooms, presumably because they are waiting for the revamp.
Knox Ozone has the scummy Irish pub and Lou Lou’s bar, which bring down the atmosphere of the outdoor area and attract bogans and undesirables.
It has two Coles supermarkets, effectively locking out any competitor.
Located in Ringwood in Melbourne’s outer east, Eastland is close to public transport with Ringwood train station across the road. The whole area is undergoing a huge upgrade and is expected to soon be an exciting hub.
THE GOOD
Two letters — H & M.
The mega-fashion retailer’s decision to open its second Melbourne store at Eastland has given the centre a massive boost.
George Calombaris’ Athenian souvlaki bar Jimmy Grants Deluxe, Frank Camorra’s taqueria Pacos Tacos and Huxtaburger — renowned for its wagyu burgers — also opened recently, making it the best place in Melbourne to shop and eat in your Uggs.
The centre just about everything you need — including Costco nearby — and, even during peak periods, the FREE parking is easily accessible.
The Realm centre, which opened alongside Eastland on October 29, includes Ringwood’s new library and business centre. It’s all at your fingertips
MORE:
Fashionistas Jesinta Campbell, Jessica Gomes and Jessica Mauboy open Eastland redevelopment
George Calombaris and Frank Camorra open Eastland eateries
THE BAD
Getting to Eastland has become increasingly difficult, with the redevelopment meaning everyone wants to be part of the action. Parking is often full up, but that is expected to ease as time goes on.
The centre will also introduce paid parking from February next year, with free parking under three hours
For those who enjoy a Big Mac or McFlurry, you’ll be disappointed to find there’s no longer a Maccas in the food court. It shut down earlier this year.
A huge shopping hub in the heart of the east, Doncaster is a rival to Chadstone as Melbourne’s fashion capital.
THE GOOD
Doncaster’s food court has the best view in Melbourne and a great selection, with everything from healthy snacks, dumplings, ice cream and McDonald’s. It has a great vibe.
Parking is best when the shopper demographics change over between 5pm and 6pm, when you can snap up a few free spaces.
While parking is often hard to find, the green and red light system is very helpful. Stalking leaving shoppers to snare their park also works, as in most centres.
There’s a great range of shops. Dance addicts love Doncaster’s Bloch store, with not many other places catering for rug cutters.
There’s also Apple, Nespresso, Myer, David Jones, Mecca Maxima and a champagne bar with a piano man, all of which is so much closer than Chaddy for people living in the northeast and outer east.
Also has awesome kids clothes shops, but parents are pleading to centre management to bring back Rhubarb.
THE BAD
Parking. And there’s no FREE parking. Why do we have to pay for parking at Doncaster when you don’t even get charged at Chadstone? The centre plans to introduce a ticketless system, using licence plate recognition to slug customers who stay longer than three hours.
And don’t get us started on trying to find your way out of the car parks. Getting in and out of the place takes years off your life and the little lights and signs saying where there are vacant spaces are chronic liars.
And the only children’s play area is so small that kids are forced to fight each other to sit on the little car with the wobbly steering wheel.
FOUNTAIN GATE
The biggest shopping centre in the southeast, Fountain Gate — made famous by Kath and Kim — was renovated in 2012 and now has a 12,000sq m Myer store, most other major shops plus 320 specialty outlets.
THE GOOD
Fountain Gate — with its wide range of stores — is arguably the best shopping centre in Melbourne’s southeast.
The fashion wing also got a major “joosh” and is now quite “glamorous”.
Fountain Gate was the first in Victoria to feature a Krispy Kreme store and maybe the only one that boasts about its free carparks in lower case.
Speaking of parking, if you’re struggling for a spot there’s always one free over near the council chambers. It’s a very short walk to the Switch/Pancake Parlour/Village Cinemas entrance.
THE BAD
It’s too big, which means it is too hard to find anything. And it is all spread out, which means you better have your walking shoes on.
EMPORIUM
Opened on Myer’s Lonsdale St site last year. This stylish city shopping centre is connected to Melbourne Central, Myer and David Jones.
THE GOOD
The Emporium’s food court has to be the trendiest in Melbourne. You will find George Calombaris’ fancy falafels at Jimmy Grants, gourmet sangas at EARL Canteen and Charlie & Co’s popular burgers. It’s a big hit with city workers.
If you are staying in the city for the night you can have your shopping bags delivered to your room for FREE.
Get your Japanese shopping fix without leaving Melbourne at clothing store Uniqlo, where you can stock up on polo, puffa jacket or pair of jeans in what seems like hundreds of colours. And, as far as we know, the change rooms there are safe.
MORE: China loses its mind over Uniqlo sex tape
THE BAD
It’s in the city so parking in the city is always overpriced and there’s always too much traffic. Catch a train or a tram if you can.
WORTHY MENTIONS:
NORTHCOTE PLAZA
A small plaza in the centre of hipsterville Northcote, this mall is the place that time forgot. It looks like it hasn’t been renovated since 1992 and the whole place is screaming for a makeover.
THE GOOD
You can go to Northcote Plaza in your pyjamas and no one would care. Tracky dacks are the norm.
In recent years some better quality cafes have opened up around the eastern perimeter making it a less-depressing place to dine or grab a coffee.
The plaza boasts an excellent butcher, fruit and veg and fresh fish shop and the All Nations park to the east is a good spot for the kids to play during a break from shopping.
Carparks can invariably be found in the underground park on the west side of the centre.
There’s a lot of pun-loving shops, such as ‘Thyme to Eat’.
THE BAD
The Plaza mafia — anyone who has been to the centre knows what we’re talking about.
There’s really not a lot of choice in shopping; the four cheap and pretty nameless fashion outlets are probably three too many.
You can’t get phone reception in Kmart and there’s two Coles supermarkets, one of which is apparently cheaper but could be an urban myth.
And never, ever use the toilets.
WESTFIELD AIRPORT WEST
Westfield Airport West has expanded in recent years so while there’s no Myer or David Jones, it’s still very useful when it comes to most things.
THE GOOD
It’s pretty easy to get a carpark, plus the cinemas — or the candy bar — never have queues. Ever.
THE BAD
The food court closes about 7pm every day — way too early.
CRAIGIEBURN CENTRAL
Located in the heart of Craigieburn, Craigieburn Central — which opened only a couple of years back — bills itself as the new destination to meet and relax with friends and family, enjoy regular live entertainment and shop until your heart is content.
THE GOOD
Craigieburn Central has a modern look, lots of little home stores and quadrants separating the different themes — food, supermarkets, clothing etc.
THE BAD
The parking seems to be so far from the shops unless you find a park in the 30min/1hr spots, which is akin to winning Powerball.
You have to dodge the rain between quadrants and the outdoor eating precinct has potential but lacks the buzz of other big shopping centres.
FOREST HILL CHASE
Tucked away on Canterbury Rd between Blackburn and Springvale roads, Forest Hill Chase is the shopping centre many people don’t even know exists, which is weird as it has been there since 1964.
THE GOOD
The best thing about Forest Hill Chase is people forget it is there. Otherwise, it has a fresh fruit market, good court, cinemas, bowling alley and plenty of parking, particularly off Canterbury Rd.
It has Aldi, Coles AND Woolies — and a Colonial fruit market. Who needs more?
Quirky shop Off Ya Tree has great 50s style dresses and the Target is fantastic.
THE BAD
Now it has made it to this list, people will know it is there.
The piano was removed from the food court, which could do with a few more options and the car park can get full on pension day.
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