Carillon City
A major Perth shopping centre being redeveloped into a mixed-use retail, hospitality, accommodation and experiential precinct.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Carillon City is a shopping centre in the central retail district of Perth, Western Australia. The complex occupies a strategically connected site between the Hay Street and Murray Street pedestrian malls, at the southern end of Forrest Place. Its pedestrian network has linked shoppers and visitors with Trinity Arcade, Forrest Chase, Perth’s cultural precinct, nearby public car parks and the city’s railway and bus facilities. The centre is therefore notable not only as a retail property but also as part of Perth’s inner-city pedestrian infrastructure. The present complex developed from two separate arcades. City Arcade was built in 1970 and later refurbished in 1980, while Carillon Arcade opened in 1982. City Arcade included a 14-storey office tower at the Murray Street end of the site. The two arcades were progressively integrated between July 1999 and March 2001, creating the unified Carillon City centre through new connecting walkways and refurbishment work. The integration reportedly cost A$3 million. The centre took its name from a 35-bell carillon installed in the complex; the bells began operating in 1983 and are described as one of only four carillons in Australia. During its more active retail period, Carillon City accommodated fashion, food, hospitality and visitor-oriented businesses. Longstanding tenants associated with the centre included Miss Maud, Four Seasons and Sasellas Tavern. A Perth Tourists Lounge opened on the fifth floor in 1996 and was designed primarily for overseas visitors, particularly tourists from Asian markets. The food court underwent a major A$6 million refurbishment in 2006, including new escalators and improvements to the Hay Street entrance. Ownership and redevelopment proposals have shaped the centre’s recent history. City Arcade was acquired by Hawaiian Property Group and Multiplex Property Trust around 1998. Dexus purchased the centre in 2016 for A$140 million on behalf of the Dexus Wholesale Property Fund. A western portion of the site was demolished in 2013 to accommodate a large Topshop Topman store, which opened in October 2014. That store closed in July 2017 following the retailer’s financial difficulties in Australia, and the space was subsequently occupied by Cotton On. In 2019, Dexus proposed a larger redevelopment incorporating a Hoyts cinema, a 24-storey mixed-use tower and a 17-storey office and education building. Carillon City closed to most retail activity on 1 November 2021 to prepare for redevelopment. A small number of street-facing stores continued operating on Hay Street and Murray Street, while the site remained available as a pedestrian route between the two streets and Forrest Chase. Tattarang announced its acquisition of the property on 29 April 2022 and proposed a new A$400 million precinct. The proposal envisages two towers around a central plaza, with retail and hospitality uses, a 17-storey hotel building and a 31-storey student-accommodation building. Planning approval was reported on 20 May 2025. While awaiting transformation, the largely vacant centre has been used for cultural and artistic programming. In 2024, installations associated with Perth Festival and Strange Festival temporarily activated the site, including a wetland-themed installation and a multi-artist visual-art presentation. In 2025, Carillon City hosted an exhibition about abandoned Perth buildings as part of the Boorloo Heritage Festival. The property’s current identity is consequently transitional: it remains a recognised Perth place and pedestrian link, but its long-term retail role is being recast as part of a broader mixed-use and cultural destination.
History
Carillon City originated as two separate Perth retail arcades. City Arcade was constructed in 1970 and refurbished in 1980. It incorporated a 14-storey office tower above the Murray Street end of the site. Carillon Arcade opened in 1982. The complex’s name reflects its 35-bell carillon, which began playing in 1983 and became an unusual architectural and acoustic feature of the centre. The two arcades were brought together during a project undertaken from July 1999 to March 2001. New interconnecting walkways and associated refurbishment transformed them into the unified Carillon City centre. The project improved circulation through the site and strengthened links between the Hay Street and Murray Street malls. The centre also connected with Trinity Arcade, Forrest Chase and pedestrian routes toward Perth’s transport and cultural facilities. A glass atrium on the south-western side and a two-storey glass spiral staircase were among its prominent architectural features. Carillon City’s retail and visitor role developed through a mix of fashion, dining, hospitality and tourist services. Miss Maud, Four Seasons and Sasellas Tavern were identified as original tenants that remained in their locations through later changes. In 1996, the Perth Tourists Lounge opened on the fifth floor, serving visitors to Perth’s central shopping area, especially international tourists. Ownership around the time of the arcade merger involved Hawaiian Property Group and Multiplex Property Trust. In 2006, the food court was refurbished in a project reported to cost A$6 million, with new escalators and improvements to the Hay Street entrance. The property underwent further change in the 2010s. Part of the western end was demolished in December 2013 to make way for a 2,200-square-metre Topshop Topman store. The store opened in October 2014 but closed in July 2017 amid the British retailer’s financial difficulties in Australia; Cotton On later occupied the space. Dexus acquired the centre in 2016 for A$140 million for the Dexus Wholesale Property Fund. In 2019, Dexus put forward plans for a substantial redevelopment featuring a Hoyts cinema, a 24-storey mixed-use tower and a 17-storey office and education building. Most of the centre closed on 1 November 2021 ahead of redevelopment. A small number of stores facing Hay Street and Murray Street continued trading, and the internal route remained available to pedestrians travelling between the surrounding streets and Forrest Chase. On 29 April 2022, Tattarang’s acquisition and redevelopment intentions were announced. Its proposal, associated with Fiveight, described a roughly A$400 million transformation with two towers positioned around a central public plaza. The plan included retail and hospitality businesses, a 17-storey hotel tower and a 31-storey student-accommodation tower. Planning approval was reported in May 2025. During the transition from shopping centre to redevelopment site, Carillon City gained a temporary cultural function. In 2024, Perth Festival and Strange Festival used vacant areas for installations, including a wetland-themed project and a multi-artist visual-art installation. In 2025, the site hosted an exhibition on abandoned Perth buildings as part of the Boorloo Heritage Festival. These uses kept the property visible in central Perth while its earlier retail configuration awaited demolition and replacement.
- 2025
Redevelopment receives planning approval
[1]The Tattarang/Fiveight redevelopment proposal is reported to receive planning approval on 20 May.
- 2024
Cultural festivals activate the vacant centre
[1]Perth Festival and Strange Festival present installations within the largely empty property.
- 2022
Tattarang announces acquisition and new vision
[1]Tattarang announces plans for a large retail, hospitality, accommodation and experiential precinct.
- 2021
Most of the centre closes
[1]Most retail operations cease on 1 November as the property prepares for redevelopment.
- 2019
Dexus proposes a major redevelopment
[1]Plans are proposed for a cinema and two substantial towers containing mixed-use, office and education functions.
- 2017
Topshop Topman closes
[1]The store closes after less than three years amid its parent retailer’s Australian financial difficulties.
- 2016
Dexus acquires the centre
[1]Dexus purchases Carillon City for its wholesale property fund.
- 2014
Topshop Topman store opens
[1]A 2,200-square-metre Topshop Topman store opens at the redeveloped western end.
- 2013
Western end is demolished for retail redevelopment
[1]The western end of the site is removed to make way for a large Topshop Topman store.
- 2006
Food court refurbishment
[1]The food court is upgraded with new escalators and improvements to the Hay Street entrance.
Products and positioning
A centrally located Perth retail and pedestrian destination transitioning toward a mixed-use, hospitality, accommodation and cultural precinct.
Shopping centre · 1999
Retail arcades
Carillon City’s core offering has historically been a network of enclosed and semi-enclosed retail arcades in central Perth. The centre brought together City Arcade and Carillon Arcade and provided shops, dining venues and pedestrian connections between major city malls. Its current retail operation is limited while redevelopment proceeds.
Food and hospitality · 2006
Food court and dining
Food and hospitality have been recurring parts of the centre’s tenant mix. The food court received a major refurbishment in 2006, including circulation and entrance improvements. Historical hospitality tenants included Miss Maud and Sasellas Tavern, while the proposed future precinct is intended to expand hospitality uses around a central plaza.
Architectural feature · 1983
Carillon bells
The centre’s name derives from a group of 35 bells installed at the complex. Introduced in 1983, the carillon plays melodic sounds and is identified as one of only four carillons in Australia. It is a distinctive place-making feature rather than a commercial product.
Property redevelopment
Mixed-use redevelopment precinct
Tattarang’s proposed replacement for the existing centre is planned as a mixed-use destination with retail and hospitality around a central plaza. The proposal includes a 17-storey hotel tower and a 31-storey student-accommodation tower, with an emphasis on experiential uses and public activation.
Marketing campaigns
- 2025Boorloo Heritage Festival abandoned-buildings exhibition
Perth · Western Australia
Carillon City hosted an exhibition documenting abandoned Perth buildings as part of the Boorloo Heritage Festival.
Outcome. The exhibition framed Carillon City itself as part of Perth’s changing built environment and heritage conversation.
- 2024Perth Festival wetland installation
Perth · Western Australia
A Perth Festival installation temporarily transformed part of the largely vacant centre into a wetland-themed environment, using the dormant retail property as a setting for public cultural programming.
Outcome. The installation provided a temporary cultural use for the site during its redevelopment transition.
- 2024Strange Festival visual-art installation
Perth · Western Australia
Strange Festival presented an extended multi-artist visual-art installation inside Carillon City, taking advantage of vacant floors and retail spaces.
Outcome. The project temporarily reactivated the centre and connected its vacant architecture with Perth’s contemporary-art programme.
Brand decisions
2025
Advance the approved mixed-use precinctStrategyBackground
The existing centre remained mostly empty while the replacement project moved through the planning process.
Action taken
The Tattarang/Fiveight proposal reportedly received planning approval on 20 May 2025.
Aftermath
The approval provides a planning basis for replacing the existing centre with new retail, hospitality, hotel and student-accommodation buildings.
2022
Tattarang acquires the propertyM&ABackground
A new owner sought to replace the largely vacant shopping centre with a broader mixed-use destination.
Action taken
Tattarang announced the acquisition and a proposed transformation through Fiveight.
Aftermath
The announced concept called for two towers, a central plaza, retail and hospitality uses, a hotel and student accommodation.
Proposed redevelopment value. A$400 million (2022 proposal)
2021
Close most retail operations for redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The existing centre was scheduled for redevelopment amid declining activity and plans to replace the current configuration.
Action taken
Most of the centre closed on 1 November 2021, while a few street-facing stores and pedestrian routes remained available.
Aftermath
Carillon City became largely vacant and was later used for temporary cultural installations.
2019
Propose a cinema and mixed-use redevelopmentStrategyBackground
Dexus sought to reposition the ageing centre through a larger development rather than relying solely on traditional retail.
Action taken
The proposal included a Hoyts cinema, a 24-storey mixed-use tower and a 17-storey office and education building above the existing structure.
Aftermath
The site later changed ownership and a different redevelopment concept was advanced by Tattarang.
2016
Dexus acquires Carillon CityM&ABackground
The shopping centre changed institutional ownership as part of Dexus’s property investment activity.
Action taken
Dexus acquired the centre for the Dexus Wholesale Property Fund.
Aftermath
Dexus subsequently developed a major redevelopment proposal for the site.
Acquisition price. A$140 million (2016)
2013
Redevelop the western end for Topshop TopmanProduct launchBackground
The western portion of the centre was selected for a large-format fashion retail use.
Action taken
The western end was demolished and replaced with a 2,200-square-metre Topshop Topman store, which opened in 2014.
Aftermath
The store closed in 2017 and the space was later occupied by Cotton On.
2006
Refurbish the food courtOtherBackground
The centre sought to improve its dining offer and internal circulation.
Action taken
The food court was refurbished, with new escalators and improvements to the Hay Street entrance.
Aftermath
The work modernised a major customer amenity and strengthened access from the Hay Street Mall.
Food-court refurbishment cost. A$6 million (2006)
1999
Merge City Arcade and Carillon ArcadeStrategyBackground
The property consisted of two neighbouring arcades with separate identities and circulation patterns.
Action taken
Owners funded connecting walkways and refurbishment to create a single shopping centre under the Carillon City name.
Aftermath
The integrated centre opened a more continuous pedestrian and retail route through the Perth city block.
Integration and refurbishment cost. A$3 million (1999-2001)
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