Brookside Shopping Centre

Brookside Shopping Centre is a suburban retail complex in Mitchelton, approximately in Brisbane's north-western urban area of Queensland, Australia. It is described as the largest shopping centre in Brisbane's north-west and serves the surrounding residential suburbs with department-store, supermarket, discount-retail, specialty-shopping, dining and transport-related amenities. The centre is a local retail destination rather than an internationally distributed consumer brand, and its identity is tied closely to the Brookside name and the Mitchelton community. The centre opened in 1971, making it one of the first major shopping centres established in Brisbane's northern suburbs. It was built on Bell's Paddock, a site with military history: during the First World War, several Queensland units of the Australian Imperial Force were raised and trained there, including the 41st Battalion AIF in 1916. The shopping centre therefore replaced a historically significant open area with a commercial complex that became an important part of the district's postwar suburban development. Brookside underwent substantial redevelopment in the late 1980s. This work created two malls and added a Target discount department store on the western side of the centre. A further mall was later constructed next to the Woolworths mall, expanding the centre's internal retail circulation and its capacity for specialty tenants. The complex has continued to change as retailers have entered, exited or changed premises. Target's original western-side store closed in 2013 and its former site was subsequently used by Big W. The centre's three-level Myer department store, which had been its flagship anchor since the original opening in 1971, closed permanently in 2017. Target later returned to Brookside in part of the former Myer space, while TK Maxx also occupied the former Myer Level 1 site. The retail mix includes around 120 specialty stores in addition to major supermarket and department-store tenants. Listed major retailers include TK Maxx, Target, Big W, Coles and Woolworths, while The Reject Shop occupies a building previously associated with Mitre 10 and Crazy Clark's. The former food court, which had contained approximately nine food vendors, was later converted for use by Cotton On Mega. Additional facilities in or immediately around the centre include a McDonald's restaurant in the front car park and The Brook Hotel on the northern side of the site. Brookside's accessibility is supported by the Brookside Bus Station, which provides frequent services to Brisbane's city centre and a range of surrounding suburbs, including Chermside, Ferny Grove, Toombul, Toowong, Everton Park and Stafford. Mitchelton railway station is also within walking distance, with services toward Ferny Grove, Brisbane City and Beenleigh. This combination of retail concentration and public-transport access helps the centre function as a local shopping and service hub for Brisbane's north-western suburbs.

Brookside Shopping Centre was established in 1971 in Mitchelton, a suburb in Brisbane's north-western metropolitan area. Its development formed part of the expansion of suburban retail infrastructure in Brisbane's northern suburbs. The centre occupies land known as Bell's Paddock, which had earlier been used during the First World War for the raising and training of Queensland units of the Australian Imperial Force. The 41st Battalion AIF was among the units associated with the site in 1916. At its opening, Brookside was one of the first major shopping centres serving Brisbane's northern suburbs. Its role was to provide a concentrated alternative to dispersed local shops, combining large retail anchors with smaller stores and everyday services. The centre's long-term identity was strongly associated with Myer, whose three-level department store operated as the principal flagship from the centre's initial opening. Significant physical and commercial changes took place in the late 1980s. Redevelopment produced two malls and added a Target discount department store on the western side of the complex. Another mall was subsequently built beside the Woolworths mall, increasing the centre's retail floor configuration and supporting a broader specialty-store offering. Over time, the centre's tenant mix evolved in response to changes in Australian department-store and discount retailing. Target's western-side store closed in 2013. Its former location was later used by Big W, creating a change in the department-store and general-merchandise anchor mix. The major later change came in 2017, when Myer's three-level Brookside store closed permanently. The former Myer premises were then reoccupied in stages: TK Maxx took the former Myer Level 1 site, while Target later reopened on level one of the former Myer building. These changes illustrate Brookside's continuing adaptation rather than a single fixed retail format. The centre is described as the largest shopping centre in Brisbane's north-west and contains around 120 specialty stores. Its listed major retailers include TK Maxx, Target, Big W, Coles and Woolworths. The Reject Shop operates from a building previously associated with Mitre 10 and Crazy Clark's. Brookside has also accommodated changes in food and leisure use. A small food court of approximately nine mostly independent food vendors was later replaced by a Cotton On Mega store. A McDonald's restaurant is located in the front car park, and The Brook Hotel is situated on the northern side of the centre's car-park area. Transport is a central part of Brookside's local role. Brookside Bus Station provides frequent connections to Brisbane's city centre and to suburbs including Chermside, Ferny Grove, Toombul, Toowong, Everton Park and Stafford. Mitchelton railway station is a short walk away and provides services toward Ferny Grove, Brisbane City and Beenleigh. Together, the centre's retail offer and transport links make it a significant shopping and services hub for the surrounding north-western suburbs.

• 2017

  Myer closes its Brookside store

  [1]Brookside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The centre's three-level Myer store closed permanently after serving as the flagship since 1971.

• 2013

  Big W replaces the former Target site

  [1]Brookside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Target's original store closed, and the former premises were subsequently used by Big W.

• 1980

  Late-1980s redevelopment expands the centre

  [1]Brookside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Major changes in the late 1980s created two malls, added Target on the western side and later introduced another mall beside the Woolworths mall.

• 1971

  Brookside Shopping Centre opens

  [1]Brookside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Brookside opened as one of the first major shopping centres in Brisbane's northern suburbs, with Myer as its long-standing flagship department-store tenant.

• 1916

  Bell's Paddock used for AIF training

  [1]Brookside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Before the shopping centre was developed, Bell's Paddock was used to raise and train Queensland units of the Australian Imperial Force, including the 41st Battalion AIF.

A convenient suburban shopping and services hub for Mitchelton and Brisbane's north-western suburbs, combining major retail anchors, specialty stores, dining and public-transport access.

• Grocery and household retail

  Supermarket retail

  Brookside includes major supermarket tenants Coles and Woolworths. Their presence supports frequent local shopping for groceries, household goods and everyday necessities and complements the centre's department-store and specialty-retail offer.

• General merchandise and apparel

  Department and discount retail

  The centre's department and discount-retail mix has changed over time. Current or listed major tenants include Big W, Target and TK Maxx. These stores occupy the large-format role formerly associated in part with Myer and provide general merchandise, apparel and value-oriented shopping.

• Specialty retail

  Specialty-store precinct

  Around 120 specialty stores operate across the centre, covering apparel, accessories, personal care, services and other everyday retail categories. The specialty offer is designed to supplement the major supermarket and department-store anchors.

• Food service

  Food and dining facilities

  Brookside has included a small food court, later replaced by a Cotton On Mega store, as well as a McDonald's restaurant in the front car park and The Brook Hotel on the northern side of the site.

• Transport amenity

  Brookside Bus Station

  The centre contains a bus station with frequent services to Brisbane's city centre and several surrounding suburbs. It is a key amenity supporting access to the shopping centre and its local catchment.

• 2017

  Replacement of the former Myer anchorStrategy

  Background

  Myer's three-level store had been Brookside's flagship since the centre opened in 1971, but the store closed permanently in 2017.

  Action taken

  The former Myer space was reused by other retailers, including TK Maxx on the former Level 1 site and a later Target reopening on level one.

  Aftermath

  Brookside retained large-format retail activity while replacing its long-standing Myer anchor with a different combination of discount and department-store tenants.

  Source

• 2013

  Reconfiguration of the western department-store siteStrategy

  Background

  Target's store on the western side of Brookside closed, leaving a large-format retail site available for a new anchor.

  Action taken

  The former Target premises were subsequently used by Big W.

  Aftermath

  Big W became the retailer associated with the former Target location, changing the centre's discount department-store mix.

  Source

1. 1Brookside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Retail First centre profileretailfirst.com.au