Australia Fair Shopping Centre

Australia Fair Shopping Centre is a major regional shopping and entertainment destination in Southport, on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. The centre occupies approximately 59,540 square metres and combines retail, food, cinema, services, offices, transport access and structured parking. Its retail complex is arranged around the original Australia Fair site and the later Australia Fair West precinct, which was subsequently repositioned as Australia Fair Metro. The centre’s development has its roots in the former administrative and bottling facilities of the South Coast Co-Operative Dairy Association. Those dairy buildings, designed in 1936 by architects T. R. Hall and L. B. Phillips, stood at the corner of Scarborough and Young Streets before being demolished in 1972. The first retail development on the site opened in 1983 as Australia Fair West, then known as Scarborough Fair. It included a Franklins supermarket, Treasureway and approximately 40 specialty shops. A further development in 1984 added Coles and Kmart. During the late 1980s, the Scarborough Fair complex was substantially expanded toward the Nerang Street pedestrian mall. The resulting Australia Fair project opened on 10 April 1990 after more than a year of construction. At opening, it was described as having one of Australia’s largest concentrations of specialty stores and was notable for bringing three supermarket chains—Woolworths, Coles and Franklins—into one shopping-centre complex. The centre later broadened its leisure offer through the addition of a six-screen cinema complex in 1993, followed by further cinema expansion and the reconfiguration of the cinema, leisure and retail precincts in the late 1990s. Australia Fair has been repeatedly refurbished and reconfigured rather than remaining a static retail development. The mid-1990s saw the creation or renewal of precincts including Fashion Boulevard, the Broadwater Food Court and the Fresh Food Marketplace. A major upgrade announced around 1998–1999 included changes to the Fig Tree Food Court, tenancy layouts, weather protection and vertical circulation. Further works between 2002 and 2004 improved flooring, directional signage, amenities and other customer facilities. In 2014, redevelopment began at Australia Fair West to introduce additional restaurants and shops and to support the emergence of Southport’s Chinatown and central-business-district role. The western precinct was renamed Australia Fair Metro and connected to the main eastern shopping and cinema area by an overpass across Scarborough Street. The combined centre continues to include major retail anchors such as Coles, Woolworths, Kmart, JB Hi-Fi and Event Cinemas, alongside specialty retailers, fresh food, dining and professional services. The centre also functions as a transport-accessible urban destination. It provides undercover and rooftop parking for approximately 2,500 vehicles. Southport light rail station is located near the intersection of Nerang and Scarborough Streets, while Southport Bus Station provides frequent services to destinations including Helensvale, Robina, Sea World, Main Beach and Biggera Waters. A five-level office tower of approximately 5,824 square metres accommodates specialist services and commercial offices. Australia Fair remains an active regional shopping centre, although its current ownership structure, management arrangements and detailed tenant mix are not established in the supplied reference material. A March 2025 electrical fire or switchboard incident led to an evacuation after smoke was reported at the Marine Parade frontage. The cause was not identified in the available account.

Australia Fair developed from a sequence of retail projects on the former South Coast Co-Operative Dairy Association site in Southport. The dairy association’s administrative and bottling buildings, designed in 1936 by T. R. Hall and L. B. Phillips, were demolished in 1972. In 1983, a shopping complex called Scarborough Fair opened on part of the site. Later known as Australia Fair West, it was anchored by Franklins and included Treasureway and about 40 specialty shops, with surface parking. A second stage in 1984 introduced Coles and Kmart. In 1989, the Scarborough Fair complex was expanded toward the Nerang Street pedestrian mall. This work formed the basis of the larger Australia Fair development, which opened on 10 April 1990 following a construction program lasting more than a year. The completed centre was promoted as a large specialty-retail destination and was unusual for combining Woolworths, Coles and Franklins supermarkets in one complex. The centre expanded beyond conventional shopping during the 1990s. A six-screen cinema and leisure precinct were added in 1993. Between 1997 and 1998, the cinema offer grew to ten screens and the surrounding cinema, leisure and retail areas were reconfigured. Retail precincts were also refreshed, including Fashion Boulevard, Broadwater Food Court and Fresh Food Marketplace. Around 1998–1999, Colonial First State acquired joint-venture ownership with MEPC, and the owners announced a major refurbishment involving the Fig Tree Food Court, tenancy changes, weatherproofing and escalator replacement. Ownership changed again in 2001 when Gordon Fu purchased Australia Fair. Between 2002 and 2004, further works upgraded flooring, signs, amenities and other customer facilities. In 2012, a long-established fig tree was removed by arborists; two younger trees, described as clones of the original, had been planted before later redevelopment led to their removal. Redevelopment of Australia Fair West began in 2014. The project introduced new restaurants and shops and was associated with the planned growth of Southport’s Chinatown precinct and central-business-district functions. The western section was renamed Australia Fair Metro and linked to the eastern shopping and cinema precinct by an overpass across Scarborough Street. The centre’s current configuration includes the main retail complex, Australia Fair Metro, Event Cinemas, supermarket and discount-department-store anchors, specialty shops, dining areas, offices and customer parking. Its location is supported by Southport light rail station and Southport Bus Station. A five-level office tower provides space for specialist and commercial services. In March 2025, a smoke and fire incident involving a switchboard at the Marine Parade frontage prompted an evacuation; the available reference does not state the cause or the extent of damage.

• 2025

  Centre evacuated after switchboard fire

  [1]Australia Fairen.wikipedia.org

  A reported fire and smoke incident at a Marine Parade switchboard leads to an immediate evacuation.

• 2014

  Australia Fair West redevelopment begins

  [1]Australia Fairen.wikipedia.org

  Redevelopment begins in the western precinct, later branded Australia Fair Metro, adding restaurants and shops and creating an overpass connection to the eastern complex.

• 2001

  Gordon Fu purchases the centre

  [1]Australia Fairen.wikipedia.org

  Gordon Fu acquires Australia Fair from Colonial First State.

• 1999

  Ownership and refurbishment plans change

  [1]Australia Fairen.wikipedia.org

  Colonial First State acquires joint-venture ownership with MEPC, and an extensive refurbishment is announced.

• 1997

  Cinema expansion and precinct reconfiguration

  [1]Australia Fairen.wikipedia.org

  The cinema offer expands from six to ten screens and the cinema, leisure and retail areas are reorganised.

• 1993

  Cinema and leisure precinct introduced

  [1]Australia Fairen.wikipedia.org

  A six-screen cinema complex and Leisure Court retail precinct are added.

• 1990

  Australia Fair officially opens

  [1]Australia Fairen.wikipedia.org

  The expanded Australia Fair Shopping Centre opens on 10 April after a major construction project.

• 1989

  Expansion reaches the Nerang Street pedestrian mall

  [1]Australia Fairen.wikipedia.org

  The complex is enlarged and extended through to the Nerang Street pedestrianised mall.

• 1984

  Coles and Kmart are added

  [1]Australia Fairen.wikipedia.org

  A subsequent development stage introduces Coles and Kmart to the Scarborough Fair complex.

• 1983

  Scarborough Fair opens

  [1]Australia Fairen.wikipedia.org

  The original Australia Fair West development opens as Scarborough Fair, with Franklins, Treasureway and approximately 40 specialty stores.

A centrally located Gold Coast regional shopping and entertainment centre serving Southport, nearby suburbs and visitors, with a broad mix of supermarkets, department-store-style retail, specialty shops, dining, cinema, services and public-transport connections.

• Regional shopping centre · 1990

  Australia Fair retail precinct

  The principal two-level shopping area provides a broad regional-centre mix of supermarkets, general merchandise, fashion, specialty retail, fresh food, dining and services. Its tenant and anchor configuration has changed over time through multiple refurbishments and redevelopments.

• Retail and dining precinct · 2014

  Australia Fair Metro

  The western precinct, formerly Australia Fair West, was redeveloped from 2014 with additional restaurants and shops. It is connected to the eastern shopping and cinema precinct by an elevated pedestrian walkway over Scarborough Street.

• Cinema entertainment · 1993

  Event Cinemas

  The centre’s cinema and leisure component began with six screens in 1993 and was later expanded to ten screens during the late-1990s reconfiguration of the entertainment precinct.

• Grocery and general merchandise · 1984

  Supermarket and anchor retail offer

  Major anchors associated with the centre include Coles, Woolworths, Kmart and JB Hi-Fi. The complex was historically notable for hosting three supermarket chains—Woolworths, Coles and Franklins—at the same time.

• Commercial and professional services · 1990

  Office tower and specialist services

  A five-level office tower of approximately 5,824 square metres accommodates specialist services and commercial offices as part of the wider Australia Fair complex.

• 2014

  Redevelop and reposition Australia Fair WestStrategy

  Background

  The western side of the complex required modernisation as Southport developed its Chinatown precinct and broader central-business-district role.

  Action taken

  Redevelopment added restaurants and shops, renamed the western precinct Australia Fair Metro and connected it to the eastern centre with an overpass.

  Aftermath

  The project integrated the western and eastern components into a more connected retail, dining and entertainment destination.

  Source

1. 1Australia Fairen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Australia Fair Shopping Centre official websiteaustraliafair.com.au