Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre
Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre is a major regional shopping centre serving Geelong's southern suburbs from Grovedale, Victoria.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre is a regional shopping centre in Grovedale, a suburb of Geelong in Victoria, Australia. Positioned at the intersection of Colac Road and Pioneer Road, the centre serves communities in southern Geelong and visitors from the nearby Surf Coast. Its retail offer combines supermarkets, department and discount department stores, specialty retailers, entertainment, food and beverage, sporting goods, pharmacy services and liquor retail. The centre began operating in 1985 under the name Town & Country Shopping World. Its original format was comparatively small, consisting of a Woolworths supermarket and 12 specialty stores. The first substantial expansion came in 1996, when the centre increased its retail capacity and added Target. Reading Cinemas opened in 2000, broadening the property beyond conventional shopping and establishing an entertainment component. Coles joined the tenant mix in 2002. Following the 2002 redevelopment, the property adopted the Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre name. A further redevelopment in 2007 expanded the Target store and introduced 36 additional specialty stores. The most significant transformation occurred through a two-stage project completed in 2014. The centre ultimately doubled in size to approximately 48,000 square metres. Stage one opened in May 2014 and included a new Kmart, a Coles megastore and a food court. Stage two opened in August 2014 and added a further 40 specialty stores. These projects changed the centre from a relatively compact suburban shopping complex into a large regional retail destination. The centre has approximately 140 stores, with major listed tenants and offerings including Woolworths, Coles, Kmart, Target, Reading Cinemas, Rebel Sport, Cotton On, Priceline and First Choice Liquor. Its open-air car park supports car-based access, while bus routes 40, 41 and 42 connect it with Geelong and routes 50 and 51 provide services from the Surf Coast. Ownership has also changed over time. Australian Unity acquired the centre in 1999. In June 2014, The Industry Superannuation Property Trust purchased a 50 percent interest from Australian Unity for $63 million, creating the reported dual-ownership structure between Australian Unity and ISPT. The centre has also had a media and entertainment role: it was used as a filming location for the Australian comedy series Rostered On, with a shop unit temporarily converted into the fictional Electroworld store for production purposes.
History
Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre originated in 1985 as Town & Country Shopping World in Grovedale, on the southern side of Geelong, Victoria. The initial centre was anchored by a Woolworths supermarket and contained 12 specialty stores. This starting format reflected the role of a local suburban centre, providing basic grocery shopping and a limited selection of complementary retail services. The property entered a significant growth phase in 1996, when its first major redevelopment expanded the centre and brought Target into the tenant mix. The addition of a department-style retailer increased the range of general merchandise available and strengthened the centre's ability to serve customers beyond routine grocery shopping. Reading Cinemas opened in 2000, adding an entertainment use and making the property more of a combined shopping and leisure destination. Coles subsequently opened in 2002. After the 2002 redevelopment, the centre was formally renamed Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre. The new name aligned the property with the locality and marked the transition from the original Town & Country Shopping World identity. The redevelopment history continued in 2007, when Target was expanded and 36 new specialty stores were added. The centre's largest physical transformation took place through a two-stage redevelopment completed in 2014. The first stage opened in May and introduced a new Kmart, a Coles megastore and a food court. The second stage opened in August and added another 40 specialty stores. Across the project, the centre doubled in size to approximately 48,000 square metres. The resulting tenant and amenity mix positioned Waurn Ponds as a major regional shopping centre rather than a small neighbourhood complex. The ownership history has developed alongside the physical expansion. Australian Unity bought the centre in 1999. In June 2014, ISPT acquired a 50 percent interest from Australian Unity for $63 million. The centre is therefore reported as being owned jointly by Australian Unity and ISPT. No separate corporate parent or operating company is identified in the supplied reference material. Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre's catchment is supported by a large open-air car park and public bus connections. Routes 40, 41 and 42 serve Geelong, while routes 50 and 51 connect the centre with the Surf Coast. Its retail offer includes grocery and general merchandise anchors, specialty fashion and service stores, sporting goods, pharmacy, liquor, dining and cinema entertainment. The property has also appeared in popular culture: a shop unit was converted into the fictional Electroworld store during filming for the Australian comedy series Rostered On. This use illustrates the centre's role as a recognizable working retail environment as well as a commercial property.
- 2014
Two-stage redevelopment completed
[1]The redevelopment doubled the centre to approximately 48,000 square metres. Stage one added Kmart, a Coles megastore and a food court; stage two added 40 specialty stores.
- 2014
ISPT becomes co-owner
[1]ISPT acquired a 50 percent stake from Australian Unity for $63 million.
- 2007
Expansion adds stores and enlarges Target
[1]The centre expanded Target and added 36 specialty stores.
- 2002
Coles opens and centre is renamed
[1]Coles joined the centre, which was subsequently renamed Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre after the redevelopment.
- 2000
Reading Cinemas opens
[1]The opening of Reading Cinemas added a significant entertainment component.
- 1999
Acquisition by Australian Unity
[1]Australian Unity acquired the shopping centre.
- 1996
First major redevelopment
[1]The centre expanded and added Target to its retail offer.
- 1985
Original opening as Town & Country Shopping World
[1]The centre opened in Grovedale with Woolworths and 12 specialty stores.
Products and positioning
A large regional shopping and services destination for Geelong's southern suburbs, combining everyday grocery shopping with department-store retail, specialty stores, dining and cinema entertainment.
Grocery · 1985
Supermarket retail
The centre's supermarket offer is anchored by Woolworths and Coles. These stores provide the everyday grocery function that underpins regular visitation, while the larger Coles format introduced in the 2014 redevelopment strengthened the centre's regional catchment and overall retail capacity.
General merchandise · 1996
Department and discount department retail
Target was added during the 1996 expansion and enlarged in 2007. Kmart was introduced as part of the 2014 redevelopment. Together, these stores broaden the centre's general merchandise offer across household goods, clothing, basic consumer products and other value-oriented categories.
Specialty stores · 1985
Specialty retail
Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre contains a broad specialty-store component. Named examples include Cotton On, Rebel Sport and Priceline, covering apparel, sporting goods, pharmacy and health-related shopping. The 2007 and 2014 projects substantially increased the number and variety of specialty tenants.
Entertainment · 2000
Reading Cinemas
Reading Cinemas opened at the centre in 2000, giving the property a dedicated entertainment offer alongside retail and dining. Its presence supports evening and leisure visits and contributes to the centre's regional-destination role.
Food and beverage · 2014
Food court
A food court was added during the first stage of the 2014 redevelopment. It complements the centre's shopping and entertainment uses by providing prepared meals and refreshments for shoppers and visitors.
Liquor
Liquor retail
First Choice Liquor is among the named retail offerings at the centre, extending the everyday shopping mix into packaged liquor retail.
Brand decisions
2014
Two-stage regional expansionGeneration changeBackground
The centre had already undergone expansions in 1996 and 2007, but the owners pursued a much larger project to increase its scale and regional retail offer.
Action taken
The project doubled the centre to approximately 48,000 square metres. The first stage added Kmart, a Coles megastore and a food court, while the second stage added 40 specialty stores.
Aftermath
The completed centre offered approximately 140 stores and a broader mix of grocery, general merchandise, specialty retail, food and entertainment.
2014
Sale of a 50 percent ownership interest to ISPTM&ABackground
Australian Unity had owned the centre since 1999 and sold part of its interest during the period of the major redevelopment.
Action taken
ISPT purchased a 50 percent stake from Australian Unity in June 2014 for $63 million.
Aftermath
The centre was reported as jointly owned by Australian Unity and ISPT.
Purchase price for 50 percent stake. $63 million transaction value (June 2014)
Recent events
- 2014
Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre expands through a two-stage redevelopment[1]
Other
A major redevelopment doubled the centre's size to approximately 48,000 square metres, adding Kmart, a Coles megastore, a food court and approximately 40 specialty stores.
- 2014
ISPT purchases a 50 percent interest in the centre[1]
M&A
The Industry Superannuation Property Trust purchased a 50 percent stake from Australian Unity for $63 million, establishing the reported dual-ownership arrangement.
- 1999
Australian Unity acquires Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre[1]
M&A
Australian Unity acquired the shopping centre, becoming its reported owner before the later introduction of ISPT as a co-owner.
Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre used as a filming location for Rostered On[1]
Other
A shop unit at the centre was refurbished as the fictional Electroworld store for filming of the Australian comedy series Rostered On.
Sources1 sources
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