Boronia Mall to celebrate 50th anniversary with special celebration on September 9
From shopping at Venture, to afternoon tea at the Down Under Cafe, and even a visit from pop princess Kylie Minogue, step back in time as Boronia Mall celebrates its 50th birthday.
Outer East
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A huge celebration is planned to mark Boronia Mall’s 50th birthday.
From the Down Under Cafe to Venture, many Knox residents have fond memories of the mall in its heyday, but in recent years it has struggled with empty shops.
Then known as Boronia Shoppingtown, the $6.5m complex was opened by then Victorian premier Rupert Hamer in 1973 with 31 specialty stores.
The mall’s tile mural is a popular feature and there even used to be a fountain in the thriving centre, which was the main hang-out location for local teens after school.
More than 1000 people packed the mall to get a glimpse of Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan during a special appearance when Neighbours was at its peak and Kylie had just released her first record, Locomotion.
But with all the shops in the mall individually owned, it has been hard to give the centre a revamp over the years and it has been described as like “walking back in time” with many empty shops.
The post office and Sight ‘n’ Sound, a CD, DVD and record store, are among the shops still open, along with a coffee shop.
Aussie Veterans Op Shop’s Fiona Quinn, whose store is also located within the mall, said nothing had really changed in the centre over the past six or seven years and it was very quiet.
Ms Quinn said she would love to see the mall embrace its retro feel and develop its real 1970s theme to entice more shoppers back.
“There are not many shops in the mall, it would be lovely to make it retro, the whole mall has got a 70s theme, they could capitalise on it and make it trendy,” she said.
“Two of the escalators out of three don’t work (currently) and nothing has been spent on the mall to improve it which is such a shame.
“I think (embracing the retro theme) would pick up the place and make it look really nice.”
Op shop volunteer Denise said she had many great memories of the mall, including when hundreds packed in to see Kylie and Jason.
She also remembered shopping at Venture and Pattersons, a furniture store.
“(The mall) needs a bit of paint and we need more people,” she said.
Kathy Trickey started the Facebook group Boronia “The good old days” on Facebook during the 2020 Covid lockdown, sharing photos and memories of the suburb’s history.
She previously told Leader News the mall used to be the main attraction in the suburb.
“The (Boronia) mall was such a stand out to us as kids, Knox City (shopping centre) wasn’t build back then, so in the 70s we all hung out at the mall.”
Other old stores included Just Jeans, Speeds shoes, a fruit and veg shop, deli, lolly shop, and Gloria Jeans.
The Aussie Veterans Op Shop is hosting an event on September 9 at the mall to celebrate its 50th birthday, with more than 40 market stalls, kids’ entertainment and a live band.
Organiser Kristy Harris said she remembered when the mall was “a hub of activity” when she was in high school.
“I used to go to Boronia Heights Secondary College and after school a bunch of kids would always be at the mall, and Down Under Cafe, that was very popular,” she said.
“There were so many good shops in there, clothing stores, a butcher which was downstairs - a lot of nostalgic pictures have been shared online.”
Ms Harris said going forward, she hoped somebody community minded would come in and make the mall “amazing” again.
She said pop-up markets and shops would help draw people back to the centre, and avoid the need for new shop owners to sign long leases.
She said the op shop recently hosted a pop-up fashion parade which was a big success.
Ms Harris said the 50th anniversary celebration would be a fun, exciting “old-fashioned retro fete”, with stalls kicking off from 9am. The main events will run from 11am-2pm.
There will also be an inflatable disco dome for kids, a Bunnings craft table and free kids’ dance lessons.
Boronia Mall through the years
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