Northland Shopping Centre

Northland Shopping Centre is a major retail and entertainment complex in Preston, an inner-northern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Located approximately 11 kilometres north of Melbourne's central business district, it is one of the city's earliest self-contained suburban shopping centres and remains one of its largest predominantly single-level retail destinations. The centre has more than 330 stores arranged mainly across a single floor, while a limited upper level accommodates the Hoyts cinema complex, Pancake Parlour and X-Golf. Northland opened on 4 October 1966. It was developed and originally owned by Myer, at a time when Australian department-store groups were expanding into purpose-built suburban shopping centres. The original centre was organised around three malls extending north, east and west from a central stage area. It began with 73 tenants and six professional suites, combining department-store retailing, supermarkets, variety stores, specialty shops and professional services. Its early tenants included Myer, Coles New World, Buckley & Nunn, McEwans, Woolworths Variety Store and Coles Variety Store. A Northland Market at the south-western end added a market-style element to the original offer. The centre's retail mix has changed substantially since opening. Current anchors and major tenants include Myer, Target, Kmart, Coles, Woolworths and Aldi, supported by large-format and specialty retailers such as Best & Less, JB Hi-Fi, Rebel Sport, TK Maxx and Chemist Warehouse. International fashion and beauty brands represented at the centre include H&M, Uniqlo and Sephora. Dining, cinema and leisure uses broaden the destination beyond conventional shopping, with food-court facilities, Pancake Parlour, Hoyts and X-Golf forming part of its entertainment offer. Northland's ownership has passed through several major Australian property groups. Myer Emporium sold the centre to the Gandel Group of Companies in July 1983. A 50 percent interest was later held by CFS Retail Property Trust, which sold that stake to CPP Investments in June 2011. CPP Investments sold the interest to the GPT Group in March 2014. In June 2015, the other 50 percent moved to Vicinity Centres through its merger with Novion Property Group. In 2025, Nikos Property Group acquired GPT's interest as part of a broader acquisition of four Vicinity-related shopping centres, leaving Northland with a multi-owner structure involving Nikos and Vicinity. Northland has also appeared in Australian popular culture and public reporting. The centre was used as a setting for the 2001 film Mallboy. It attracted public-health attention during the 2006 Melbourne-area Legionnaires' disease outbreak, although a subsequent coronial investigation found that the buildings alleged to be involved did not contain the disease. In 2025, several serious incidents at or near the centre—including a machete fight, a neo-Nazi protest, a vehicle pursuit and an electrical fire—generated substantial media and political attention. These events were incidents affecting the shopping destination rather than evidence that the centre itself caused or endorsed the conduct. Northland continues to operate as a large metropolitan shopping, dining, services and entertainment hub serving Melbourne's northern suburbs.

Northland Shopping Centre opened on 4 October 1966 in Preston, approximately 11 kilometres north of central Melbourne. It was developed and owned by Myer, whose expansion strategy helped establish the modern Australian suburban shopping-centre format. At opening, the centre was among Melbourne's first self-contained shopping complexes. Its original plan consisted of three malls radiating north, east and west from a central stage area. The complex had 73 tenants and six professional suites, and included a mixture of department-store, supermarket, variety-store, specialty-retail and professional-service uses. Early occupants included Myer, Coles New World, Buckley & Nunn, McEwans, Woolworths Variety Store and Coles Variety Store. A Northland Market operated at the south-western end. In July 1983, Myer Emporium sold the shopping centre to the Gandel Group of Companies. The ownership history subsequently involved several major property investors. CFS Retail Property Trust held a 50 percent interest and sold that share to CPP Investments in June 2011. CPP Investments later sold the interest to the GPT Group in March 2014. The other 50 percent transferred to Vicinity Centres in June 2015 when Vicinity merged with Novion Property Group. In 2025, Nikos Property Group bought GPT's stake as part of a transaction involving four shopping centres, while Vicinity retained the other interest. Over time, Northland evolved from its original department-store and market-oriented format into a broad metropolitan retail and entertainment destination. The centre is predominantly single-level and contains more than 330 stores. Its major anchors include Myer, Target, Kmart, Coles, Woolworths and Aldi. Large specialty and mini-major retailers include Best & Less, JB Hi-Fi, Rebel Sport, TK Maxx and Chemist Warehouse, while international brands such as H&M, Uniqlo and Sephora contribute fashion and beauty traffic. The upper floor is comparatively limited, accommodating Hoyts cinemas, Pancake Parlour and X-Golf. This combination allows Northland to serve routine grocery and household needs as well as fashion, technology, dining, recreation and entertainment. The centre has had a cultural presence beyond retail. It was used as a setting for the 2001 film Mallboy. In 2006, Northland was one of several buildings suspected of being connected with a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in the surrounding area, which killed one person and infected seven. The subsequent coronial investigation, identified as Case No. 729/06 and conducted by Dr Jane Hendtlass, concluded that the buildings alleged to be involved did not contain the disease. Northland has also been the site or backdrop of several reported public-safety incidents. In December 1988, a man was shot in the thigh after an argument with an armed man. In March 1992, an armed robbery suspect involved in a high-speed police pursuit entered the centre's car park and shot himself after firing at police vehicles; no police officers or members of the public were injured. During June and July 1996, a group stole six handbags from female customers, reportedly stalking victims in the car park before snatching their bags. In May 2025, a fight involving rival groups and machetes took place in the food court, resulting in a serious head injury and a series of arrests. The incident contributed to pressure for faster restrictions on machete sales in Victoria. In June 2025, an alleged neo-Nazi group held a racist protest outside the centre, a stolen vehicle was driven through the complex during a police pursuit, and an electrical fire at Myer prompted another evacuation. These events attracted public and political attention but do not define the centre's ordinary commercial role. Northland remains an active shopping centre serving Preston and Melbourne's northern suburbs. Its current identity is based on scale, accessibility and a broad tenant mix, with a predominantly single-level layout that distinguishes it from many multi-storey metropolitan malls.

• 2025

  Nikos Property Group acquires GPT's interest

  [1]Northland Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Nikos Property Group acquired GPT's stake as part of a broader portfolio transaction involving four shopping centres.

• 2015

  Vicinity Centres receives the other ownership interest

  [1]Northland Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Vicinity Centres acquired the other 50 percent through its June merger with Novion Property Group.

• 2014

  GPT acquires CPP's interest

  [1]Northland Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The GPT Group bought CPP Investments' 50 percent stake in March.

• 2011

  CPP Investments acquires a 50 percent interest

  [1]Northland Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  CPP Investments bought a half interest from CFS Retail Property Trust in June.

• 2001

  Northland appears in Mallboy

  [1]Northland Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The centre was used as a location for the Australian film Mallboy.

• 1983

  Ownership passes to the Gandel Group

  [1]Northland Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Myer Emporium sold the centre to the Gandel Group of Companies in July.

• 1966

  Northland opens in Preston

  [1]Northland Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Northland opened on 4 October as one of Melbourne's early self-contained suburban shopping centres, with Myer as owner and anchor.

A large, convenient suburban shopping and entertainment destination serving Melbourne's northern metropolitan area, combining department stores, supermarkets, international fashion brands, specialty retail, dining, cinema and leisure in a predominantly single-level format.

• Retail

  Department stores

  Northland's department-store offer includes Myer, Target and Kmart. These stores provide broad ranges spanning apparel, cosmetics, homewares, household goods, general merchandise, seasonal products and family-oriented essentials. Myer occupies a prominent multi-level anchor position, while Target and Kmart support value-oriented and mass-market shopping missions.

• Grocery retail

  Supermarkets

  Coles, Woolworths and Aldi give the centre a substantial grocery component. Their presence encourages frequent local visits and complements Northland's destination shopping offer. The three operators cover mainstream full-range supermarket shopping as well as discount-oriented grocery missions.

• Fashion and beauty

  Fashion and beauty retail

  International and Australian fashion and beauty retailers form an important part of Northland's specialty offer. H&M and Uniqlo provide mainstream apparel, while Sephora adds cosmetics, skincare, fragrance and related beauty products. These tenants complement the centre's department stores and broaden its appeal to fashion-conscious shoppers.

• Specialty retail

  Specialty and mini-major retail

  Major specialty tenants include JB Hi-Fi for consumer electronics and entertainment products, Rebel Sport for sporting goods, Best & Less for value apparel, TK Maxx for off-price fashion and home merchandise, and Chemist Warehouse for pharmacy, health, personal-care and beauty products.

• Entertainment

  Entertainment and leisure

  Hoyts cinemas, Pancake Parlour and X-Golf occupy the centre's limited upper-level area. Together with dining and food-court facilities, they extend Northland's role beyond shopping and provide evening, social and family leisure uses.

• 2025

  Neo-Nazi protest outside Northland

  Alleged members of the National Socialist Network staged a masked protest outside the shopping centre on 1 June, displaying a racist banner. The Victorian premier condemned the event and police investigated it. The protest was an external extremist incident associated with the location, not a centre campaign or position.

  Source

Read more

• 2025

  Nikos Property Group acquires GPT's Northland interestM&A

  Background

  Northland's ownership had included interests associated with GPT and Vicinity Centres after earlier transactions involving CPP Investments, CFS Retail Property Trust and Novion Property Group.

  Action taken

  Nikos Property Group acquired GPT's stake as part of a transaction covering four shopping centres.

  Aftermath

  Vicinity Centres retained the other ownership interest, leaving the centre under shared ownership.

  Source

1. 1Northland Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Northland Shopping Centre official websitenorthlandsc.com.au