Header. And after two years of cranes, bulldozers and hammers, the first stage of the $660 million revamp of Melbourne’s Chadstone Shopping Centre is nearing completion.Already the Southern Hemisphere’s largest retail mecca, “Chaddy” as it is affectionately known to locals cements the city’s reputation as a shopping destination.With 100 new stores set to open, it expected to draw even more attention with what its operators describe as “the best luxury precinct of anywhere in Australia”.Valentino, Celine and Loewe are among 25 luxury brands that will open their doors, attracting fashionistas from around the world.Tourists are bussed in every hour from Federation Square to the 21ha centre, 16km southeast of the CBD, and an on-site hotel is on the cards to accommodate travellers.Vicinity Centres chief executive Angus McNaughton said the renovations would boost the centre’s international profile further.“Chadstone is already one of the top centres in the globe,” McNaughton told news.com.au.

“We wanted a really nice, light-filled place, people want to feel like they’re sort of indoor-outdoors.”Among the drawcards of Chadstone’s new retail offering are a Lego Discovery Centre, set to open next year, along with a premium Hoyts cinema complex and Tesla car dealership.“The Lego Discovery Centre will be a real game changer for Chadstone,” Mr McNaughton said.“It’s the first in the Southern Hemisphere, and we’re going to get strong demand from customers from around Australia to come and visit us, particularly anyone who has school aged children — it’s going to be a must do.”The size of three small houses, it will be billed as “an entertainment experience”, with a cinema, retail store, play space and Lego museum.Sephora, H&M, Uniqlo flagship stores will take pride of place, with The Kooples, Reiss and Michael Kors also taking up residence.Chadstone’s dining offering is also being overhauled, with seven new restaurants and a new 1300-seat premium food court.Celebrity Chef Neil Perry’s The Burger Project will open on the dining terrace, along with Mexican restaurant Fonda, Woodstock Pizzicheria and Marae Izakaya.An extra 800 car parking spaces have been added, with a new bus interchange and taxi rank specially built to accommodate the extra patronage at the centre, which already welcome 20 million domestic and international visitors each year.Chadstone Shopping Centre is owned by Vicinity Centres and the Gandel Group, with Melbourne billionaire John Gandel controlling a 50 per cent stake.It success has boost Mr Gandel’s net worth to a reported $5.4 billion, placing him fifth in the latest BRW Rich List.
To access this shopping and entertainment hub, you can always take a train to Hughesdale, Murrumbeena or Oakleigh. Picture: David CairdIT’S THE size of 10 football fields, with more luxury handbags than you can poke a stick at. It’s the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest mall, right here in Australia.Chadstone is getting a $660 million facelift. Photo – ‘We were amazed once we started investigating how many beautiful sustainable and recycled products were available’. Shop gift ideas from four Dad-worthy brands - and score special dis...Ceramicist Grace Brown explores dystopian landscapes and fallen civilisations in her debut solo show in Kyneton.Browse cult-status kitchenware and slick home accessories in this edit of sure-fire Father's Day hits from one of Australia's most iconic de...Madeleine Blanchfield transforms a narrow, vertiginous site in Sydney's eastern beaches into her own slice of serenity.We visit the inspiring pair of not-for-profit leaders and their young family at home on the sun-soaked shores of Jan Juc.Located in a 300 square metre warehouse, the Redfern gallery will offically launch with a female-led exhibition this Friday.A Melbourne house designed by Robin Boyd is for sale and at risk of being destroyed. The new extension, dubbed "Chadstone Place", featured a Woolworths Supermarket (the first Woolworth supermarket in Victoria to have the new branding and relocated), First Choice Liquor, Aldi and a Dick Smith Electronics Concept Store along with an airport-style waiting area bus interchange, two new health clubs (Contours and Fitness First Platinum) and a crèche. Alternatively, you can drive by travelling from the city along the Monash Freeway or Princes Highway.