Pacific Werribee

Pacific Werribee is a large shopping and entertainment complex in Hoppers Crossing, approximately 29 kilometres south-west of Melbourne's central business district. The centre opened in 1985 as Werribee Plaza and developed through multiple construction stages from a relatively conventional suburban shopping complex into one of Melbourne's significant western-suburban retail destinations. It serves the Wyndham area and is identified within the Melbourne 2030 metropolitan planning framework as a Principal Activity Centre. The centre's original format consisted of separate buildings, including a major supermarket and specialty-retail building and a single-level Myer department store. Subsequent expansion added major tenants and connected previously separate parts of the site. The second construction stage introduced a Woolworths supermarket, Big W, Best & Less and Harris Scarfe, while later works relocated Kmart, added a food court, modernised entrances and façades, and improved the internal links between the older and newer buildings. The most important transformation began in 2013–2014. In February 2014, Pacific Shopping Centres announced that Werribee Plaza would be renamed Pacific Werribee as part of a redevelopment publicly valued at A$370 million. The project was designed to add approximately 35,000 square metres of retail and leisure space, improve vehicle and public-transport access, and introduce a broader mix of department stores, fashion retailers, restaurants, fresh-food operators and entertainment venues. Construction also involved the demolition or relocation of several older facilities, including the former library and bingo centre, Plaza Tavern, a BWS drive-through and parts of the earlier entertainment precinct. The redevelopment opened progressively. A redesigned Urban Diner and food-court precinct, Village Cinemas with Gold Class, and a new two-level Plaza Tavern were among the facilities completed in 2015. A new Target mall opened later that year, followed by a two-level Myer precinct in 2016 that included brands such as H&M and Uniqlo, an upgraded JB Hi-Fi and a Timezone entertainment venue. The final major retail component, a fresh-food precinct, opened progressively in 2017 with operators including Aldi, Market Place, Fish Pier, Pacific Asian and specialist food retailers. The completed centre also incorporated additional parking, including a multi-level car park and underground parking, and a larger bus interchange. Pacific Werribee's offer combines department stores, supermarkets, discount and specialty retail, fashion, food and beverage, cinema, family entertainment and community services. Major facilities and tenants have included Myer, Kmart, Target, Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, Village Cinemas, Gold Class Cinemas, Timezone, JB Hi-Fi, restaurants and fresh-food operators. The centre is positioned as a broad-appeal destination for everyday shopping as well as leisure and dining, rather than as a narrowly premium fashion centre. The complex later became involved in a dispute concerning alleged construction defects in the redevelopment. Pacific Shopping Centres notified Probuild Constructions in 2019 of significant structural issues and pursued damages reportedly estimated at more than A$350 million. Probuild entered voluntary administration in February 2022, leaving Pacific to arrange remedial work itself. Remediation began in February 2023 and required temporary closures and staged disruption for retailers, including Target and later Myer, Village Cinemas, Timezone, JB Hi-Fi, La Porchetta and The Sporting Globe. The final reported works were completed in December 2024. Pacific Werribee remains an operating retail centre serving Melbourne's western suburbs.

Werribee Plaza opened in 1985 in Hoppers Crossing, in Melbourne's western metropolitan area. Its early configuration used separate buildings, with supermarkets and smaller shops in one principal structure and a single-level Myer store in another. The centre expanded in stages as the surrounding Wyndham region grew. Stage 2 added a separate western building containing Woolworths, Big W, Best & Less and Harris Scarfe, which was later connected to the original complex. Stage 4 relocated Kmart, created a food court, altered entrances and refreshed the existing building. Stages 5 and 6 concentrated on linking the buildings into a more unified shopping centre. The seventh and most ambitious stage began in late 2013. In February 2014, Pacific Shopping Centres announced that Werribee Plaza would be rebranded Pacific Werribee as part of an approximately A$370 million redevelopment. The plans included an expansion of roughly 35,000 square metres, new and relocated anchor tenants, additional parking, a redesigned bus interchange and a substantially enlarged food, fashion and entertainment offer. Older facilities, including the former entertainment district, library and bingo centre, Plaza Tavern and BWS drive-through, were demolished or relocated to make way for the new scheme. The project opened in stages rather than as a single launch. In 2015, the Urban Diner precinct, updated food court, Village Cinemas, Gold Class, Plaza Tavern and related parking facilities opened. A new Target mall followed in August, alongside relocated and newly added specialty retailers. The Myer precinct was completed in July 2016. It included a two-level Myer, H&M, Uniqlo, Sportsgirl, Seed, an upgraded JB Hi-Fi and Timezone, as well as additional parking and the relocation of several fashion stores. In 2017, the Fresh Food Precinct opened progressively with Aldi, Market Place and specialist food retailers, while restaurants and other stores joined the expanded section. The redevelopment was reported complete in June 2017. Pacific Werribee subsequently faced a major construction-defects issue. Pacific Shopping Centres notified Probuild Constructions in October 2019 of significant structural defects associated with the redevelopment and attempted to seek damages. The reported claim was estimated at more than A$350 million. Probuild's entry into voluntary administration in February 2022 meant that Pacific had to undertake and coordinate remedial works itself. Remediation began in February 2023 and caused temporary closures and operational disruption for a number of retailers. A further phase began in February 2024 and affected several prominent tenants, including Myer, Village Cinemas, Timezone and JB Hi-Fi. The works were reported completed in December 2024. The centre's transport role also expanded during the redevelopment. Its bus interchange is located on the eastern side and serves several Public Transport Victoria routes. Pacific Werribee continues to operate as a large mixed-use retail and leisure destination, combining supermarkets, department stores, specialty shopping, fresh food, restaurants, cinema, family entertainment and community services.

• 2024

  Final remediation stage reported complete

  [1]Pacific Werribeeen.wikipedia.org

  The final phase of remediation concludes in December after temporary tenant closures.

• 2023

  Remedial works commence

  [1]Pacific Werribeeen.wikipedia.org

  Pacific begins staged works to address reported structural defects after Probuild's administration.

• 2019

  Structural-defects dispute emerges

  [1]Pacific Werribeeen.wikipedia.org

  Pacific Shopping Centres notifies Probuild Constructions of significant structural defects linked to the redevelopment.

• 2017

  Redevelopment completed

  [1]Pacific Werribeeen.wikipedia.org

  The fresh-food precinct opens progressively and the overall redevelopment is reported complete.

• 2016

  Two-level Myer precinct completed

  [1]Pacific Werribeeen.wikipedia.org

  The enlarged Myer mall opens with additional fashion, electronics and entertainment tenants.

• 2015

  Urban Diner and cinema precinct open

  [1]Pacific Werribeeen.wikipedia.org

  The redesigned dining precinct, Village Cinemas, Gold Class and new Plaza Tavern open during the staged redevelopment.

• 2014

  Pacific Werribee name announced

  [1]Pacific Werribeeen.wikipedia.org

  Pacific Shopping Centres announces the rebrand and an approximately A$370 million redevelopment.

• 2013

  Seventh construction stage begins

  [1]Pacific Werribeeen.wikipedia.org

  The centre begins the major expansion and redevelopment stage that will lead to the Pacific Werribee rebrand.

• 1985

  Werribee Plaza opens

  [1]Pacific Werribeeen.wikipedia.org

  The shopping centre opens in Hoppers Crossing as Werribee Plaza.

A major western-Melbourne shopping, dining and entertainment destination combining everyday retail, department stores, supermarkets, fresh food, fashion and leisure facilities.

• Department store · 2016

  Myer

  A two-level department-store anchor introduced as part of the major redevelopment. The Myer precinct broadened Pacific Werribee's fashion, beauty, homewares and general-merchandise offer and helped establish the centre as a destination beyond supermarket-led shopping.

• Fresh food and grocery retail · 2017

  Fresh Food Precinct

  A dedicated fresh-food area completed in 2017, combining supermarket and specialist operators such as Aldi, Market Place, Fish Pier, Pacific Asian, Pretty's Prime Cuts and Direct Organics. The precinct also added food-service operators and expanded the centre's everyday grocery proposition.

• Cinema and entertainment · 2015

  Village Cinemas and Gold Class

  The redeveloped cinema complex added Village Cinemas facilities and Gold Class screening capability, positioning Pacific Werribee as an evening and leisure destination as well as a retail centre.

• Dining precinct · 2015

  Urban Diner

  A redesigned dining and food-court precinct opened during the redevelopment with operators including The Sporting Globe, Schnitz, Grill'd, Guzman y Gomez and San Churro. It was intended to increase seating quality, restaurant variety and dwell time.

• Supermarket and discount retail

  Major supermarket and discount anchors

  Pacific Werribee has historically included major everyday-shopping anchors such as Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, Kmart, Target, Big W and other grocery and discount operators. These stores provide the practical shopping base around which the centre's specialty, fashion and leisure offer is organised.

• 2019

  Redevelopment structural-defects dispute

  Pacific Shopping Centres reported significant structural defects connected with the redevelopment and pursued Probuild Constructions for damages reportedly estimated at more than A$350 million. Probuild's later voluntary administration complicated the dispute and resulted in Pacific arranging remedial works itself.

  Source

Read more

• 2023

  Undertake staged structural remediationOther

  Background

  Probuild entered voluntary administration after Pacific had identified significant redevelopment defects, leaving the centre responsible for arranging corrective works.

  Action taken

  Pacific commenced remedial construction and temporarily closed affected retailers and areas in stages.

  Aftermath

  Further closures occurred in 2024, with the final reported remediation works completed in December 2024.

  Source

• 2014

  Rebrand Werribee Plaza as Pacific WerribeeStrategy

  Background

  The existing centre was being repositioned through a large expansion intended to increase its floor area, anchor-tenancy mix and entertainment offer.

  Action taken

  Pacific Shopping Centres announced a new Pacific Werribee identity alongside the redevelopment program.

  Aftermath

  The centre opened its new precincts progressively from 2015 through 2017 and continued operating under the Pacific Werribee name.

  Announced redevelopment investment. A$370 million announced project (2014 announcement)

  Source

1. 1Pacific Werribeeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Pacific Werribee official websitepacificwerribee.qicre.com