Bayside Shopping Centre (colloquially known as "Bayside") is a regional shopping centre in Frankston, Victoria, Australia, approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) south of Melbourne CBD. Since its opening in 1972, it has amassed a combined gross leasable area of 88,843 m2 (956298 sq ft), 3,452 parking spaces and over 200 retail outlets.
The center consists of 5 distinct main sections, 3 of which operated independently before merging into a single megastore in the late 1990s. The northern development was constructed in 2004, introducing a brand-new supermarket area. All different sections are linked by at least one bridge, interior ramp, or footpath.
Level 1 interior, looking west toward KmartThe former level 2 food court outside former Myer store, after the 2010–11 redevelopmentThe extended level 2 food court outside former Myer store, after the 2010–11 redevelopment
History
Early years
Frankston's CBD originally featured three main shopping centres: Bayside, Balmoral Arcade and Quayside.
Bayside Shopping Centre opened on 3 October 1972, located between Beach Street and Ross Smith Avenue. It launched with the anchor tenants of a Myer department store, a McEwans hardware store (now Bunnings, moved elsewhere in Frankston), a Ritchies (IGA) supermarket and 52 speciality stores. It was owned by the National Mutual Life Association of Australasia.[1]
Balmoral Arcade was developed in 1973 by Hanover Holdings at the western end of Station Street, between Shannon Street (now a pedestrian mall) and Key Street, opening with 19 speciality stores.[2]
Quayside Shopping Centre debuted in 1991 in the area between the aforementioned pre-existing stores, located on the former car-park between Ross Smith Avenue and Station Street. It featured a Target department store, Coles supermarket and 72 speciality stores. The Bayside and Quayside malls were additionally linked by an enclosed bridge over Ross Smith Avenue (now encapsulating the whole road below with a food court and dedicated pathing).
Acquisition
John Gandel who owned Quayside acquired Bayside and Balmoral during the late-1990s. Subsequent ownership transfers would place it under the administration of CFS Retail Property Trust (and later, Vicinity Centres). CFS would be the one upgrading the premises.
Growth
In 2004 Bayside underwent a $63 million redevelopment including a new multi-storey carpark and 55 new stores including a Kmart and Woolworths. A second-floor bridge was also erected over Beach Street to accommodate pedestrian activity and traffic. The development was completed in March 2006.
An upgrade in 2011 brought the combined total cost of development to AU$200 million since 1999, with the reconfigurement of tenancies including an entire level dedicated to fashion stores, a brand-new third-level food court and the addition of an Aldi supermarket in the 2004 aforementioned North building.[3][4]
Planned expansions
Another upgrade starting in 2023 removed the third-level food court and replaced much of the space with a planned Hub Australia's 'Hub Local' suites which are new, contemporary office suites located directly above the retail precinct. To accommodate such, the triple floor Myer store was closed down and replaced with a Revo Fitness on level 2, a UNIQLO store on level 1 and a division of its ground floor floor-area, leading to the establishment of TK Maxx, Rebel Sport and Foot Locker stores. The relocation of the TK Maxx and Rebel Sport stores also free up space for a new 8-storey office tower directly next to the centre that is yet to be constructed due to the lack of available tenants.
Bayside also features a multi-level car-park with 3,452 spaces.
Incidents
On 30 March 2016, a power outage lasting 30 minutes led to a group of 20 adolescents to engage in a fight. Stores were placed into lockdown to protect property and keep patrons safe. It was revealed that the blackout was caused after a fire at a United Energy substation at the nearby Frankston Train Station earlier in the morning.[6]
On 21 December 2017, a gas cylinder exploded at the Bob Jane T-Marts' workshop just outside the centre shortly after 7 pm. Witnesses reported hearing multiple 'bangs' and seeing flames. The explosion occurred only two hours after a four-wheel drive automobile was driven into pedestrians at Flinders Street in the Melbourne CBD.[7]
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