Garden City, Booragoon
Encyclopedia
Garden City Shopping Centre, usually known simply as Garden City, is a major regional shopping centre in the city of Perth, Western Australia
. Garden City is located at the corner of Marmion Street and Riseley Street in the southern suburb of Booragoon
. Garden City is majority-owned by AMP Limited
through its Australian Core Property Portfolio.
In recent years there have been, on average, 13 million annual individual visits to the centre, generating an estimated turnover of over A$500 million annually. In 2007, it grossed a Moving Annual Turnover of A$569.8 million giving it the highest turnover of any centre in the state and the 19th highest in the country. Westfield Carousel
has the 2nd highest MAT in the state. Garden City has been owned and managed by AMP Shopping Centres
since 1986.
In the late 1960s, the planning department of the state government
drew up a plan for several 'sub-regional' retail centres, which would form the commercial and economic focus of each 'node', and take the retail burden away from the CBD. Booragoon
, in the southern suburbs, was chosen as one of the ideal locations.
Work on Garden City was undertaken by Hooker Corporation, and began in 1970. In December 1971, Lady Lloyd Jones placed a time-capsule in the ground. The centre was opened in 1972, and immediately became popular as the nexus of the Melville Civic Centre Complex, which had been established after the Melville Council Offices
were built in 1968. The site was in the midst of sandy bush, not far from Applecross Senior High School
and Wireless Hill Park
.
had withdrawn from Western Australia
, and so Boans
(West Australian predecessor to Myer
) and Aherns (since taken over by David Jones)
were selected to build two department stores. In 1983, the first major redevelopment went ahead at a cost of A$25 million.
, and the re-location of K-Mart
to the north-eastern corner of the shopping complex. A new bus station was constructed to replace the old one. Another new addition to the shopping centre was the $2.71 million Newmart discount supermarket which opened its doors on 3 October 2000, creating 120 jobs for local people. Newmart would later go on to become an Action
supermarket in time for Christmas 2003 and then a Woolworths supermarket in late 2005. This phase of expansion removed much of the ground level parking, replacing it with undercover and rooftop parking. Apart from minor modifications to several satellite buildings such as the demolition of a service station in 2005, the shopping centre has remained largely unchanged since.
As part of the upgrade to the shopping centre in 1999 and 2000, Almondbury Road, the centre's main northern boundary access, was modified so as to prevent vehicles entering the complex if coming from the west. The plan was to encourage vehicles to use Riseley Street rather than the streets of suburban Ardross
.
The changes were welcomed by some local residents who saw a substantial reduction in the amount of traffic that had been using local streets to access the shopping centre. However it was equally disliked by many local residents who could no longer easily access the shopping centre, having to go via Riseley Street instead. Particular problems were caused for some residents trying to get to Applecross Senior High School
from Booragoon
, who were compelled to go around the shopping centre - a route which involved up to 5 sets of traffic lights within 2 kilometres - rather than the previous shorter and easier route.
As a consequence, intended or otherwise, the road became the City of Melville's
worst road accident blackspot
by some margin. The option of simply changing the access to permit vehicles to access from the west was politically difficult as it would increase traffic on suburban streets. In March 2006 the local council
held a community forum to determine what was the best solution for Almondbury Road. At this forum the local residents decided that access would be permitted from the west as had been the case prior to 2000.
bus station for the southern suburbs, the Booragoon bus station, is located on the shopping centre premises. It links to such routes as the 940 to Perth city centre, and the 501 to Fremantle
. Garden City is amply provided with both undercover and open-air parking.
and Woolworths are the two principle supermarkets, while the anchor department stores include Myer
, David Jones
and discount department store K-mart
. Notable speciality stores include Dymocks Bookstores, City Beach Surf-wear, Dick Smith Electronics, and JB Hi-Fi, with a further 200 speciality stores catering for all tastes.
In addition to shopping the main shopping complex, Garden City houses:
No major food restaurants reside outside of the centre.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. Garden City is located at the corner of Marmion Street and Riseley Street in the southern suburb of Booragoon
Booragoon, Western Australia
Booragoon is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia located within the City of Melville.Booragoon is the aboriginal name for the lower reaches of the Canning River....
. Garden City is majority-owned by AMP Limited
AMP Limited
AMP Limited is an Australian financial corporation. It operates primarily in Australia and New Zealand. AMP formed in 1849 as the Australian Mutual Provident Society, a non-profit life insurance company. In 1998 it was demutualised and listed on the Australian and New Zealand stock exchanges...
through its Australian Core Property Portfolio.
In recent years there have been, on average, 13 million annual individual visits to the centre, generating an estimated turnover of over A$500 million annually. In 2007, it grossed a Moving Annual Turnover of A$569.8 million giving it the highest turnover of any centre in the state and the 19th highest in the country. Westfield Carousel
Westfield Carousel
Westfield Carousel is a major shopping centre, owned by the Westfield Group and located in Cannington, a suburb of Perth. It is located approximately 12 kilometres from Perth on the Albany Highway, and approximately 600 metres from Cannington Train Station...
has the 2nd highest MAT in the state. Garden City has been owned and managed by AMP Shopping Centres
AMP Limited
AMP Limited is an Australian financial corporation. It operates primarily in Australia and New Zealand. AMP formed in 1849 as the Australian Mutual Provident Society, a non-profit life insurance company. In 1998 it was demutualised and listed on the Australian and New Zealand stock exchanges...
since 1986.
History and development
Government of Western Australia
The formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...
drew up a plan for several 'sub-regional' retail centres, which would form the commercial and economic focus of each 'node', and take the retail burden away from the CBD. Booragoon
Booragoon, Western Australia
Booragoon is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia located within the City of Melville.Booragoon is the aboriginal name for the lower reaches of the Canning River....
, in the southern suburbs, was chosen as one of the ideal locations.
Work on Garden City was undertaken by Hooker Corporation, and began in 1970. In December 1971, Lady Lloyd Jones placed a time-capsule in the ground. The centre was opened in 1972, and immediately became popular as the nexus of the Melville Civic Centre Complex, which had been established after the Melville Council Offices
City of Melville, Western Australia
The City of Melville is a Local Government Area in the southern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located east of the port city of Fremantle and about south of Perth's central business district...
were built in 1968. The site was in the midst of sandy bush, not far from Applecross Senior High School
Applecross Senior High School
Applecross Senior High School is public, co-educational High School, located in Ardross, a southern suburb of Perth, Western Australia.Founded in 1958, it has traditionally been one of the top public high schools in the state of Western Australia, and consistently ranks academically within the top...
and Wireless Hill Park
Ardross, Western Australia
Ardross is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia located within the City of Melville. It was once an area of land acquired by the Scotsman, Sir Alexander Percival Matheson in 1896...
.
The original precinct
To visitors today, the original section of Garden City consists of everything from the Davy Street entrance (where the Post Office is situated), to where one reaches the newsagent. Garden City remained this way (with less than 100 shops) until 1983.New department stores
In the early 1980s, moves were afoot to upgrade Garden City to meet growing demand. The shopping centre's owners went after big-name department stores. One department store retailer David JonesDavid Jones Limited
David Jones Limited , colloquially known as DJs, is a high-end Australian department store chain.David Jones was founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. It...
had withdrawn from Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, and so Boans
Boans
Boans is the name of an iconic department store that operated in Perth, Western Australia between 1895 and 1986. The store was founded by Harry Boan and his brother Benjamin who both came to Perth in 1895 from Broken Hill in western New South Wales. Harry and another brother, Ernest, had...
(West Australian predecessor to Myer
Myer
Myer is Australia's largest department store chain, retailing a broad range of merchandise including women's, men's and children's clothing, footwear and accessories; cosmetics and fragrance; homewares; electrical; furniture and bedding; toys; books and stationery; food and confectionery; and...
) and Aherns (since taken over by David Jones)
David Jones Limited
David Jones Limited , colloquially known as DJs, is a high-end Australian department store chain.David Jones was founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. It...
were selected to build two department stores. In 1983, the first major redevelopment went ahead at a cost of A$25 million.
Food court and cinemas
In the next decade or so, demand increased, resulting in the first major expansion in over a decade. In 1994, the current food court was built. This was followed in 1995 with the cinema complex. The new floor space of 48,000 square metres was however still considered inadequate, and so a second expansion was planned.Major redevelopment
The second major redevelopment of Garden City commenced in January 1999 and was completed in October 2000. The main addition was a new eastern section with three parallel malls. Another big change, was the creation of a new 'marketplace' in the area previously occupied by K-martKmart Australia
Kmart Australia Limited is a discount department store chain owned by Wesfarmers. It operates 172 stores in Australia and 15 in New Zealand, with its head office located in Mulgrave, Victoria. Wesfarmers uses the Kmart name under licence from Sears Holdings Corporation.-History:Kmart Australia...
, and the re-location of K-Mart
Kmart Australia
Kmart Australia Limited is a discount department store chain owned by Wesfarmers. It operates 172 stores in Australia and 15 in New Zealand, with its head office located in Mulgrave, Victoria. Wesfarmers uses the Kmart name under licence from Sears Holdings Corporation.-History:Kmart Australia...
to the north-eastern corner of the shopping complex. A new bus station was constructed to replace the old one. Another new addition to the shopping centre was the $2.71 million Newmart discount supermarket which opened its doors on 3 October 2000, creating 120 jobs for local people. Newmart would later go on to become an Action
Action Supermarkets
Action is a defunct Australian supermarket chain. Based in Perth, Western Australia, Action had 80 supermarkets across Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales, and was one of the largest supermarket chains in Australia...
supermarket in time for Christmas 2003 and then a Woolworths supermarket in late 2005. This phase of expansion removed much of the ground level parking, replacing it with undercover and rooftop parking. Apart from minor modifications to several satellite buildings such as the demolition of a service station in 2005, the shopping centre has remained largely unchanged since.
Almondbury Road traffic
As part of the upgrade to the shopping centre in 1999 and 2000, Almondbury Road, the centre's main northern boundary access, was modified so as to prevent vehicles entering the complex if coming from the west. The plan was to encourage vehicles to use Riseley Street rather than the streets of suburban Ardross
Ardross, Western Australia
Ardross is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia located within the City of Melville. It was once an area of land acquired by the Scotsman, Sir Alexander Percival Matheson in 1896...
.
The changes were welcomed by some local residents who saw a substantial reduction in the amount of traffic that had been using local streets to access the shopping centre. However it was equally disliked by many local residents who could no longer easily access the shopping centre, having to go via Riseley Street instead. Particular problems were caused for some residents trying to get to Applecross Senior High School
Applecross Senior High School
Applecross Senior High School is public, co-educational High School, located in Ardross, a southern suburb of Perth, Western Australia.Founded in 1958, it has traditionally been one of the top public high schools in the state of Western Australia, and consistently ranks academically within the top...
from Booragoon
Booragoon, Western Australia
Booragoon is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia located within the City of Melville.Booragoon is the aboriginal name for the lower reaches of the Canning River....
, who were compelled to go around the shopping centre - a route which involved up to 5 sets of traffic lights within 2 kilometres - rather than the previous shorter and easier route.
As a consequence, intended or otherwise, the road became the City of Melville's
City of Melville, Western Australia
The City of Melville is a Local Government Area in the southern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located east of the port city of Fremantle and about south of Perth's central business district...
worst road accident blackspot
Accident blackspot
An accident blackspot is a term used in road safety management to denote a place where road traffic accidents have historically been concentrated...
by some margin. The option of simply changing the access to permit vehicles to access from the west was politically difficult as it would increase traffic on suburban streets. In March 2006 the local council
City of Melville, Western Australia
The City of Melville is a Local Government Area in the southern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located east of the port city of Fremantle and about south of Perth's central business district...
held a community forum to determine what was the best solution for Almondbury Road. At this forum the local residents decided that access would be permitted from the west as had been the case prior to 2000.
Architectural features
As part of the major redevelopment in 1999 and 2000, a significant number of new striking architectural and aesthetic features were added, including a three storey atrium at the eastern end of the complex in the fashion mall.Transport
A key TransperthTransperth
Transperth is the brand name of the public transport system in Perth, Western Australia. It is operated by the Public Transport Authority.-History:...
bus station for the southern suburbs, the Booragoon bus station, is located on the shopping centre premises. It links to such routes as the 940 to Perth city centre, and the 501 to Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
. Garden City is amply provided with both undercover and open-air parking.
Facilities
At present, the main shopping complex has a floor space of 65,000 square metres. The entire centre is situated on approximately 300,000 square metres of land. The main shopping complex consists of a long main mall with several wings and side malls. ColesColes Supermarkets
Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741...
and Woolworths are the two principle supermarkets, while the anchor department stores include Myer
Myer
Myer is Australia's largest department store chain, retailing a broad range of merchandise including women's, men's and children's clothing, footwear and accessories; cosmetics and fragrance; homewares; electrical; furniture and bedding; toys; books and stationery; food and confectionery; and...
, David Jones
David Jones Limited
David Jones Limited , colloquially known as DJs, is a high-end Australian department store chain.David Jones was founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. It...
and discount department store K-mart
Kmart Australia
Kmart Australia Limited is a discount department store chain owned by Wesfarmers. It operates 172 stores in Australia and 15 in New Zealand, with its head office located in Mulgrave, Victoria. Wesfarmers uses the Kmart name under licence from Sears Holdings Corporation.-History:Kmart Australia...
. Notable speciality stores include Dymocks Bookstores, City Beach Surf-wear, Dick Smith Electronics, and JB Hi-Fi, with a further 200 speciality stores catering for all tastes.
In addition to shopping the main shopping complex, Garden City houses:
- an 8-screen Hoyts cinemaHoytsThe Hoyts Group is an Australian company consisting of Hoyts Exhibition, Hoyts Distribution and Val Morgan.Hoyts Exhibition manages 450 screens across 40 Australian and 10 New Zealand cinema complexes; making it Australia's second largest cinema chain. Val Morgan, the cinema advertising arm of the...
- a public library
- a post officeAustralia PostAustralia Post is the trading name of the Australian Government-owned Australian Postal Corporation .-History:...
- several external banking buildings
- an office complex centred around the AlcoaAlcoaAlcoa Inc. is the world's third largest producer of aluminum, behind Rio Tinto Alcan and Rusal. From its operational headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa conducts operations in 31 countries...
and Gateway buildings - another office complex known as Garden City House
- the Melville City Council officesCity of Melville, Western AustraliaThe City of Melville is a Local Government Area in the southern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located east of the port city of Fremantle and about south of Perth's central business district...
- a major regional bus station
Major precincts
The main shopping complex can be broken into several main areas:- the original precinct, centred at the sky-roof atrium which includes Woolworths (a former ActionAction SupermarketsAction is a defunct Australian supermarket chain. Based in Perth, Western Australia, Action had 80 supermarkets across Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales, and was one of the largest supermarket chains in Australia...
/Newmart store) - a food court, with stores such as McDonald'sMcDonald'sMcDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
, which leads to the cinema - a 'marketplace' which includes ColesColes SupermarketsColes Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741...
- a central 'fashion mall' which includes many boutique outlets such as Kookai, Veronica Maine, CUE, Country Road and Witchery
- two diametrically opposite north-south wings leading to David JonesDavid Jones LimitedDavid Jones Limited , colloquially known as DJs, is a high-end Australian department store chain.David Jones was founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. It...
and MyerMyerMyer is Australia's largest department store chain, retailing a broad range of merchandise including women's, men's and children's clothing, footwear and accessories; cosmetics and fragrance; homewares; electrical; furniture and bedding; toys; books and stationery; food and confectionery; and... - a northern mall parallel to the central mall that includes stores such as TarocashTarocashTarocash is an Australian chain of mens clothing stores. They have over 70 stores nationally with additional stockists throughout Australia and New Zealand...
, Roger David, Williams and Secrets Shhh - a southern mall parallel to the central mall that includes stores such as Dick Smith Electronics
- a north-south mall at the eastern end of the centre that leads to stores such as K-martKmart AustraliaKmart Australia Limited is a discount department store chain owned by Wesfarmers. It operates 172 stores in Australia and 15 in New Zealand, with its head office located in Mulgrave, Victoria. Wesfarmers uses the Kmart name under licence from Sears Holdings Corporation.-History:Kmart Australia...
and includes AMART allsports, waves and early learning centre.
Major retailers
- K-martKmart AustraliaKmart Australia Limited is a discount department store chain owned by Wesfarmers. It operates 172 stores in Australia and 15 in New Zealand, with its head office located in Mulgrave, Victoria. Wesfarmers uses the Kmart name under licence from Sears Holdings Corporation.-History:Kmart Australia...
discount department store - WoolworthsWoolworths (supermarkets)Woolworths is the largest supermarket chain in Australia, owned by Woolworths Limited.-History:Woolworths Limited was founded in 1924, with the first store opening up in Sydney's Imperial Arcade.-2008 rebranding:...
supermarket - ColesColes SupermarketsColes Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741...
supermarket - MyerMyerMyer is Australia's largest department store chain, retailing a broad range of merchandise including women's, men's and children's clothing, footwear and accessories; cosmetics and fragrance; homewares; electrical; furniture and bedding; toys; books and stationery; food and confectionery; and...
department store - David JonesDavid Jones LimitedDavid Jones Limited , colloquially known as DJs, is a high-end Australian department store chain.David Jones was founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. It...
department store - Dymocks
- City BeachCity BeachCity Beach can refer to:*City Beach, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia*City Beach , a solo album by Jill Cunniff, the frontwoman of Luscious Jackson...
- HoytsHoytsThe Hoyts Group is an Australian company consisting of Hoyts Exhibition, Hoyts Distribution and Val Morgan.Hoyts Exhibition manages 450 screens across 40 Australian and 10 New Zealand cinema complexes; making it Australia's second largest cinema chain. Val Morgan, the cinema advertising arm of the...
Major food and beverage outlets
Major food and beverage outlets within the centre include:- McDonalds
- Miss MaudMiss MaudMiss Maud is a hospitality group based in Perth, Western Australia, and as at 2011, consists of Miss Maud Swedish Hotel and Restaurant, 15 Miss Maud Swedish Pastry Houses, Miss Maud Catering Platters and 24 hour Swedish Bakehouse.- History :...
- Red RoosterRed RoosterRed Rooster is an Australian fast food restaurant chain. Red Rooster specialises in selling roasted chicken and other related products.- History :...
- KFCKFCKFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
- The Kebab Co.
- Gloria Jeans
- The Coffee ClubThe Coffee ClubThe Coffee Club is a coffeehouse-style café chain. Originally created in 1989 as a place to get "an excellent coffee", the concept now includes cafébar/restaurant stores with expanded menus and full table service.-History:...
- DomeDomeA dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
- Muffin Break
No major food restaurants reside outside of the centre.
Further reading
- Builder, The, Jan-Feb 2001 p-43-50. 'Upgrade introduces new shopping concepts',
- Melville City Community Paper, Apr 1997, p. 18
- Garden City Shopping Centre, Saunders, H. 1987, Western Australian Institute of TechnologyCurtin University of TechnologyCurtin University is an Australian university based in Perth, Western Australia, with additional campuses in regional Western Australia and at Miri , Sydney and Singapore...
, Perth