Westfield North Lakes

Westfield North Lakes is a large regional shopping centre in North Lakes, a planned suburban development north of Brisbane, Queensland. The centre was created as part of the wider North Lakes town-centre project, which combined retail, commercial, residential-supporting, leisure and entertainment uses around the developing suburb. Its location near the Bruce Highway and major local roads enabled it to serve North Lakes as well as surrounding communities including Mango Hill, Griffin, Murrumba Downs, Kallangur, Petrie, Narangba and the Redcliffe Peninsula. Planning for the North Lakes development progressed during the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 1999, Pine Rivers Shire Council approved the beginning of development activity by Lend Lease and Lensworth. On 8 March 2002, a 30.28-hectare section of the designated Town Centre Core was selected for mixed-use retail, commercial and entertainment development. The shopping centre was one of two major projects announced in February 2003 for the new town-centre area, alongside other civic, foundation, recreation and leisure facilities. Construction of the initial stage began in August 2002 on a site of approximately 25 hectares. The first stage represented an investment of about A$67 million and provided approximately 25,000 square metres of retail space. It opened to the public on 7 August 2003 with about 80 stores, including Coles and Target as anchor tenants, together with around 60 specialty retailers. An outdoor restaurant and lifestyle precinct were included to support the suburb's rapidly expanding population and to position the centre as more than a conventional supermarket-led retail complex. The centre expanded substantially in 2007. Construction began early that year, and the extension opened in October, taking the centre's store count beyond 200. The project added Big W and Woolworths, introduced a new food court and replaced the original food-court arrangement, which was demolished to make room for the enlarged complex. A two-level Myer department store opened in May 2008, following the closure of Myer's store at Strathpine Centre in 2007. The centre later added further retail capacity through a third stage, which included about 60 additional stores and tenants such as Kmart, Rebel Sport, JB Hi-Fi and Cotton On. IKEA opened its second Queensland store at the centre in November 2016, adding a large-format home-furnishings destination to the existing department-store, supermarket, discount department-store, fashion, electronics, sporting-goods, food and entertainment mix. The resulting offer combines everyday shopping with destination retail and dining, making the property an important commercial anchor for the northern Brisbane growth corridor. Ownership interests changed during the centre's early years. In 2004, Deutsche Diversified Trust acquired a 50 percent shareholding. The property is now associated with Scentre Group, which operates the Westfield-branded shopping-centre portfolio in Australia and New Zealand. Public transport access is provided through North Lakes bus station, approximately 350 metres from the centre, with services connecting to a range of northern Brisbane suburbs and the Redcliffe Peninsula. Mango Hill railway station is the nearest rail station, roughly 1.4 kilometres away, with bus connections available from North Lakes.

Westfield North Lakes emerged from the planned development of North Lakes, a new suburban community north of Brisbane. Pine Rivers Shire Council permitted Lend Lease and Lensworth to begin developing North Lakes in 1999. As the town expanded, authorities identified a central area that could support retail, commerce, entertainment and other town-centre functions. On 8 March 2002, a 30.28-hectare Town Centre Core, Sector One, bounded by North Lakes Drive, Anzac Avenue and the Bruce Highway, was designated for this mixed-use role. Two major projects were announced in February 2003 for the Town Centre Core and adjacent Frame Precinct. One involved foundation, recreation and leisure facilities; the other was the proposed Westfield North Lakes shopping centre. Construction of the shopping centre's first stage had already commenced in August 2002 on an approximately 25-hectare site. The initial development cost about A$67 million and delivered approximately 25,000 square metres of retail space. The centre opened on 7 August 2003 with roughly 80 stores. Coles and Target were the original anchor tenants, while approximately 60 specialty retailers occupied the remainder of the first stage. An outdoor restaurant and lifestyle precinct formed part of the original concept, reflecting the intention to create a town-centre destination for a fast-growing population rather than simply a small local shopping strip. Demand from North Lakes and surrounding suburbs led to a major expansion beginning in early 2007. The extension opened in October of that year and increased the centre's total store count to more than 200. It brought Big W and Woolworths to the property and included a new food court. The former food court was demolished to accommodate the enlarged layout. In May 2008, a two-level Myer department store opened. This store replaced Myer's Strathpine Centre location, which had closed in 2007. Further development, described as Stage 3, added about 60 stores. Its tenant mix included Kmart, Rebel Sport, JB Hi-Fi and Cotton On, strengthening the centre's offer across discount retail, sporting goods, consumer electronics and fashion. IKEA opened its second Queensland store at Westfield North Lakes in November 2016, adding a major home-furnishings destination and increasing the centre's regional draw. The centre also developed as part of the area's broader transport network. North Lakes bus station is approximately 350 metres from the shopping centre and provides routes to communities across northern Brisbane and the Redcliffe Peninsula. Mango Hill railway station, around 1.4 kilometres away, is the closest rail station, with a bus connection available from North Lakes bus station. The ownership structure included a notable transaction in 2004, when Deutsche Diversified Trust acquired a 50 percent shareholding. The property is currently associated with Scentre Group and continues to operate under the Westfield brand as an active regional shopping centre.

• 2016

  IKEA opens Queensland store

  [1]Westfield North Lakesen.wikipedia.org

  IKEA opened its second Queensland store at Westfield North Lakes in November.

• 2008

  Two-level Myer store opens

  [1]Westfield North Lakesen.wikipedia.org

  A two-level Myer department store opened in May, replacing Myer's former store at Strathpine Centre.

• 2007

  Major expansion opens

  [1]Westfield North Lakesen.wikipedia.org

  An expansion completed in October increased the centre to more than 200 stores and added Big W, Woolworths and a replacement food court.

• 2004

  Partial ownership acquired by Deutsche Diversified Trust

  [1]Westfield North Lakesen.wikipedia.org

  Deutsche Diversified Trust acquired a 50 percent shareholding in the centre.

• 2003

  Centre opens

  [1]Westfield North Lakesen.wikipedia.org

  Westfield North Lakes opened on 7 August with approximately 80 stores, including Coles and Target.

• 2002

  Town-centre site designated

  [1]Westfield North Lakesen.wikipedia.org

  A 30.28-hectare section of the North Lakes Town Centre Core was selected for mixed-use retail, commercial and entertainment development.

• 2002

  Initial construction begins

  [1]Westfield North Lakesen.wikipedia.org

  Construction began on the first stage of the shopping centre, planned with approximately 25,000 square metres of retail space.

• 1999

  North Lakes development approved

  [1]Westfield North Lakesen.wikipedia.org

  Pine Rivers Shire Council permitted Lend Lease and Lensworth to begin development of the North Lakes community.

A regional shopping and lifestyle centre serving the expanding northern Brisbane suburban corridor, combining supermarkets, department stores, large-format retailers, specialty shops, dining and leisure uses.

• Shopping centre · 2003

  Regional shopping centre

  The core offering is a large regional shopping environment serving North Lakes and nearby northern Brisbane communities. It brings together department stores, supermarkets, discount department stores and specialty retailers in one destination, supported by dining, lifestyle and leisure facilities. The centre's scale expanded significantly after its 2007 redevelopment and later stages, taking the property beyond 200 stores and broadening its role from a local suburban facility to a regional commercial anchor.

• Grocery retail · 2003

  Supermarket retail

  Supermarket shopping has been part of the centre's offer since its opening, when Coles was one of the original anchor tenants. Woolworths was added during the 2007 expansion. Together, these supermarket uses provide recurring grocery and household shopping for local residents and reinforce the centre's role as an everyday destination alongside its department stores, specialty shops and dining facilities.

• Department stores · 2003

  Department and discount department retail

  The centre's large-format retail offer includes Target and later additions such as Big W, Kmart and Myer. These stores cover apparel, household goods, general merchandise and other high-volume categories. The opening of the two-level Myer store in 2008 and the addition of Big W and Kmart helped establish Westfield North Lakes as a destination for broad-based department-store and discount retail.

• Home furnishings · 2016

  IKEA North Lakes

  IKEA opened its second Queensland store at Westfield North Lakes in November 2016. The large-format home-furnishings operation expanded the centre's destination appeal beyond conventional fashion and grocery shopping, offering furniture, home accessories, kitchen-related products and associated customer services. Its presence added a major specialist home-retail component to the centre's broader regional tenant mix.

• Food and beverage · 2003

  Dining and food precinct

  An outdoor restaurant and lifestyle precinct formed part of the original centre concept, and a food court was rebuilt as part of the 2007 expansion. These facilities complement the retail offer by providing quick-service, casual and restaurant-style dining for shoppers and visitors.

• 2016

  IKEA opens at Westfield North LakesProduct launch

  Background

  The centre continued adding destination retailers after its earlier expansions and sought to broaden its large-format retail offer.

  Action taken

  IKEA opened its second Queensland store at the centre in November 2016.

  Aftermath

  The opening added a major home-furnishings destination and diversified the centre's regional retail mix.

  Source

• 2007

  Major centre expansionOther

  Background

  The growth of North Lakes and demand for a broader retail and dining offer led to a major expansion of the shopping centre.

  Action taken

  The centre added substantial retail space, increased the store count beyond 200, introduced Big W and Woolworths, and replaced the original food court with a new facility.

  Aftermath

  The expansion materially increased the centre's regional scale and strengthened its position as the principal shopping destination for the surrounding northern Brisbane growth corridor.

  Source

1. 1Westfield North Lakesen.wikipedia.org