Stockland Traralgon

Traralgon Centre Plaza is a single-level enclosed shopping centre in the central business district of Traralgon, Victoria, serving the Latrobe Valley and the broader Gippsland region. The property was formerly branded Stockland Traralgon during Stockland's ownership from 2003 until its sale in 2021. Following that transaction, the centre returned to the name Traralgon Centre Plaza. The centre originated in an early-1980s development proposal promoted by Jim Coombe and John Minuzzo of Minfam Pty Ltd through Country Shopping Centres. The initial plan called for an approximately 18,000-square-metre complex on a 4.45-hectare site near Franklin and Argyle Streets. It was intended to include a Woolworths supermarket, a Big W discount department store, a junior department store, an electrical retailer, specialty stores and parking for about 1,100 vehicles. A proposed second stage would have added office accommodation above part of the centre, but that element did not proceed in its planned form after planning objections and changes to the development concept. The completed centre was redesigned by architect Mario Bernardi, built by Grollo Constructions and leased by Max McMahon of LJ Hooker. It opened on 11 November 1985, initially employing approximately 450 retail workers after creating around 250 construction jobs. Its principal anchor was Super Kmart, an integrated supermarket and discount department store format, supported by a Fossey's department store and 34 specialty retailers. When the Super Kmart model was withdrawn from Australia in 1989, the large anchor area was divided between separate Coles and Kmart stores. Ownership changed several times. Barnett Corporation acquired the centre in June 1989, followed by a sale to a fund managed by Schroders in 1992. By the mid-1990s, the centre's tenant mix included Coles, Kmart, Fossey's and Franklins No Frills. Stockland acquired the property in June 2003 and operated it under the Stockland Traralgon name for approximately 18 years. During that period, Stockland undertook maintenance, modernisation and accessibility-related works, including a $4.8 million extension and upgrade completed in 2018. The project added retail space at the south-west corner, refreshed the Franklin Street entrance and incorporated landscaping and selected sustainability improvements. In March 2021, Melbourne-based fund manager Fawkner Property purchased the centre for a reported $85 million, after which the original Traralgon Centre Plaza name was restored. The centre has approximately 20,087 square metres of gross leasable area and around 56 stores and services, including major Coles and Kmart outlets, a food court, an external bus interchange and several national retailers. Its design uses a dual rectangular racetrack layout, with distinctive angled ceilings, recessed lighting and reddish terrazzo flooring. A basement-to-ground-level travelator has been part of the centre since opening and was an early example of this feature in the Latrobe Valley. The property includes approximately 756 parking spaces, including basement parking, and external pad sites occupied by businesses such as McDonald's and mycar Tyre & Auto. The basement has experienced flooding during severe rainfall. A major storm on 10 June 2021 caused water to rise by at least 400 millimetres within hours, damaging the travelator, fire pump room, electrical switchboards and retailer storage areas. CBRE manages the property and leasing on behalf of its owners. The centre remains an important retail and services hub for Traralgon and surrounding Gippsland communities.

Planning for what became Traralgon Centre Plaza began in the early 1980s. Minfam Pty Ltd principals Jim Coombe and John Minuzzo promoted the development through Country Shopping Centres on a site adjoining Franklin and Argyle Streets in central Traralgon. The initial proposal was valued at approximately $20 million and envisaged an 18,000-square-metre enclosed centre with Woolworths and Big W as its principal anchors. It also proposed a junior department store, a large electrical retailer, approximately 30 specialty shops and parking for about 1,100 vehicles. A further stage approved by the local city council would have added an eight-storey office building above the western end of the centre. The office component was estimated at $5 million and would have provided more than 5,000 square metres of rentable space and additional parking. Rival developers Grollo-Lustig challenged the planning process while pursuing a separate Morwell development. The office tower did not form part of the final project, and the retail centre proceeded in a revised form. The completed design was prepared by architect Mario Bernardi, constructed by Melbourne-based Grollo Constructions and leased by Max McMahon of LJ Hooker. Traralgon Centre Plaza opened at 8:00 am on 11 November 1985. The project supported approximately 250 construction jobs and around 450 retail positions at completion. Super Kmart served as the initial major anchor, combining supermarket and discount-department-store operations in a single retail format. Fossey's occupied another substantial area, while 34 specialty retailers provided the centre's smaller-shop offer. The Australian Super Kmart concept was discontinued in the middle of 1989. At Traralgon, the former hypermarket area was separated into Coles and Kmart stores, creating the anchor arrangement that continued through later ownership periods. In June 1989, Barnett Corporation purchased the centre for a reported $13.5 million. Schroders later acquired the property in 1992 through a managed fund. By June 1994, the tenant mix included Coles, Kmart, Fossey's and a Franklins No Frills supermarket. Stockland purchased the complex in June 2003 and renamed it Stockland Traralgon. Its ownership period included several modernisation works. The most clearly documented project began in June 2018 and cost approximately $4.8 million. It added a 574-square-metre extension to the south-western corner, refreshed the Franklin Street entrance with new architectural cladding and landscaping, and included targeted improvements relating to accessibility and sustainability. The work was completed in November 2018. In March 2021, Melbourne-based fund manager Fawkner Property acquired the centre from Stockland for a reported $85 million. The new ownership resulted in the restoration of the Traralgon Centre Plaza name. CBRE manages the property and its leasing on behalf of the owners. The centre has approximately 20,087 square metres of gross leasable area and around 56 stores and services. Its facilities include Coles and Kmart, a food court, an external bus interchange, specialty retailers and approximately 756 parking spaces, some of them in an underground basement. The building uses a dual rectangular racetrack arrangement intended to support pedestrian circulation. Angled ceilings, recessed lighting and reddish terrazzo flooring remain notable interior features, while a basement-to-ground-level travelator has been part of the complex since its opening. The basement car park has been vulnerable to flooding during heavy rain and storms. On 10 June 2021, water reportedly rose at least 400 millimetres within a few hours, damaging the travelator, fire pump room, electrical switchboards and retailers' storerooms. The incident required extensive clean-up and repair work. The centre continues to function as a retail hub for Traralgon, the Latrobe Valley and the wider Gippsland region.

• 2021

  Fawkner Property acquisition

  [1]Traralgon Centre Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Fawkner Property purchased the centre from Stockland and restored the Traralgon Centre Plaza identity.

• 2018

  Extension and refurbishment completed

  [1]Traralgon Centre Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The $4.8 million project added retail area and upgraded an important street entrance.

• 2003

  Stockland acquisition and rebranding

  [1]Traralgon Centre Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Stockland acquired the property and renamed it Stockland Traralgon.

• 1989

  Super Kmart is replaced by separate Coles and Kmart operations

  [1]Traralgon Centre Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The former integrated hypermarket space was divided after the Super Kmart format was discontinued in Australia.

• 1985

  Traralgon Centre Plaza opens

  [1]Traralgon Centre Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The centre opened on 11 November with Super Kmart, Fossey's and 34 specialty stores.

A convenient sub-regional shopping and services destination for Traralgon, the Latrobe Valley and the wider Gippsland catchment, combining supermarket and discount-department-store anchors with specialty retail, dining, transport access and on-site parking.

• Supermarket · 1989

  Coles

  A major supermarket anchor providing groceries, fresh food, household essentials and everyday consumer products. The Coles store occupies part of the former Super Kmart area created when the original hypermarket was separated into distinct retail operations.

• Discount department store · 1989

  Kmart

  A major discount department store anchor selling general merchandise across categories such as homewares, clothing, toys, stationery and selected consumer goods. It was established at the centre when the former Super Kmart footprint was divided.

• Shopping-centre retail

  Specialty retail and services

  The specialty offer includes approximately 50 or more smaller stores and services, with retailers and operators such as Cotton On, Liquorland, Priceline Pharmacy, The Reject Shop, McDonald's and mycar Tyre & Auto represented in or around the centre.

• 2021

  Sale to Fawkner Property and name restorationM&A

  Background

  Stockland had owned and operated the centre under the Stockland Traralgon brand since 2003.

  Action taken

  Fawkner Property acquired the shopping centre and reverted its name to Traralgon Centre Plaza.

  Aftermath

  The property continued operating as a local shopping centre under new ownership and management arrangements.

  Reported acquisition price. $85 million (March 2021)

  Source

• 2018

  Centre extension and modernisationOther

  Background

  Stockland undertook works to modernise the centre and strengthen the south-western and Franklin Street portions of the property.

  Action taken

  A 574-square-metre extension was added, the Franklin Street entrance was refreshed, and landscaping, accessibility and sustainability improvements were made.

  Aftermath

  The project was completed in November 2018 and expanded the centre's retail and customer-access infrastructure.

  Project cost. $4.8 million (2018)

  Source

• 1989

  Conversion of the Super Kmart anchorStrategy

  Background

  The Super Kmart format was discontinued in Australia, requiring the centre to reconsider the use of its large integrated anchor space.

  Action taken

  The former hypermarket was structurally separated into independent Coles and Kmart stores.

  Aftermath

  The two-store anchor configuration became a continuing feature of the centre's retail mix.

  Source

1. 1Traralgon Centre Plazaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Stockland Traralgon official websitestockland.com.au