Highpoint Shopping Centre
Corporate brand
UnclaimedHighpoint Shopping Centre is a major retail and lifestyle complex in Maribyrnong, Melbourne, serving the city's western and north-western suburbs.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Highpoint Shopping Centre is a large retail and lifestyle destination in Maribyrnong, in Melbourne's western suburbs of Victoria, Australia. Located on elevated land overlooking the Maribyrnong River and with views toward central Melbourne, the centre takes its name from the site's prominent topography. It is the largest shopping centre serving Melbourne's western and north-western suburbs, an extensive catchment with a population of at least half a million people. The centre is described as Victoria's third-largest shopping centre and Australia's fifth-largest in the supplied reference material. The site has a layered history. Before becoming a shopping centre, the approximately 50-acre property was a quarry. Remnants of the former quarry are visible in the cliff faces around the lower car parks. During the Second World War, the elevated site also supported an anti-aircraft battery associated with the defence of nearby military installations and ammunition works in Maidstone and Maribyrnong. The land was sold by the City of Essendon in April 1971 for $1.85 million; because the quarry extended across a local-government boundary, approval from the City of Sunshine was also required. The first retail complex opened in September 1975. It was developed by Development Underwriting at a reported construction cost of $12 million and opened as Highpoint West. The original naming reflected an intention to align the centre with other Melbourne shopping destinations whose names used geographic directions, including Northland. Over time, the centre was renamed Highpoint City and ultimately shortened to Highpoint. Highpoint underwent a substantial two-stage expansion and redevelopment beginning in March 2011. The program added approximately 30,000 square metres of space, improved internal and external traffic circulation, created about 1,000 additional car spaces and introduced around 100 additional specialty retailers. The first stage opened on 18 October 2012 and included a new Woolworths supermarket, a fresh-food market and an upgraded car park using Park Assist technology. The second stage opened on 14 March 2013 and added major retail anchors and international-format stores, including a two-level David Jones department store, an Apple Store, Australia's second Samsung Experience store at the time, Topshop and Zara, alongside 98 specialty stores. Topshop subsequently closed and was replaced by Uniqlo. Sustainability improvement was identified as one of the redevelopment's objectives. Ownership changed significantly in the twenty-first century. Until 2006, Highpoint was owned by the Besen family, which also owned the Sussan retail chain. In March 2006, The GPT Group acquired a 50 percent interest and management rights. In September 2017, GPT purchased the remaining 50 percent, making it the centre's sole owner in the reference material. In 2021, GPT approved the Highpoint Urban Village plan, a long-term development framework intended to extend the complex beyond conventional retail. The proposed 30-year plan combines residential and commercial uses with community facilities, public green space, additional retail, a town plaza, an upgraded bus interchange and approximately 3,000 new dwellings. It also proposes a library and community hub of about 2,800 square metres. The plan positions Highpoint as a broader mixed-use urban precinct as well as a shopping centre.
History
Highpoint Shopping Centre occupies an elevated former quarry site in Maribyrnong, west of Melbourne's central business district. Its position above the Maribyrnong River helps explain the Highpoint name and gives the complex a prominent place in the surrounding suburban landscape. The site was not solely commercial before development. During the Second World War, an anti-aircraft battery operated there as part of the protection of nearby military bases and ammunition works in Maidstone and Maribyrnong. Quarrying also shaped the site's later physical form, with quarry cliff faces remaining visible around the lower car parks. The approximately 50-acre property was sold by the City of Essendon in April 1971 for $1.85 million. Because the quarry crossed into the City of Sunshine's local-government area, development required involvement from both municipalities. Development Underwriting subsequently constructed the shopping centre for a reported $12 million. The complex opened in September 1975 as Highpoint West. Its first name was intended to fit a broader naming pattern used by Melbourne shopping centres, including Northland. The centre later became known as Highpoint City and then simply Highpoint. Highpoint's role expanded as Melbourne's western suburbs grew. It became the principal major shopping destination for the city's western and north-western catchments, which together serve at least half a million residents. Its offer developed around department-store retail, supermarkets, fresh food, fashion, technology, home and lifestyle goods, food services and specialty stores. A major redevelopment began in March 2011 and proceeded in two principal stages. The program added about 30,000 square metres, improved vehicle circulation, created approximately 1,000 additional parking spaces and brought in about 100 new specialty retailers. Stage one opened on 18 October 2012. Its components included a new Woolworths supermarket, a fresh-food market and improved parking incorporating Park Assist technology. Stage two opened on 14 March 2013. It introduced a two-level David Jones, an Apple Store, Australia's second Samsung Experience store at that time, Topshop and Zara, as well as 98 specialty stores and additional parking. Topshop later closed and the space was replaced by Uniqlo. The redevelopment also included sustainability improvements as one of its stated aims. The centre's ownership was historically associated with the Besen family, owners of the Sussan retail chain. In March 2006, The GPT Group acquired a 50 percent interest and management rights for a reported $621 million. GPT bought the remaining 50 percent in September 2017, consolidating ownership. The reference material states that the complex was independently valued at $2.3 billion in late 2016, although no separate current valuation is provided here. In 2021, GPT approved the Highpoint Urban Village plan. This 30-year framework proposes a substantial evolution from a predominantly retail complex into a mixed-use urban precinct. Its elements include approximately 3,000 new dwellings, commercial and retail buildings, community facilities, new green spaces, a town plaza, bus-interchange upgrades and a new library and community hub of approximately 2,800 square metres. The plan presents Highpoint as both a regional shopping centre and a future residential, civic and lifestyle destination.
- 2021
Highpoint Urban Village plan approved
[1]GPT approved a 30-year mixed-use plan incorporating housing, retail, commercial uses, community infrastructure, green space and transport upgrades.
- 2017
GPT becomes sole owner
[1]The GPT Group purchased the remaining 50 percent interest in the complex.
- 2013
Second redevelopment stage opens
[1]The second stage opened with David Jones, Apple, Samsung Experience, Topshop, Zara and 98 specialty stores.
- 2012
First redevelopment stage opens
[1]The first stage opened with Woolworths, a fresh-food market and upgraded parking using Park Assist technology.
- 2011
Major redevelopment begins
[1]A two-stage expansion and redevelopment program commenced, ultimately adding approximately 30,000 square metres and increasing retail and parking capacity.
- 2006
GPT acquires a half interest
[1]The GPT Group bought a 50 percent stake and management rights in Highpoint.
- 1975
Highpoint West opens
[1]Development Underwriting's new shopping centre opened in September under the name Highpoint West.
- 1971
Former quarry site sold for development
[1]The City of Essendon sold the approximately 50-acre quarry property for $1.85 million, with participation from the City of Sunshine also required because the site crossed a local-government boundary.
Products and positioning
A major metropolitan shopping and lifestyle destination serving Melbourne's western and north-western suburbs, with a tenant mix spanning department stores, supermarkets, specialty retail, technology, fashion, food and future mixed-use community functions.
Retail format · 2013
Department-store retail
Highpoint's department-store offer includes David Jones, introduced as part of the 2013 redevelopment and described as the first David Jones store in Melbourne's western suburbs. The format adds broad merchandise coverage to the centre's fashion, beauty, home and lifestyle mix.
Food retail · 2012
Supermarket and fresh food
The centre's food-retail offer includes Woolworths and a dedicated Fresh Food Market. These components were introduced or upgraded during the first stage of the 2011–2013 redevelopment and support routine grocery shopping alongside destination retail.
Fashion and specialty retail · 2013
Fashion and specialty retail
Highpoint combines major fashion retailers with a large specialty-store base. The second redevelopment stage brought Zara and Topshop to the centre; Topshop later closed and was replaced by Uniqlo. The broader specialty mix covers apparel and other consumer categories.
Consumer electronics · 2013
Technology retail
The 2013 expansion added an Apple Store and Australia's second Samsung Experience store at the time. These stores strengthened Highpoint's technology proposition and complemented its wider mix of national and international retail brands.
Mixed-use development · 2021
Highpoint Urban Village
The Highpoint Urban Village is a long-term precinct-development proposition rather than a conventional retail product. The approved plan envisages approximately 3,000 dwellings, commercial and retail space, community facilities, green areas, a town plaza, bus-interchange improvements and a library and community hub.
Brand decisions
2021
Highpoint Urban Village planStrategyBackground
GPT planned to broaden Highpoint's role from a shopping centre into a mixed-use urban precinct with residential, civic, commercial and public-space components.
Action taken
GPT approved a 30-year plan proposing approximately 3,000 dwellings, new retail and commercial space, a library and community hub, green space, a town plaza and bus-interchange upgrades.
Aftermath
The plan established a long-term framework for continued precinct expansion; the supplied material does not confirm completion of the proposed elements.
2017
GPT acquires the remaining Highpoint interestM&ABackground
After holding half of Highpoint since 2006, GPT moved to consolidate ownership of the entire complex.
Action taken
GPT purchased the remaining 50 percent of Highpoint in September 2017.
Aftermath
GPT became the sole owner of Highpoint according to the supplied reference material.
Transaction value. $680 million (September 2017)
2011
Highpoint redevelopment and expansionStrategyBackground
The centre required additional retail capacity, better traffic movement and expanded parking to support its regional role.
Action taken
GPT and its partners commenced a two-stage redevelopment adding approximately 30,000 square metres, around 1,000 car spaces and about 100 specialty retailers.
Aftermath
The first stage opened in 2012 and the second in 2013, adding major department-store, fashion, technology and supermarket offerings.
2006
GPT purchases a 50 percent interest and management rightsM&ABackground
Highpoint had previously been owned by the Besen family. The GPT Group entered the ownership structure by acquiring half of the centre and its management rights.
Action taken
GPT purchased a 50 percent stake and management rights in March 2006.
Aftermath
The transaction established GPT as a major owner and operator of Highpoint before its later acquisition of the remaining interest.
Transaction value. $621 million (March 2006)
Recent events
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