History
In 1968, Grace Bros. purchased 16 acres of land in North Ryde with plans to build a $12 million shopping centre. Rival department store David Jones had shown interest in the area and developed plans with Hooker Investment Corporation (now LJ Hooker) to build their own shopping centre known as Garden City at Epping Road, Macquarie Park on what was industrial land. David Jones had difficulty seeking approval with the plans rejected by Ryde Municipal Council and they were forced to lodge their plans with the State Planning Authority. Garden City was designed by Donald Crone, one of the leading architects who had designed the Sydney Tower. The plans included 80 speciality stores, an office tower and a distribution centre which would replace the one at Alexandria. The initial development application made by Grace Bros was not approved by council and instead lodged with SPA which was later rejected. Grace Bros unturned submitted a further appeal with the support of three town planners. In 1969, Grace Bros purchased further land and by November 1969, the State Government approved the Grace Bros proposal while David Jones proposal on zoning grounds was rejected. [2]
Throughout the 1970s, Grace Bros barely opened a store with the Macquarie store set to be their first full-line store in over a decade. Work began in March 1979 on the 9.4-hectare (23-acre) site adjoining the university when the AMP Society agreed to become the majority shareholder and provide greater share of the finance for the $80 million shopping centre.
Throughout the construction period, the centre had faced industrial disputes with the Industrial Commission awarding $24 over their awards in November 1979 as major site allowance. After further problems arose, workers were offered $1000 in shopping vouchers depending on their qualification level. Further disputes continued with the demand for an additional $40 a week increase which was rejected and by July 1981, only a third of the required workforce were on the job.
Macquarie Centre had originally planned to open in Easter 1981, however it was delayed to September and then delayed again to November. The delays had a devastating impact on small retailers who had stocked up for opening deadlines.
Macquarie Centre officially opened on 17 November 1981 by then premier of New South Wales Neville Wran. The centre featured an Olympic sized ice rink, Grace Bros (rebranded to Myer in 2004), Big W, Target, Woolworths and 130 speciality stores. [3] Macquarie Centre was the third centre in Sydney to facilitate an "incline mall" design (after Westfield Burwood and Westfield Hurstville) and was built on a spiral staircase around the sundial water fountain. This meant that it is a gently-ascending grade and that the levels were connected via a system of ramps, stairs and escalators. [4] Franklins Fresh was added to the centre in 1992 and was renamed to Franklins in 2001 and operated until its closure in 2012. The middle of the centre included a spiral atrium with interconnecting stairways called the "Rain Forest". In 1997 this area underwent a refurbishment, redoing the layout entirely and adding a sundial clock fountain, which was removed in 2015.
Macquarie Ice Rink is home to Sydney Bears and Sydney Ice Dogs ice hockey teams. The ice rink is used for ice skating, ice dance, speed skating and ice hockey. Macquarie Centre is the only shopping centre in Sydney to provide a full size Olympic rink (60m x 30m) with seating for approximately 2000 people. [5] Macquarie Ice Rink was used for the 1991 World short track speed skating Championships. [6]
There were plans for a cinema complex to open in the centre in 1981, however these plans had fallen through. It was not until September 1994 when the eight screen Greater Union multiplex and leisure precinct opened on the rooftop level.
In 2000, the 'Escape' and 'Loft' areas were opened, which included a major facelift in 1999 to the centre's entrances, extra parking and new retail stores. These included Borders (second store in Australia), BaySwiss, Dick Smith Powerhouse, Freedom and Wheel & Barrow. The Loft was designed as a home wares precinct. [7] This development also included new food outlets and an expansion of the Greater Union cinema complex, from 8 to 16 cinemas. Greater Union was renamed to Event Cinemas in 2009.
In 2010, Fitness First opened on the space vacated by Freedom and JB Hi-Fi moved from the location on level 2 to the space vacated by Borders on level 4.
AMP Wholesale Shopping Centre Fund No. 2 wholly owns the centre after an ownership agreement was reached with former co-owner Westfield Management Limited in 2012. [8]
Recent development
In late 2012, AMP Capital Shopping Centres began work on the $440 million redevelopment. Stage 1 of the redevelopment was completed on 17 July 2014 with the opening of Coles, Aldi and the fresh food market. [9] [10] Stage 2 of the redevelopment was completed in October 2014, adding an entire new wing to the existing centre.
Stage 2 consisted of:
- A full line David Jones
- A new 2 level mall linking the new David Jones with the existing centre and Myer
- Approximately 130 new retail stores (including Sydney's first H&M, Zara, Uniqlo and Sephora)
- Additional 1,050 car spaces
As a result, Macquarie Centre is now the largest Sydney suburban shopping centre. It is expected to reach $6 billion in spending by 2021, and can support trade for 337,770 people. [11]
Future
Plans for the $1 billion redevelopment which included towers have been given approval. The plans would include 1000 new apartments in four tower blocks, 5000m² of dedicated community space, including a library and public creative hub. The towers will range in height from 26 to 33 storeys, and adding another 2175 car parking spaces. A new station plaza between Macquarie University station and the centre is also part of the plan. The development will unfold in stages over several years and future applications will be developed. This mixed use development has been approved on 15 November 2016. [12] [13]
As part of Stage 2 planning being approved, it was announced on 16 January 2019 that Macquarie Ice Rink would close on 31 January 2020 for demolition to make way for the new retail and residential towers. [14]
In February 2019, AMP Capital Shopping Centres, which owns Macquarie Centre, announced it had decided to preserve the ice rink. [15] This was largely due to the large public outcry regarding the removal of the iconic rink.
Macquarie University 
