Westfield Fountain Gate
| File:Westfield fountain gate.png Westfield Fountain Gate Logo | |
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| Location | Narre Warren, Victoria, Australia |
|---|---|
| Opening date | 1970 |
| Developer | The Westfield Group |
| Management | The Westfield Group |
| Owner | The Westfield Group |
| No. of floors | 2 (Level One and Two) |
| Website | Westfield Fountain Gate |
Westfield Fountain Gate is a large regional shopping centre located at Narre Warren in the outer south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. It is currently the second largest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere (behind Knox City Shopping Centre with a lettable area of over 138,000 m². It has approximately 316 stores which makes it the 13th largest in Australia by number of shops. [1].
Built in the 1970s, it was purchased by The Westfield Group in the 1990s and redeveloped into a much larger complex. The centre hosts a variety of major chains including Kmart, Coles, Safeway, BiLo, Big W, Target, Aldi and approximately 320 specialty stores.
Under an agreement made in 2003, David Jones are to open a store between 2008 and 2012 of a size around 12,500 sq.m. There is doubt, however, that the new store will open in 2008 or even 2009, as construction has not yet started on the new store.
One of the major drawcards of the centre is the entertainment precinct known as The Street. This precinct features a number of entertainment stores, book stores, cafes and a Village Cinemas.
The centre has plans for further future development, including cinema extensions, and construction of more specialty stores. In August 2007 it was announced that, if approved by the City of Casey, the centre may undergo a $200 million dollar extension. It will house a new David Jones department store, approximately 110 new shops and an extra 1200 car parking spaces.
It is the location of the first ever Krispy Kreme in Victoria.
Fountain Gate Shopping Centre is named as the mall frequented by the characters in popular television series Kath & Kim. Scenes in the show are filmed at Fountain Gate, and at another Westfield complex, Southland.
Fountain Gate Shopping Centre was a filming location in feature film Bad Eggs, where in the first scene a car rolls into the actual shopping centre. In the film's story the mall is named Crystal Heights Shop Kingdom.
Stores
Fountain Gate has 326 individual stores. There are two Bakers Delights, two Hairhouse Warehouse shops, two Angus & Robertson bookstores and three Wendy's franchises in the complex.
Major stores in the centre
- Bi-Lo
- Coles
- Safeway
- Big W
- Best & Less
- Dick Smith Electronics Powerhouse
- Village Cinemas
- Aldi
- Target
- Kmart
- David Jones planned opening 2008-2012
Fountain Gate also has shops located outside around the shopping centre, including
- Harvey Norman
- Krispy Kreme (With Drive-Thru)
- OfficeWorks
- Rebel Sport
- Manic Fitness
- Freedom
- Pets at Home
- Hungry Jacks.
- Red Rooster
- Mcdonalds
- Bob Jane T-Marts
- Cash Converters
- Caltex Service Station
And more
As well as a fitness gym, a local Centrelink office and also housed in the Fountain Gate precint is the City of Casey Aquatic Centre and the community library.
Transport
Narre Warren railway station is approximately 1km away from the centre and is linked by a number of bus routes to Westfield Fountain Gate. Some regional buses also stop at Fountain Gate.
The following bus routes stop at Fountain Gate:
- 695: Belgrave to Fountain Gate (via Selby, Menzies Creek, Clematis, Emerald, Cockatoo, Gembrook & Lysterfield)
- 697: Belgrave to Fountain Gate
- 827: Hampton to Berwick (via Highett, Cheltenham, Moorabbin, Dingley Village, Keysborough, Dandenong, Doveton & Hallam)
- 828: Hampton to Berwick (via Highett, Cheltenham, Moorabbin, Dingley Village, Keysborough, Dandenong, Doveton & Hallam)
- 834: Berwick - Narre Warren Circle.
- 835: Berwick - Narre Warren Circle.
- 838: Emerald to Fountain Gate (via Berwick & Beaconsfield)
- 841: Narre Warren North to Cranbourne (via Narre Warren South)
- 842: Endeavour Hills to Fountain Gate (via Narre Warren North)
- 894: Amberly Park to Fountain Gate (via Hallam)
- 895: Hampton Park East to Fountain Gate (via Hallam)
- 926: Pakenham to Fountain Gate (via Officer, Beaconsfield & Berwick)
Routes 834, 835, 840, 841 and 895 operate via Narre Warren railway station.
The Hallam Bypass, a new section of the Monash Freeway opened in 2003 passes beside the complex and can be viewed from the windows in the food court. A trail known as the Hallam Bypass Trail constructed at the same time runs beside the centre, on the north east side, providing access for cyclists and pedestrians.
References
- ^ Will Castle Hill get Australia's biggest mall? Sydney Morning Herald, 9 March 2007