Last week we decided to visit one of the big outer suburban shopping malls. I must say that I did not look forward to it as I generally don't like these centres but prefer the older, smaller, strip shopping streets. However I was pleasantly surprised as this one was newly renovated and extended, was spacious and had plenty of natural light and a goo selection of shops and services, as well as plenty of parking.
Eastland Shopping Centre is a large shopping centre located in the outer eastern suburb of Ringwood, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, which first opened on 31 October 1967. It is close to Ringwood railway station, located opposite the centre on Maroondah Highway. The centre features 2 main levels of shops, with a 3rd level containing a Hoyts 12 screen cinema complex and restaurants, forming a total of approximately 235 stores. It is the largest shopping centre in the City of Maroondah, and is located in relatively close proximity to Westfield Doncaster and Westfield Knox.
Construction commenced on the two level enclosed complex in July 1966, with a 14,000m2 Myer and a 2500m2 Woolworths supermarket and variety store as major anchors, along with 40 speciality stores and a 1200 space car park. In 1993 a massive redevelopment of the centre was announced, and after a series of 3 staged openings culminated in the relaunch of a new look Eastland in May, 1995. This extension brought the Centre to 53,300 square metres with major retailers Myer, Safeway and Kmart and 170 specialty retailers.
Stage 4 and 5 redevelopments and expansions occurred from 2002 to 2013, and further redevelopments to be completed in 2 stages, with the first stage opened on 29 October 2015 and the second stage opening by mid 2016. I was impressed with the way that centre operated "as normal" while the last stage redevelopments are occurring. A bonus was the striking giant photocollage murals that acted as both visual décor and as screens for the areas under development.
This post is part of the Monday Mellow Yellows meme,
and also part of the Monday Murals meme,
Good morning Nick, I enjoyed your post this morning. The shopping Mall looks fantastic. I especially loved the bird walls.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a small mountain town and the shopping is a couple of blocks long. Quaint and lovely but I miss the big stores. It takes an hour to the nearest decent shopping and two hours to a major mall. However, we are retired and shopping is at the low end of the many wonderful places to see in the beautiful Smokey Mountains in NC, USA
Happy Blue Monday.
Jeanne
Very nice. It is quite a mall! Thinking it would be a grand place to people watch! Have a wonderful day1
ReplyDeleteLove the print screens of butterflies. They look terrific.
ReplyDeleteHi Nick,
ReplyDeleteOh, I like that huge, center light! I used to shop and shop, but nowadays, it's too much for me, so I enjoyed this. I like the blues in the murals too.
Thanks for playing today.
Have a Beautiful Blue Monday!
Nice decorated shopping centre. I like all mural photo collages.
ReplyDeleteThat was (and is) a massive undertaking when it comes to malls. Seems like a wonderful place to escape to from time to time. Thanks so much for including your post in this weeks "Through my Lens"
ReplyDeleteMersad
Mersad Donko Photography
The art on the walls is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI am not a "mall" person either. But this one is so pretty, would just enjoy taking a walk.
ReplyDeleteI don't like malls very much these days. All of the ones we have here are individual businesses so you have to go in and out and we are in the middle of a huge snow storm. Love those butterflies though. Have nice week.
ReplyDeleteWe are indeed fortunate to live in a time where colour and originality surrounds us not only in nature but also in our metropolis.
ReplyDeleteWow! That is big. Love those birds and butterflies!
ReplyDeleteI am not a great fan of shopping malls either, but this was at least lovely decorated!
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be a trend now of using murals to cover construction walls. Great for artists and and public. Especially love the bird wall. Thanks for contributing to this week's Monday Mural.
ReplyDelete