Rhodes Waterside

Rhodes Waterside is a shopping centre in the Sydney suburb of Rhodes, New South Wales, Australia. The centre was originally known as Rhodes Shopping Centre and opened on 2 December 2004 as part of the larger Rhodes Waterside mixed-use development. That development combined retail, medium-density residential buildings and an office component, creating a substantial urban precinct on the southern side of the Parramatta River. The centre was developed by Walker Corporation as part of a major redevelopment of a former industrial site. The land had previously been occupied by the Berger Paints factory, which operated there from 1916 until 1986. Orica subsequently used the site until 1987, after which it remained vacant and underwent remediation before being redeveloped. The industrial history and remediation of the site formed an important part of the area's transition from manufacturing use to residential, commercial and retail activity. Rhodes Shopping Centre was placed on the market by Walker Corporation in December 2006 and was acquired by Mirvac in January 2007. Mirvac has since owned and operated the centre. The property has approximately 34,646 square metres of floor space and includes a multi-level car park with 2,414 spaces. Its retail mix has included major supermarkets, department and discount retailers, furniture, electronics, cinemas, restaurants and other everyday services. The centre's major tenants and offerings have changed over time. IKEA was an important anchor from the opening period, while Coles, Aldi, Kmart, Bing Lee and Reading Cinemas are among the major retailers identified with the current or recent tenant mix. Coles is accompanied by Liquorland, and the restaurant offer has included brands such as Guzman y Gomez and KFC. The centre also previously housed Bi-Lo, which closed in 2007 and was replaced by Target. Target departed in early 2021, after which Kmart opened later that year. Rhodes Waterside is designed to serve both local residents and visitors from across Sydney. Rhodes railway station is a short walk away and provides frequent services on the Northern Line. Bus services connect the centre with suburbs in Sydney's Inner West, northern Sydney, western Sydney and nearby local areas, with many services stopping on Rider Boulevard outside the centre. A proposed ferry wharf at Rhodes, intended to connect with the Parramatta River ferry network, remained in planning as of August 2023 rather than being an operating feature of the centre. The centre's positioning is that of a large, accessible suburban shopping and lifestyle destination integrated with a broader residential and commercial precinct. Its combination of supermarkets, value-oriented general merchandise, home furnishings, entertainment, dining and transport access gives it a practical as well as leisure-oriented role in the Rhodes area. It remains an active Mirvac-managed retail property, although individual tenancy arrangements and the broader retail offer may change over time.

The site now occupied by Rhodes Waterside was formerly an industrial property in the Rhodes area of Sydney. Berger Paints operated a factory there from 1916 until 1986. Orica then used the site until 1987. Following the end of industrial operations, the property remained vacant and required remediation before it could be converted to a new urban use. Walker Corporation subsequently developed the site as Rhodes Waterside, a mixed-use project combining a shopping centre with medium-density housing and an office building. The retail component opened on 2 December 2004 under the name Rhodes Shopping Centre. Its opening established a major shopping destination in a suburb that was undergoing broader redevelopment and residential growth. The original retail offer included IKEA, Coles, Bi-Lo and Reading Cinemas, alongside other shops and services. The centre's supermarket and general-merchandise mix changed during its early years. Bi-Lo closed in 2007 and was replaced by Target, adding a department-store format to the centre's offer. Walker Corporation placed the property on the market in December 2006. Mirvac acquired the centre in January 2007 and became its owner and operator. Under Mirvac, the destination continued to operate as a mixed retail, dining and entertainment centre serving Rhodes and surrounding parts of Sydney. The tenant mix later changed again as Australian retail formats evolved. Target left the centre in early 2021, and Kmart opened later that year. Major retailers identified with Rhodes Waterside include IKEA, Kmart, Aldi, Coles with Liquorland, Bing Lee and Reading Cinemas. Food and beverage tenants have included Guzman y Gomez and KFC. The centre occupies approximately 34,646 square metres of floor space and provides 2,414 multi-level car-parking spaces. It is also accessible by public transport: Rhodes railway station is a short walk away, while bus routes connect the centre with the Inner West, northern Sydney, western Sydney and surrounding suburbs. A proposed Rhodes ferry wharf on the Parramatta River remained under planning consideration as of August 2023. The property is now known as Rhodes Waterside, reflecting the wider mixed-use development and the centre's established identity within the Rhodes precinct. Its business model remains based on a broad suburban retail offer, combining essential shopping, home and electronics retail, food, entertainment and convenient access for local and regional customers.

• 2021

  Kmart replaces Target

  [1]Rhodes Watersideen.wikipedia.org

  Target left in early 2021 and Kmart opened later that year.

• 2007

  Mirvac acquires the centre

  [1]Rhodes Watersideen.wikipedia.org

  Mirvac acquired the centre after Walker Corporation marketed it for sale, becoming its owner and operator.

• 2004

  Rhodes Shopping Centre opens

  [1]Rhodes Watersideen.wikipedia.org

  The shopping centre opened on 2 December as the retail component of Walker Corporation's Rhodes Waterside mixed-use development.

• 1987

  Orica's use of the site ends

  [1]Rhodes Watersideen.wikipedia.org

  Orica, which had taken over the former industrial operation, ceased using the site, which subsequently remained vacant and underwent remediation.

• 1986

  Berger Paints leaves the site

  [1]Rhodes Watersideen.wikipedia.org

  Berger Paints ceased operations at the property after approximately seven decades of industrial use.

• 1916

  Berger Paints begins operating on the site

  [1]Rhodes Watersideen.wikipedia.org

  The former industrial site began its long association with Berger Paints, which operated a factory there until 1986.

A large suburban shopping and lifestyle centre serving Rhodes and surrounding Sydney communities through a mix of supermarkets, discount retail, home furnishings, electronics, cinema, dining and transport connections.

• Groceries

  Supermarket and grocery retail

  The centre's grocery offer includes Coles and Aldi, providing everyday food, household and grocery shopping for local residents. Coles is accompanied by Liquorland, extending the supermarket component into packaged liquor retail.

• Department and home furnishings · 2004

  General merchandise and home retail

  Rhodes Waterside has hosted major general-merchandise and home-related retailers, including Kmart and IKEA. The offer covers value-focused household goods, apparel and general merchandise alongside furniture and home furnishings.

• Consumer electronics

  Electronics retail

  Bing Lee represents the centre's consumer-electronics component, offering products and services associated with household appliances, entertainment technology and related electronics.

• Entertainment and food service · 2004

  Cinema and dining

  Reading Cinemas provides the entertainment anchor, while restaurants and quick-service operators such as Guzman y Gomez and KFC contribute to the centre's food and leisure offer.

• 2021

  Replacement of Target by KmartGeneration change

  Background

  Target left Rhodes Waterside in early 2021, creating a vacancy in the centre's department-store offer.

  Action taken

  Kmart opened at the centre later in 2021 as Target's replacement.

  Aftermath

  The change preserved a major value-oriented general-merchandise anchor within the tenant mix.

  Source

• 2007

  Sale of the shopping centre to MirvacM&A

  Background

  Walker Corporation put the centre up for sale in December 2006 after developing the Rhodes Waterside precinct.

  Action taken

  Mirvac acquired the centre in January 2007 and took on ownership and operation.

  Aftermath

  The centre continued operating under Mirvac ownership as a major retail component of the Rhodes mixed-use precinct.

  Source

1. 1Rhodes Watersideen.wikipedia.org