Broadmeadows Central
Broadmeadows Central is a major enclosed shopping centre serving Broadmeadows and Melbourne's northern suburbs.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Broadmeadows Central is a single-level enclosed shopping centre in Broadmeadows, a northern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The centre began operating in 1974 under the name Meadow Fair, supported by a local retail proposition built around convenience shopping, supermarkets, department-store-style retail, and community access. Its early identity was reinforced by the promotional slogan and jingle “Meadow Fair See You There,” which helped establish the centre as a recognisable destination in the Broadmeadows area. The property has undergone substantial redevelopment, with major reconstructions recorded in 1995 and 2003. These projects modernised the centre and expanded its retail offer as consumer expectations shifted from traditional shopping-centre formats toward broader dining, entertainment, and services-based destinations. In 2006, an entertainment precinct was added. This expansion connected the Hoyts cinema complex with restaurants and introduced or accommodated retailers including JB Hi-Fi, Novo and Dick Smith. The entertainment and food components broadened the centre's role beyond routine grocery and household shopping. Broadmeadows Central is anchored by a broad mix of food, general merchandise, apparel, electronics, discount, pharmacy, and entertainment tenants. Reported major occupiers include Kmart, Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, TK Maxx, The Reject Shop, Best & Less, Cotton On Mega, JB Hi-Fi, Hoyts and Chemist Warehouse. This combination gives the centre a predominantly value-oriented and convenience-led positioning, with essential grocery shopping complemented by discretionary retail, family entertainment, dining, and services. The centre's tenant mix has changed over time in response to retailer restructurings and changing market conditions. Target closed its Broadmeadows store in late 2016 and was replaced by Kmart, although Kmart had previously operated at the centre from 1999. Big W Broadmeadows subsequently closed in January 2021, reflecting the wider retrenchment of the Big W store network and changes in Australian department-store retailing. Broadmeadows Central operates as a regional community shopping destination rather than as a nationally distributed consumer brand. Its importance is primarily local and metropolitan, serving residents of Broadmeadows and surrounding northern Melbourne communities. The centre is associated with Vicinity's shopping-centre operations, although the available reference material does not establish the property's current legal owner or a complete corporate ownership structure. In October 2025, a violent altercation involving groups armed with machetes began in the centre's car park and moved indoors. Some retailers reportedly closed and secured their premises while shoppers sheltered inside. Police attended after the groups left in vehicles. The incident prompted a public statement from the centre's operator concerning cooperation with Victoria Police and opposition to criminal or antisocial behaviour. The event became a significant safety-related news item connected with the centre, but the available material does not establish whether anyone was injured or whether arrests followed.
History
Broadmeadows Central opened in 1974 as Meadow Fair, an enclosed shopping centre serving Broadmeadows and nearby northern Melbourne suburbs. Its original identity was promoted through the “Meadow Fair See You There” jingle, reflecting the centre's role as a local destination for routine shopping and community life. The original format developed around the needs of a growing suburban population, with food, household, apparel, and general merchandise retail forming the core offer. The centre was substantially reconstructed in 1995 and again in 2003. These works represented important physical and commercial turning points, updating the centre's layout and facilities while enabling a broader tenant mix. The later redevelopment period coincided with a wider Australian shopping-centre trend toward larger supermarket anchors, more specialist retail, and improved customer amenities. In mid-2006, Broadmeadows Central expanded its entertainment and leisure offer. A new precinct included JB Hi-Fi, Novo and Dick Smith, while linking the Hoyts cinema complex with dining venues including La Porchetta and Anatolian. This integration of cinema, food, and retail helped reposition the centre as a destination for both planned shopping and leisure visits. Kmart had operated at the centre since 1999. Target later closed its store in late 2016, after which Kmart replaced it in the relevant space. This change reflected the consolidation and repositioning of discount department-store formats within Australian retail. Big W Broadmeadows closed in January 2021, another significant tenant change that illustrated the pressure on traditional department-store networks. The centre's current offer is built around supermarkets and everyday retail, supplemented by value fashion, discount merchandise, electronics, pharmacy, dining, and entertainment. Key reported anchors and major tenants include Kmart, Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, TK Maxx, The Reject Shop, Best & Less, Cotton On Mega, JB Hi-Fi, Hoyts and Chemist Warehouse. The mix gives Broadmeadows Central a practical, value-oriented role for local households while retaining destination functions through cinema, dining, and larger specialty stores. The centre is associated operationally with Vicinity, although the available sources do not provide sufficient information to identify the current legal owner, the complete ownership chain, or named centre executives. Its identity remains primarily place-based: unlike a national retail chain, Broadmeadows Central functions as the branded retail destination for a particular Melbourne catchment. On 11 October 2025, an altercation between two groups reportedly carrying machetes began in the centre's parking lot and moved indoors. Retailers closed and locked some stores, and shoppers hid while the groups fled by car. The available account does not confirm injuries or arrests. A spokesperson for Vicinity said that criminal and antisocial behaviour was not tolerated and that the operator would support Victoria Police. This incident added a public-safety dimension to the centre's recent history.
- 2025
Machete brawl reported at the centre
[1]A reported altercation involving groups armed with machetes begins outside and continues inside the centre.
- 2021
Big W store closes
[1]Big W Broadmeadows closes in January 2021.
- 2016
Target store closes and Kmart replacement follows
[1]Target closes its Broadmeadows Central store in late 2016, with Kmart taking over the relevant retail role.
- 2006
Entertainment precinct opens
[1]The centre adds an entertainment precinct incorporating retail, cinema connectivity, and restaurant offerings.
- 2003
Second major reconstruction
[1]A further major reconstruction updates the centre and supports its expanded retail and leisure role.
- 1999
Kmart begins operating at the centre
[1]Kmart opens at Broadmeadows Central, establishing a long-running discount department-store presence.
- 1995
Major reconstruction
[1]The centre undergoes a major reconstruction as part of its long-term modernisation.
- 1974
Centre opens as Meadow Fair
[1]The shopping centre opens in Broadmeadows under the Meadow Fair name, serving the northern Melbourne suburb and surrounding communities.
Products and positioning
A broad-based, value-conscious community shopping centre combining supermarket convenience, everyday retail, discount fashion and merchandise, electronics, dining, services, and entertainment for northern Melbourne households.
Food retail
Supermarket and grocery retail
Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi provide the centre's principal grocery offer. Together they cover mainstream supermarket shopping, fresh food, pantry goods, household consumables, and value-focused grocery missions, making the centre a practical regular destination for local households.
Department and discount stores · 1999
General merchandise and discount retail
Kmart, The Reject Shop, and related value-oriented retailers provide general merchandise, household products, apparel, seasonal goods, and everyday necessities. This part of the mix reinforces Broadmeadows Central's accessible and price-conscious positioning.
Fashion retail
Fashion and apparel
TK Maxx, Best & Less, and Cotton On Mega represent the centre's fashion and clothing offer. The range spans value apparel, family clothing, casualwear, footwear, and larger-format fashion shopping, complementing the centre's supermarket and general merchandise anchors.
Consumer electronics · 2006
Electronics and technology
JB Hi-Fi provides consumer electronics, entertainment products, technology accessories, and related hardware. Its inclusion in the 2006 entertainment precinct helped strengthen the centre's destination retail offer.
Entertainment and food service · 2006
Cinema and dining
Hoyts anchors the centre's cinema offer, supported historically by restaurants such as La Porchetta and Anatolian. The entertainment precinct gives Broadmeadows Central a leisure function in addition to its everyday shopping role.
Health and personal care
Pharmacy and health retail
Chemist Warehouse supplies pharmacy, health, beauty, and personal-care products, adding an essential-services component to the centre's tenant mix.
Controversies
2025
Machete brawl at Broadmeadows Central
On 11 October 2025, an altercation involving two groups reportedly armed with machetes began in the car park and moved into the shopping centre. Stores were locked and shoppers sheltered. The available material does not confirm injuries or arrests. The operator said it would support the police investigation.
Marketing campaigns
- 1974Meadow Fair launch promotion
Broadmeadows · Northern Melbourne
The original Meadow Fair identity was promoted through the “Meadow Fair See You There” slogan and jingle, positioning the centre as a welcoming local shopping destination.
Outcome. The campaign established the centre's early local identity; later rebranding adopted the Broadmeadows Central name.
Brand decisions
2016
Replace Target with KmartOtherBackground
Target closed its store at the centre in late 2016.
Action taken
Kmart replaced Target in the centre's department-store retail role.
Aftermath
Kmart continued the centre's discount department-store offer, building on its earlier presence at the property.
2006
Add an integrated entertainment precinctStrategyBackground
The centre sought to broaden its role beyond conventional retail and strengthen its appeal as a destination.
Action taken
Broadmeadows Central added retail, cinema connections, and restaurant space around the Hoyts entertainment offer.
Aftermath
The centre gained a broader leisure and dining proposition alongside its established supermarket and general merchandise retail.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/broadmeadows-shopping-centre · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled