Mildura, Bendigo, Albury, Shepparton: Can Victorian shopping malls be revived?

Malls across the state are receiving major makeovers but is it enough to keep the shopping experience alive? Stakeholders have their say.

Some regional Victorian councils are scrambling to keep their shopping malls alive, as traders fear they will not survive in their traditional format.

Business owners across the state say malls are becoming outdated and shopfronts are closing, while one council invests millions to revitalise their precinct.

In northwest Victoria, Mildura’s mall has 17 shopfronts closed — one in four businesses in their precinct.

It’s a similar issue on the border, in Albury where businesses say awkward positioning and the outdated mall has not helped traders bounce back from Covid.

Other councils including in the Goulburn Valley are investing millions in a desperate bid to bring the mall back to life.

Mildura Rural City Council’s 15 year plan hopes to change the situation at Langtree mall including better walking paths to “encourage walking and cycling” and increasing all day parking in existing car parks.

But business owner Ryan Hammerton says the answer to the survival of the mall hinges on better vehicle access and “proximate parking”.

“The issue that the mall faces is larger and more circular than what you see on any given day,” he said.

Mr Hammerton, who owns Hammerton Jewelers and Emeringtons Jewellers in the Mildura mall, said there were 17 vacancies before Covid and that had not changed.

“The lack of proximate parking is a drama for customers and smaller businesses that are in the mall,” he said.

“Even if businesses show up we are fighting for the same amount of parking.”

Mr Hammerton said he had spoken to hospitality franchises and chains but none of them were interested in the mall.

“Many of the national brands have extremely stringent requirements on foot traffic, accessibility, availability of options such as click and collect ... there is an expectation that commercial sites will be able to fulfil all of these attributes and when our CBD is as badly landlocked by current design it prevents a lot of these national brands from taking our precinct seriously,” he said.

Mr Hammerton added: “When Bridge Road (in the City of Yarra) shopping strip hit 15 per cent vacancy they freaked out, now Mildura is at about 25 per cent.”

In Albury, on the border of Victoria and NSW, Citywalk is also struggling.

Albury’s The Dance Boutique co-owner Wayne Whighton said his store had struggled and the awkward positioning of the mall had not helped.

“It probably would help if we moved into the block on the street somewhere,” he said.

“Most people go past us because they're on their way to Kmart, on the other side of the mall.”

Mr Wighton said the stores vacant opposite his had been that way since at least 2019 when he moved in.

“This place [the mall] is showing its age. It really needs to be redone.”

In the Goulburn Valley, Greater Shepparton City council is spending more than $17 million into redeveloping the Maude Street Mall.

The plan will introduce slow-moving one-way traffic with parallel parking on both sides.

David Carnell, the owner of small business Inspired By Fashion said foot traffic was “very low” amid the mall strip‘s facelift.

Mr Carnell said he was “absolutely” for the revamp.

“It's just short term pain for long term gain. I think Bendigo should be redirecting traffic like Shepparton is,” he said.

Mr Carnell added he “knew what [he] was getting into” when the business began in October last year.

City of Greater Bendigo, in central Victoria, announced last year its would also revamp its mall with a two-year project.

It will include the installation of a big screen in the mall, more landscaping, a hotel and increased shade

At the time council said it represented the future of the mall.

“Just like shopping centres that are updated every seven to 10 years, outdoor public spaces and shopping areas that fulfil a similar purpose also need to be invested in,” presentation and assets director Brian Westley said.

“The last mall redevelopment was in 2010, so it is nearly 12 years old in its current form.”