Channel Court Shopping Centre

Channel Court Shopping Centre, generally referred to as Channel Court, is a sub-regional retail and community complex located on the Channel Highway in Kingston, in the greater Hobart area of Tasmania, Australia. The centre serves Kingston and surrounding communities and combines an indoor-outdoor shopping environment with standalone facilities. Its retail offer is anchored by a Woolworths supermarket and Tasmania's largest Big W store, supported by specialty retail, food and beverage, services and public facilities. The centre's role extends beyond conventional shopping. It accommodates regional Service Tasmania and Centrelink service centres and includes Kingston Library, operated by Libraries Tasmania. These public-service and community uses give Channel Court a broader local-destination function, bringing government, library and everyday retail services together in one complex. Other noted occupiers and landmarks have included the local sports retailer Intersport, which opened a store at the centre in 2020; Namaskar, an Indian restaurant that has operated there since 2003; and Madame Clarke's, a cafe opened in 2022 by Andrew Hasler and Josh Clarke, who also co-own Hobart's Machine Laundry Cafe. The centre has also been identified as the location of Tasmania's only KaiserCraft store. For much of its earlier history, Channel Court was regarded as a relatively small but adequate centre for the local population. A major change began after the centre was purchased by the Behrakis Group in June 2004. The acquisition was followed by a substantial transformation intended to accommodate population growth and expand the centre's regional role. A major milestone was the opening of Tasmania's largest Big W on 5 April 2006. Plans at the time envisaged Channel Court becoming one of Tasmania's largest shopping centres by 2009. Further redevelopment occurred during 2011 and 2012, with the completed project reported in 2013. The programme was estimated to have cost approximately A$50 million. Initial proposals included a full-sized cinema complex, but that element was abandoned and the eventual development instead incorporated additional retail, including older women's clothing stores. The resulting centre retained a mixed-format character rather than becoming solely an enclosed mall. Channel Court experienced a major operational disruption in May 2018 when flooding damaged the underground section of the complex. Affected stores required complete refits, and some businesses remained closed for nearly six months. The incident illustrates the centre's dependence on integrated building infrastructure and the potential impact of local weather events on retailers. The centre remains an active retail and community destination, with its identity shaped by supermarket and department-store anchors, public services, food outlets, specialty retail and local amenities. Available reference material does not establish a separate corporate brand owner, current ownership structure, founding year or official website.

Channel Court developed as a local shopping centre serving Kingston and nearby parts of southern Hobart. Before its major redevelopment, the centre was commonly regarded as small but sufficient for the surrounding population. Population growth and changing local demand created pressure for a larger and more diverse retail and services destination. A major turning point came in June 2004, when Channel Court was purchased by the Behrakis Group. The new ownership pursued a comprehensive transformation of the property. The programme aimed to increase the centre's capacity and broaden its appeal beyond a basic neighbourhood shopping role. On 5 April 2006, Tasmania's largest Big W store opened at Channel Court, providing a major department-store anchor. Plans developed during this period anticipated that the centre could become one of Tasmania's largest shopping centres by 2009. The next major phase consisted of extensive construction and refurbishment during 2011 and 2012. Early plans called for a full-sized cinema complex, but that proposal was ultimately abandoned. Instead, the completed scheme placed greater emphasis on retail expansion, including additional women's clothing stores. The overall redevelopment was completed in 2013 and was reported as having an estimated cost of approximately A$50 million. Channel Court consequently retained a mixed indoor-outdoor format, with enclosed retail areas complemented by standalone facilities. The centre's function has never been limited to commercial retail. It has hosted Service Tasmania and Centrelink service centres, making it a location for government transactions and social-service access. Kingston Library, operated by Libraries Tasmania, is also part of the complex. These facilities reinforce Channel Court's role as a community hub as well as a shopping destination. Over time, the centre's tenant mix has included major everyday retailers and local or regional businesses. Woolworths provides supermarket shopping, while Big W functions as a major general-merchandise anchor. The centre has also been associated with KaiserCraft, identified in reference material as Tasmania's only KaiserCraft store, as well as Intersport, Namaskar Indian restaurant and later Madame Clarke's cafe. Namaskar had operated at Channel Court since 2003, predating the later redevelopment phases, while Intersport arrived in 2020 and Madame Clarke's opened in 2022. Channel Court suffered a serious physical disruption in May 2018 when flooding affected the underground section of the complex. The damage required a complete refit of affected stores, and some businesses reportedly remained closed for close to six months. In 2021, Bendigo Bank chose to close its Channel Court branch, a decision that local Member of Parliament Julie Collins characterized as disappointing. Despite these disruptions and changes in tenancy, the centre continues to operate as an active sub-regional shopping and community facility. Public reference material does not specify its founding year, current owner, corporate parent or an official website.

• 2022

  Madame Clarke's opens

  [1]Channel Courten.wikipedia.org

  Madame Clarke's cafe opened at the centre.

• 2021

  Bendigo Bank branch closure

  [1]Channel Courten.wikipedia.org

  Bendigo Bank decided to close its Channel Court store.

• 2020

  Intersport opens at Channel Court

  [1]Channel Courten.wikipedia.org

  The local sports store chain opened a Channel Court location.

• 2018

  Flood damage affects the underground complex

  [1]Channel Courten.wikipedia.org

  Flooding in May caused extensive damage and led to refits and prolonged closures for some affected tenants.

• 2013

  Redevelopment is completed

  [1]Channel Courten.wikipedia.org

  The redevelopment was completed after the cinema proposal was dropped in favour of additional retail space and stores. The project was estimated at approximately A$50 million.

• 2011

  Major redevelopment construction begins

  [1]Channel Courten.wikipedia.org

  Extensive redevelopment work took place during 2011 and 2012 as part of the centre's expansion and transformation.

• 2006

  Tasmania's largest Big W opens

  [1]Channel Courten.wikipedia.org

  A major Big W department store opened at Channel Court on 5 April, strengthening the centre's anchor-retailer offer.

• 2004

  Behrakis Group acquires the centre

  [1]Channel Courten.wikipedia.org

  The Behrakis Group purchased Channel Court in June and subsequently initiated a comprehensive transformation of the property.

• 2003

  Namaskar begins operating at Channel Court

  [1]Channel Courten.wikipedia.org

  Namaskar, an Indian restaurant, is reported to have operated at Channel Court since 2003.

A community-oriented sub-regional shopping centre serving Kingston and the wider southern Hobart area, positioned around everyday retail, major supermarket and department-store anchors, specialty shopping, dining and integrated public services.

• Department store · 2006

  Big W

  Big W is one of Channel Court's principal anchors and was identified at opening as Tasmania's largest Big W store. Its general-merchandise format supports shopping across household goods, apparel, everyday products and other department-store categories.

• Supermarket

  Woolworths

  Woolworths provides the centre's major supermarket offer, serving routine grocery and household shopping needs for Kingston residents and visitors.

• Public library

  Kingston Library

  Kingston Library is a community facility located within the Channel Court complex and operated by Libraries Tasmania. It broadens the centre's role beyond retail by providing library, information and community services.

• Sports retail · 2020

  Intersport Channel Court

  Intersport's Channel Court location adds sports apparel, equipment and related specialty merchandise to the centre's retail mix. The store opened in 2020 as part of the local sports retail chain's presence at the centre.

• Restaurant · 2003

  Namaskar

  Namaskar is an Indian restaurant associated with Channel Court since 2003, providing a long-running food-and-beverage component within the centre's tenant mix.

• Cafe · 2022

  Madame Clarke's

  Madame Clarke's is a cafe opened at Channel Court in 2022 by Andrew Hasler and Josh Clarke, co-owners of Hobart's Machine Laundry Cafe. It represents the centre's continuing addition of locally connected hospitality businesses.

• 2018

  Refit flood-affected storesOther

  Background

  Flooding in May caused significant damage to the underground section of the complex.

  Action taken

  Affected stores were fully refitted and the centre managed extended closures for some tenants.

  Aftermath

  Some stores were closed for nearly six months before returning to operation.

  Source

• 2013

  Complete the revised redevelopment planStrategy

  Background

  Redevelopment plans initially included a full-sized cinema complex, but that component was abandoned during the planning process.

  Action taken

  The completed project emphasized additional retail, including older women's clothing stores, rather than installing the proposed cinema.

  Aftermath

  The expanded centre was completed in 2013 as an indoor-outdoor retail and services complex. The redevelopment was estimated to have cost approximately A$50 million.

  Estimated redevelopment cost. Approximately A$50 million (Redevelopment completed in 2013; construction took place during 2011-2012)

  Source

• 2006

  Open Tasmania's largest Big W store at Channel CourtProduct launch

  Background

  The redevelopment strategy required a stronger anchor offer to increase the centre's scale and draw.

  Action taken

  A Big W department store opened at Channel Court on 5 April 2006.

  Aftermath

  The store became one of the centre's principal anchors and supported plans for Channel Court to become one of Tasmania's largest shopping centres.

  Source

• 2004

  Transform the centre after acquisitionStrategy

  Background

  After acquiring Channel Court in June 2004, the Behrakis Group sought to address the centre's limited scale and respond to the growth of the surrounding population.

  Action taken

  The owner pursued a comprehensive redevelopment and expansion programme, including the addition of a major Big W anchor and later construction work.

  Aftermath

  The centre developed from a relatively small local facility into a larger sub-regional complex with expanded retail and community functions.

  Source

1. 1Channel Courten.wikipedia.org