Lavington Square Shopping Centre
An enclosed sub-regional shopping centre serving Lavington and the wider Albury area of New South Wales.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Lavington Square Shopping Centre is an enclosed sub-regional retail centre in Lavington, a northern suburb of Albury in New South Wales, Australia. The centre opened in 1979 on the site of a former orchard and has remained a significant convenience, grocery and general-merchandise destination for the local community. As of June 2023, it contained 57 stores, with Woolworths and Big W serving as its principal anchor tenants. An Australia Post retail outlet is also located within the centre. The development emerged from late-1970s plans to establish a substantial shopping facility in Lavington. The proposed project attracted criticism from the Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation, which argued that the centre could weaken commercial development in Thurgoona and reduce the value of nearby land. The corporation also feared that the project might affect its ability to repay loans associated with the rapid expansion of the twin-city region. Despite those concerns, the development proceeded as a $10.8 million project by RDC Properties and T & G Mutual Life Assurance Society. When it opened on 30 July 1979, the centre was named Border Shoppingtown and was formally opened by New South Wales Premier Neville Wran. Its initial configuration provided more than 11,600 square metres of floor space, anchored by a Woolworths supermarket and a Big W discount department store. The opening mix also included 37 specialty retailers, three kiosks and approximately 850 parking spaces. The centre therefore combined everyday grocery shopping, department-store retail and smaller specialist services in a suburban enclosed-mall format. Following a change of ownership, the property was renamed Lavington Square in 1988. The renaming accompanied plans for a $2 million expansion, by which time Fosseys had joined the centre as a third major retailer. The resulting works also enabled Lavington Post Office to move into the shopping centre in 1993, broadening the site's role beyond conventional retail. Further extensions in 1996 added a fresh-food area. A much larger redevelopment was undertaken between 2004 and 2006 while the centre operated under the Centro Lavington name. Construction began in July 2004, with Zauner, a local construction group, receiving the $22 million construction contract. The project introduced a 350-seat Diners Life food court, a Fresh Life precinct and 20 additional specialty stores, including Best & Less and The Reject Shop. Big W was also refurbished. The completed redevelopment cost approximately $33 million and was officially opened on 16 March 2006. The centre was known as Centro Lavington for a period before returning to the Lavington Square name in 2013. Its current offer is centred on supermarket and discount-department-store anchors, specialty retail, fresh food, dining, postal services and everyday consumer services. The available reference material does not identify a current owner, parent group, individual founder or named executive management team.
History
Lavington Square Shopping Centre was developed during a period of rapid growth and planning debate in the Albury-Wodonga region. Plans for a major shopping centre in Lavington were announced in the late 1970s. The Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation objected to the proposal, expressing concern that a large retail complex could draw commercial activity away from Thurgoona, reduce the value of land there and make it harder to service loans taken on to finance regional expansion. The project nevertheless proceeded as a $10.8 million development by RDC Properties and T & G Mutual Life Assurance Society. Built on a former orchard, it opened on 30 July 1979 as Border Shoppingtown. New South Wales Premier Neville Wran performed the opening. The original centre offered more than 11,600 square metres of floor space, with Woolworths and Big W as anchor tenants. Its opening tenancy also included 37 specialty stores and three kiosks, supported by around 850 car-parking spaces. Following a sale, the centre was renamed Lavington Square in 1988. A planned $2 million expansion was associated with the change, and the centre had gained Fosseys as another major retailer. The expansion enabled the local post office to relocate into the centre in 1993, making the property a more integrated retail and community-services destination. In 1996, further works added a fresh-food area. The most substantial transformation occurred during the 2004–06 redevelopment, when the property was known as Centro Lavington. Work began in July 2004. Zauner, a local construction group, secured a $22 million construction contract, while the overall project cost was reported at $33 million. The redevelopment added the 350-seat Diners Life food court, the Fresh Life precinct and 20 specialty stores. Best & Less and The Reject Shop were among the new retailers, and Big W received a refurbishment. The redeveloped centre officially opened on 16 March 2006. The Centro Lavington identity was used for several years before the property reverted to Lavington Square in 2013. By June 2023, the centre comprised 57 stores. Woolworths and Big W remained its principal anchors, and the Lavington Australia Post retail outlet continued to operate inside the complex. The centre's current role is primarily local and regional rather than national: it provides grocery shopping, discount department-store retail, fresh food, dining, specialty stores and essential services to residents of Lavington and surrounding parts of Albury.
- 2023
Centre reported with 57 stores
[1]As of June, the centre was described as having 57 stores, anchored by Woolworths and Big W.
- 2013
Returns to Lavington Square branding
[1]The centre returned from the Centro Lavington name to Lavington Square.
- 2006
Redeveloped centre reopens
[1]The $33 million redevelopment officially opened on 16 March, adding dining, fresh-food and specialty-retail capacity.
- 2004
Major redevelopment begins
[1]Construction began on a large redevelopment of the property, then operating as Centro Lavington.
- 1996
Fresh-food area added
[1]An extension introduced a dedicated fresh-food area.
- 1993
Post office relocates into the centre
[1]Lavington Post Office moved into the shopping centre following expansion works.
- 1988
Renamed Lavington Square
[1]After a sale, the centre adopted the Lavington Square name and prepared for an expansion.
- 1979
Border Shoppingtown opens
[1]The centre opened on 30 July on a former orchard site, with Woolworths and Big W as anchors, 37 specialty stores, three kiosks and about 850 parking spaces.
Products and positioning
A community-oriented enclosed shopping centre focused on grocery convenience, discount department-store shopping, fresh food, dining and essential local services.
Supermarket anchor · 1979
Woolworths
Woolworths is one of Lavington Square's two principal anchor tenants. Its supermarket operation provides groceries, fresh food and routine household shopping, forming the centre's core convenience offer and helping generate regular local visitation.
Discount department store anchor · 1979
Big W
Big W has anchored the centre since its opening and provides broad discount department-store merchandise. The store was refurbished as part of the 2004–06 redevelopment, reinforcing its role alongside Woolworths in the centre's original and current retail configuration.
Fresh-food retail precinct · 2006
Fresh Life precinct
Fresh Life was introduced during the major redevelopment completed in 2006. The precinct expanded the centre's fresh-food offer and complemented the supermarket anchor with a more specialised food-shopping environment.
Food court · 2006
Diners Life food court
The Diners Life food court was added in the 2004–06 redevelopment and was designed with seating for 350 people. It broadened the centre from a shopping destination into a place for casual dining and food-led visits.
Postal and consumer service · 1993
Lavington Australia Post
The Lavington Australia Post retail outlet operates within the centre. Its relocation into the complex in 1993 added an important everyday service and strengthened the centre's role as a community convenience destination.
Brand decisions
2004
Undertake a comprehensive centre redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The centre required expanded food, dining and specialty-retail capacity while operating under the Centro Lavington identity.
Action taken
Redevelopment began in July 2004, adding a food court, fresh-food precinct and 20 specialty stores, while refurbishing Big W.
Aftermath
The redeveloped centre officially opened in March 2006 with a broader tenant and service mix.
Redevelopment cost. $33 million (2004-2006)
1979
Proceed with a major Lavington retail developmentStrategyBackground
The proposed centre faced criticism from the Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation, which feared that it could weaken Thurgoona's commercial prospects and affect land values.
Action taken
RDC Properties and T & G Mutual Life Assurance Society proceeded with construction of the enclosed centre on a former orchard site.
Aftermath
Border Shoppingtown opened in July 1979 and became an established retail facility in northern Albury.
Development cost. $10.8 million (1979)
Sources2 sources
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