The Vermont South Shopping Centre is an indoor/outdoor retail complex in the Melbourne suburb of Vermont South. It opened at the corner of Hanover Road and Burwood Highway in 1974 and is owned by several entities through a Strata title. The centre is anchored by supermarket chains Aldi and Coles. It has about 50 specialty stores and parking for 350 cars.
In the late 1970, following a rezoning proposal by the Board of Works, Town Clerk Ted Jane played a key role in encouraging Nunawading Council to create a central "heart" for the area. This led to the rezoning of the land where the shopping centre now stands.[1] The greater-than 40000 m2 site, which had belonged to flower farmer Thomas Smith, was purchased by the developer around 1967.[2]
Aerial view showing adjacent homes, 1975
Development
Development of the Vermont South Shopping Centre was carried out alongside an adjoining 260-lot housing project. The developer, Hanover Holdings, was a prominent property group jointly controlled by businessmen Paul Fayman, George Herscu and Maurice Alter. In 1973, company representative Alan Williams announced that "The land owned by the Company in Burwood Highway, Vermont, one mile east of Springvale Road, has now been subdivided into 260 residential allotments and will be complemented by a 90,000 square feet commercial complex".[3]
Building plans for the shopping centre were prepared in April 1973 under supervision of local architects Bill Millar and Ray Barnard-Brown, whose firm also designed the Dandenong Hub Arcade (1974) and Centrepoint Mall (1978).[4] The proposed centre at Vermont South was to have 40 specialty stores, a Venture department store, a Coles New World supermarket, a post office, a restaurant and a Mobil service station – totalling a GLA of over 11,500m2.[5][6]
Although outdated by contemporary standards, the centre's indoor layout was seen as very modern at the time and allowed for air conditioning – a feature which had not yet reached neighbouring centres. The building was clad with a rustic brown brick in similar fashion to the nearby Burvale Hotel. Inside, circular 'Atlas' skylights with boarded timber light shafts are incorporated into the suspended popcorn ceilings.[7]
The development, which was originally going to be called either the Burvale Shoppingtown or Burwood Highway Shoppingtown, was strategically positioned to fill the retail gap between the existing Forest Hill Shopping Centre and proposed Knox City Shopping Centre catchments.[7][8]
The centre was retained by Maurice Alter's Pacific Group after the split of Hanover Holdings in the late 1970s, and was acquired by Westpac at some point during the early 1980s. Since the mid-1980s, the shopping centre has been owned by several entities through a strata arrangement, which limits and complicates refurbishment and major works.[4]
Alterations
In 1984, Architects Meldrum, Burrows & Partners were contracted to design visual and functional improvements, which mainly aimed to increase the centre's market value. A new fascia design was implemented, the former Venture tenancy was divided to accommodate new tenants, and a total of seven new shops were established.[10] The site was listed for sale again in April 1986.[11]
The canopy above the centre's south entrance was extended c. 1990 as part of a signage upgrade, however, this was later reverted as it was frequently struck by tall vehicles on the service road. In 2013, supermarket chain Aldi acquired and renovated Shop 59 – which included the addition of windows on the south-facing facade, installation of flat cladding over the old brick, the establishment of a new loading dock, replacement of the original tiled footpath, and an internal fit-out.[12]
A highly anticipated overhaul commenced in 2021 which included an internal and external repaint, removal of the shabby carpet and replacement of the dilapidated facia/canopies.[13] Shortly after renovations were completed, $10 million was invested into upgrading the 4216m2 Coles supermarket, which received a new deli, bakery, fresh food section and upgraded click-and-collect facilities – opened by Micheal Sukkar MP in late August 2022. The Coles supermarket was sold later in the year for over $20 million.[14][15]
Adjoining developments
Stores at Burwood Highway, 2012
The free-standing Prince of China take-away restaurant opened directly south of the centre c. 1975–76. The building was extended to accommodate a dining hall and became Bo On in mid-1987.[16] The restaurant would later re-open as Han Palace in 2005 and as Crown Palace in 2006 under the ownership of J & Ho P/L. In 2022, a proposal was put forward which would have seen demolition of the existing building and construction of a new restaurant with office space above, however, plans were put on hold due to rising interest rates. The building has since received extensive renovations and now operates as Ing Bulgogi, a Korean BBQ-buffet restaurant.[17]
The Mobil service station at the corner of Hanover Road and Burwood Highway, which was built in 1974, was replaced by a block of 14 shops in 1990. As part of Nunawading Council's 1992 structure plan for the Vermont South Activity Centre, a prominent council-owned reserve at the corner of Livingstone Road and Burwood Highway was controversially rezoned from public use zone to restricted business zone. The plan also designated the area for a mix of office and retail development.[18]
McDonalds restaurant and Shell service station, 1996
In 1994, Shell Australia proposed plans to subdivide the site for a 24-hour petrol station, drive-through McDonald's restaurant, Blockbuster video store, a cafe and several shops. The proposal caused controversy and objectors claimed it was a conflict of interest for the council as the sale of the land was conditional on council approving the subdivision.[19] Despite angst from the existing traders of the neighbouring Vermont South Shopping Centre, who feared overdevelopment, the project went ahead and was completed between 1995 and 1996.[18] The Vermont South McDonald's opened in December 1995 and was remodelled in 2008.[20] Due to the increasing popularity of video streaming services, the Blockbuster tenancy was replaced by a Snap Fitness gymnasium in 2012.[21]
↑ House, Vermont South Community (October 1996). Vermont South Community House: Celebrating 20 years involvement with the community. Vermont South Community House. ISBN0-646-29479-2.
1 2 3 Directory of Australian Shopping Centres. National Council of Shopping Centres. November 1980. p.189.
↑ Clarke, Kevin (24 April 1974). Farmers till rich fields of property. The Age. p.23.
↑ "Shopping centre for sale". The Age. 16 April 1986. p.36.
1 2 "Hanover Holdings Burwood Shoppingtown". The Age. 26 June 1973. p.41.
↑ O'Neil, Helen (12 February 1974). "Shopping centres sprout at suburbia grows". The Age. p.17.
1 2 Adress by the Chairman, Mr. James Firebrace Hemphill, at the Annual General Meeting for 1974. Hanover Holdings Limited. 1974. p.5 – via University of Melbourne Archives, Records of the Stock Exchange of Melbourne Limited, Boxes 104–105.
↑ "Renovations at Vermont South". The Age. 22 August 1984. p.31.
↑ "Shopping centre for sale". The Age. 16 April 1986. p.36.
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