‘Mall of the future’ – Macquarie Centre

On completion, the centre will contain two new-look department stores, David Jones and Myer, plus a host of international fashion brand stores.The tenant list has not been confirmed, but it may include H&M, Topshop, Topman and Zara.

The project’s second stage should be completed before the Christmas shopping period commences and apart from the new formats for the stores, will offer a leisure and retail destination suitable for employees at the Macquarie University, Macquarie Business Park and local residents.The mall will offer a bigger food court with a wider selection, as well as more seating space. It will offer shoppers communal space and entertainment which is set to boost income to offset the slow sales of traditional department and clothing stores.Shoppers will be alerted to new offers on a 21-metre ceiling screen. 

The ice rink is very popular and may now include storage and locker facilities for click and collect shoppers. The huge growth in online sales has resulted in Australia Post opening up additional freestanding lockers. The first section will open as new data indicates a decline in the retail vacancy rate from 3.8% in December 2013, to 3.6% in June 2014.