Redlynch Central Shopping Centre to get $10m expansion

Construction work is about to kick off on a $10m expansion of a major Cairns shopping centre that before this Christmas will be home to a total of 40 specialty stores as well as Coles and Woolies.

Work is about to begin on the Redlynch Central Shopping Centre in the first major improvement of the building since a $20m redevelopment in 2014. Picture: Supplied

Construction work is about to kick off on a $10m expansion of a major Cairns shopping centre that before Christmas will be home to a total of 40 specialty stores as well as Coles and Woolworths.

In June last year Redlynch Central Shopping Centre applied to Cairns Regional Council for permission to add retail and commercial floor space including shops, food and drink outlets, and office space.

Shopping centre co-owner Charlie Marino said the stage three expansion, expected to get underway from April 28, will mean the addition of 1200sq/m of floor space and the attracting of new small businesses.

A map showing the extent of planned demolition at the Redlynch Shopping Centre. Picture: Supplied

Mr Marino said though leasing commitments had been locked in for two thirds of the new tenancies there was still an opportunity to become part of a growing retail hub.

“News of the new businesses coming to the centre will be shared closer to the opening of the expansion,” he said.

The proposed work will mean the addition of a two-storey building including first floor office space attached to the Coles end of the centre which has been designed by Brisbane firm V Architecture.

Having been involved with all three stages of Redlynch Central for the past 25 years, V Architecture principal Costa Vorkas said the “project had been like watching one of my children grow.”

Redlynch Central Shopping Centre at Redlynch. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns-based company Keir Queensland has been appointed as the lead contractor in an upgrade that’s expected to create 300 jobs and 30 local trade businesses will be used to complete the build.

Director Campbell Balderson said being awarded the Redlynch job was a vote of confidence in the local building industry.

“It is a great honour for us to be trusted with building the extension to Redlynch Central,” he said.

Currently home to 30 tenancies the expansion will add 10 new shops to the Larsen Rd centre.

New tenant to Redlynch Central, Belgian chocolate cafe Oliver Brown has been trading since March.

Cairns' first Oliver Brown breakfast and chocolate cafe has opened in the Redlynch Central shopping centre, offering sweet treats and affordable breakfast options. Oliver Brown Redlynch Central owners Jun Kim, Michael Kim and Jason Kim showcase some of the sweet treat and hearty breakfasts on the menu at their new cafe. Picture: Brendan Radke

Owners Michael and Jason Kim welcomed the imminent start of construction.

“We could not have wished for a better start for Oliver Brown and we look forward to the construction work starting so we can see the new mini piazza entrance take shape,” the brothers said.

“We are very excited about the Christmas opening.”

The upgrade is the first major improvement to the 20-year-old centre since a $20m expansion eight years ago.

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Originally published as Redlynch Central Shopping Centre to get $10m expansion