Box Hill Central
A regional shopping-centre complex and public transport hub in Box Hill, Victoria, combining retail, dining, services, offices and connections to rail, bus and tram networks.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Box Hill Central is a regional shopping-centre complex in Box Hill, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. Located approximately 16 kilometres east of Melbourne's central business district, it functions both as a retail destination and as an important transport interchange for the surrounding metropolitan area. The complex consists of two physically separate but operationally connected centres: Box Hill Central North and Box Hill Central South. Together they provide more than 40,000 square metres of leasable space and approximately 157 shops and services. The centre's history reflects Box Hill's development from a former independent municipality into one of Melbourne's designated Metropolitan Activity Centres. Planning for a substantial retail hub accelerated in the 1960s, when the opening of Forest Hill Chase and the subsequent development of shopping centres in Ringwood and Doncaster raised concerns among Box Hill's council and local traders about competitive pressure. A former timber-yard site in Clisby Street was identified for redevelopment. The northern component opened in 1974 as Whitehorse Plaza, with more than fifty stores and major tenants including Coles and Kmart. It was later closed, comprehensively refurbished and relaunched under the Centro banner before eventually being renamed Box Hill Central North. The southern component opened on 15 June 1984. Built over and around the rebuilt Box Hill railway station, it included roughly one hundred stores, an elevated bus terminus and extensive parking. Its opening was associated with major changes to the surrounding urban environment, including the removal of the Station Street level crossing and the conversion of Market Street and Main Street into pedestrian-oriented areas. The south centre subsequently underwent major reconstruction in 1998–2000 and further refurbishment in 2010. The two sections experienced several changes of ownership, management and naming. Centro Properties acquired and redeveloped the centres, while the wider Federation Limited portfolio rebranding in 2013 restored the Box Hill Central South and Box Hill Central North names. The complex has continued to evolve as retail patterns and anchor-tenancy requirements changed. Big W replaced Target in the south, Woolworths was renovated, and Coles ultimately moved from the north centre into a newly developed supermarket space in the south in 2022. The northern site has also hosted or previously hosted retailers such as Best & Less, Harris Scarfe and Dimmeys. Box Hill Central serves a culturally diverse local population and is particularly associated with the commercial and food culture of Box Hill's Chinese and broader Asian communities. Its retail mix includes supermarkets, discount and specialty retailers, pharmacies, fresh food, restaurants, food courts, professional services and medical facilities. The centre also provides office accommodation, including coworking space in the south complex. Transport is central to the centre's identity. Box Hill railway station is integrated into Box Hill Central South, the roof-level Box Hill Bus Station serves numerous routes, and tram route 109 terminates nearby on Whitehorse Road. The complex also contains extensive undercover parking distributed across both sections, together with bicycle facilities. A long-term redevelopment program announced in 2020 is intended to reposition the site as a larger mixed-use precinct. The ten-year masterplan envisages shifting more retail activity toward the south, adding residential and office towers, expanding public open space and ultimately creating more than 250,000 square metres of combined residential, office and retail area. Its first stage began in July 2021 and was completed in August 2022, adding a Carrington Road entrance, rebuilding the south-western portion and opening a new Coles supermarket. The broader program is scheduled to continue toward completion around 2030.
History
Box Hill Central developed in response to the postwar growth of Melbourne's eastern suburbs and the increasing importance of Box Hill as a regional commercial centre. During the 1960s, the opening of Forest Hill Chase and the construction of other large shopping centres in Ringwood and Doncaster prompted Box Hill City Council and local traders to consider a centralised retail development of their own. A former timber yard in Clisby Street became the focus of the proposal. The northern centre was developed after several changes in project control. Hanover Holdings took over the development in 1972 and soon sold it to Lustig & Moar. The project required the acquisition and demolition of six residences, a timber yard and three shops. Construction tenders for the shopping centre and a multistorey car park were called in 1973. The resulting Whitehorse Plaza opened on 25 November 1974 at a reported cost of $3.5 million. The three-level centre contained more than fifty stores, with Coles, Kmart and Venture among its principal tenants. Its architecture combined Brutalist and Modernist elements and was designed by Buchan Laird & Bawden. Box Hill Central South opened on 15 June 1984. It contained about one hundred stores, approximately one thousand parking spaces and an elevated bus terminus, with Safeway and Target as major anchors. The development was closely connected with the reconstruction of Box Hill railway station and the removal of the Station Street level crossing. Market Street and Main Street were closed to general traffic and converted into pedestrian routes, helping establish the centre as part of a broader town-centre renewal project. The southern centre was reconstructed during 1998 and 2000 and acquired by Centro Properties. It was subsequently known as Centro Box Hill South, although the Box Hill Central name remained widely used. The northern centre had a more disruptive redevelopment history. Whitehorse Plaza closed in 2000 after experiencing difficulty attracting tenants. Its internal tenancies were removed, the layout and car parks were reconfigured, and the internal and external facades were substantially refurbished. The development was initially promoted as Whitehorse City and reopened on 1 July 2003 as Centro Whitehorse, a two-level regional centre anchored by Coles and Best & Less. In 2007, Centro Whitehorse was renamed Centro Box Hill North. Best & Less left the centre and was replaced by Harris Scarfe. Harris Scarfe later closed its Box Hill store on 2 February 2020 during a company-wide restructuring and reduction of locations, after which the space was leased to Dimmeys. The northern Coles supermarket closed in August 2022 following the transfer of the supermarket operation to the redeveloped south centre. The south centre was refurbished again in 2010. Target was replaced by Big W, while Woolworths underwent renovation and reopened. In 2013, both parts of the complex were renamed Box Hill Central South and Box Hill Central North as part of a broader rebranding of centres associated with Federation Limited. The centre's later development has been shaped by the changing role of suburban retail property. In 2020, Vicinity Centres released a masterplan for a substantial mixed-use transformation. The plan proposed concentrating retail uses toward the south, building new office and residential towers, creating more open space and expanding the total site to more than 250,000 square metres of residential, office and retail floor area. The first stage began in July 2021 and was completed in August 2022. It introduced a southern entrance from Carrington Road, rebuilt the south-western portion and added a new Coles supermarket. Today, Box Hill Central North and South together provide more than 40,000 square metres of leasable space. The complex includes supermarkets, specialty retail, dining, food courts, medical and other services, offices and coworking accommodation. Its integration with Box Hill railway station, the roof-level bus interchange and nearby tram route 109 gives it a role beyond conventional shopping-centre retail. The wider masterplan is intended to continue through a ten-year program toward approximately 2030.
- 2022
First masterplan stage completed
[1]A new Carrington Road entrance, redesigned south-western area and new Coles supermarket were completed in August.
- 2021
Masterplan construction begins
[1]The first stage of the redevelopment program commenced in July.
- 2020
Ten-year mixed-use masterplan released
[1]Vicinity Centres announced plans for a large-scale transformation involving retail reorganisation, new residential and office buildings and additional open space.
- 2013
Box Hill Central names restored
[1]The two centres were rebranded as Box Hill Central South and Box Hill Central North.
- 2010
Southern centre refurbished
[1]The south centre was refurbished, Target was replaced by Big W and Woolworths was renovated.
- 2007
Northern centre becomes Centro Box Hill North
[1]The centre was rebranded and partially redeveloped; Harris Scarfe replaced Best & Less.
- 2003
Centro Whitehorse reopens
[1]The refurbished northern centre reopened on 1 July as Centro Whitehorse with Coles and Best & Less as key tenants.
- 2000
Northern centre closes for redevelopment
[1]Whitehorse Plaza closed for a comprehensive refurbishment involving the removal of tenancies, reconfiguration of the layout and car parks, and facade renewal.
- 1998
Southern centre reconstruction begins
[1]The south centre underwent a major reconstruction program spanning 1998 and 2000.
- 1984
Box Hill Central South opens
[1]The southern centre opened on 15 June with around one hundred stores, extensive parking, an elevated bus terminus and Safeway and Target as anchor tenants.
Products and positioning
A transport-integrated regional shopping and mixed-use precinct serving Box Hill and Melbourne's eastern suburbs, with a particularly strong food, grocery and Asian-oriented retail presence.
Shopping centre · 1984
Box Hill Central South
The larger southern component of the complex is built over and around Box Hill railway station. It contains most of the combined retail area, two major supermarket anchors, food and beverage outlets, specialty shops, services, offices and coworking facilities. Its transport integration and pedestrian connections make it the principal activity centre within the Box Hill Central complex.
Shopping centre · 1974
Box Hill Central North
The northern component originated as Whitehorse Plaza in 1974 and was extensively rebuilt before reopening under the Centro name. It is a smaller two-level centre with retail, food, service and limited office uses. Its tenant mix has changed substantially over time, including the departure of Coles and Harris Scarfe and the arrival of later occupants such as Dimmeys.
Food and beverage
Food and dining precincts
Box Hill Central includes two principal food courts, one in each centre, together with restaurants and other food outlets along Main Street. The offer reflects Box Hill's culturally diverse population, including a substantial range of Chinese and broader Asian food businesses, produce retailers and specialist grocery-related services.
Transport and access service · 1984
Transport interchange
The complex provides an integrated connection to Box Hill railway station and the Box Hill Bus Station, which is located on the roof of the southern centre and serves numerous routes. Tram route 109 terminates nearby on Whitehorse Road. The site also provides multilevel undercover parking and bicycle facilities.
Brand decisions
2022
Consolidated Coles in the southern centreStrategyBackground
The redevelopment plan concentrated retail activity in the south and provided a new supermarket space.
Action taken
The Coles supermarket in Box Hill Central North closed and operations relocated to the new Coles store in Box Hill Central South.
Aftermath
The move made the southern centre the principal supermarket and retail anchor location within the complex.
2021
Commenced the first stage of the masterplanOtherBackground
The redevelopment required changes to the southern centre's access, retail configuration and western edge.
Action taken
Construction began in July 2021, including a new Carrington Road entrance and reconstruction of the south-western portion of the site.
Aftermath
The stage was completed in August 2022 and included a new Coles supermarket replacing the former Big W location.
2020
Adopted a long-term mixed-use masterplanStrategyBackground
The existing complex occupied a strategically important metropolitan activity centre but consisted of two centres with different ages, layouts and redevelopment histories. The plan responded by proposing a coordinated transformation rather than isolated refurbishments.
Action taken
The masterplan proposed moving more retail activity toward the south, adding residential and office towers, creating new open space and expanding the overall mixed-use floor area to more than 250,000 square metres.
Aftermath
The first stage began in July 2021 and was completed in August 2022. The broader program is intended to continue through approximately 2030.
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