Everything about Westfield Bay City totally explained
Westfield Bay City is a shopping centre located in
Geelong, Victoria (Australia) opened in 1988. It was formerly known as
Bay City Plaza before being taken over by
The Westfield Group in
2003.
Westfield Bay City is located on the northern side of Malop St opposite the
Market Square shopping complex, and is bounded by Moorabool, Yarra, and Gheringhap Streets. The centre is currently undergoing a refurbishment, as well as an expansion over Yarra Street via a controversial flyover.
Shops
History
The site of
Westfield Bay City has seen many uses before the construction of the shopping centre. Corio Street once ran east west through the site, as well as the north-south Blakiston Street (that ran between Malop and Corio Streets) and Macks Lane (that ran from Corio Street to Brougham Street).
The southern frontage to Malop Street was a retail area from at least the 1850s. Among the longest lasting stores was that owned by Morris Jacobs, which remained until 1950s when it was purchased by
Myer Emporium Limited. The store was rebuilt in 1952, and in August 1953 changed it's name to Myer. The Myer store was incorporated into the new development.
The corner of Brougham and Yarra Streets was occupied by the
Melbourne Electric Supply Company office building, and the
Geelong Power Station, which dated back to 1901. A
tram depot was built to the south when trams commenced operation in Geelong in 1912. The tram depot closed in 1956 along with the tram network. The power station closed in the 1960s when replaced by a new plant at
North Geelong.
The next building to the west was occupied by the offices of Geelong transport company Blakiston's and Co. Next door was the
Geelong Club clubrooms which were opened in 1889. The building remains today.
The corner of Brougham and Moorabool Streets was occupied by the
Strachan Murray and Shannon woolstores. This woolstore dated back to the 1940s, and was extended eastwards towards the Geelong Club building in 1952 when the adjacent
Mack's Hotel was purchased and demolished.
Initial Proposals
The 1980s saw the first of many
urban renewal proposals floated for the area. The
Geelong Regional Commission on November 6, 1981 released a plan that would see a see a massive shopping centre extend from Little Malop Street though to the waterfront. This proposal did not proceed, but a scaled down version of the plans be seen in the
Market Square Shopping Centre and Bay City Plaza developments that did proceed.
As 'Bay City Plaza'
Construction of
Bay City Plaza commenced in the mid 1980s. Corio and Blakiston Streets were closed, as was Macks Lane. The former power station was totally demolished, with the Strachan woolstores, Blakistons's offices and tram depot stripped internally, with only the facades reused. The Myer store remained, albeit with minor modifications and an altered facades along Malop Street.
The centre was opened by then Victorian State Premier
John Cain on April 15th 1988. The centre was under the ownership of the
Perron Group. Little change occurred to the centre itself until
1993 when a minor refurbishment occurred.
An additional multi story
carpark was built by the Perron Group in the late 1990s. Known as the "Malop Street Carpark", it was located between Malop Street and Corio Street to the east of the existing shopping centre, on the site of a former council carpark. The site is now part of the current expansion works to the centre.
Sale
On June 30 2003 the
Perron Group sold a 50% share of
Bay City Plaza to the
The Westfield Group for $72 million. The renaming of the centre followed soon after.
Redevelopment
The early 2000s saw proposals floated for the expansion of the shopping centre, utilising a flyover over Yarra Street, but this has met a negative response from the community.
The development was given approval on
21 June 2006 construction commenced early in 2007.
Big W will be the key tenant of the Yarra Street section of
Westfield Bay City.
Construction of this extension started in February 2007 and will continue for up to 18 months. Projected completion is for mid 2008. Construction work has resulted in major closures to various parts of the centre. A number of smaller shops both the ground and first floors have been closed, along with the
Coles supermarket and the eastern pedestrian entry from Yarra Street. Part of the main multi-level carpark has been closed, as well as the Yarra Street access ramp, Treacy Place and the Malop Street Carpark.
Stage Openings
Stage 1= 17th April 2008 (Coles and surrounds)
Stage 2= August 2008 (Big W and Surrounds)Further Information
Get more info on 'Westfield Bay City'.
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