Watergardens Town Centre

The site was purchased by the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) in February 1995, with construction commencing in October 1996. The initial proposal for the site included {{convert|30000|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} of retail space at the cost of {{AUD|100,000,000|1995}}, with anchor tenants Bi-Lo, Hoyts, Woolworths and Target.{{cite news |last1=Barrymore |first1=Karina |title=Vic centre signs anchor tenants |work=Australian Financial Review |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=7 November 1996}} The centre opened as Watergardens Shopping Centre on 29 September 1997 with 100 speciality stores:{{cite news |title=Watergardens opens with high visitation figures |work=Inside Retailing |date=3 November 1997 |id={{Factiva|insret0020011001dtb3001h4}}}} the name Watergardens was reportedly chosen in homage of the adjacent Taylors Creek.{{cite news |title=Full marks to Queensland Investment Corporation |work=Inside Retailing|date=25 November 1996 |id={{Factiva|insret0020011018dsbp0005u}}}}

The adjacent Watergardens Town Centre Homemaker Centre opened in 2001, expanding to {{convert|15000|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} of retail space in 2002.{{cite news |title=Richard O'Brien & Associates appointed leasing agent for the second stage of the Watergardens Town Centre Homemaker Centre. |work=Inside Retailing |date=1 October 2001 |id={{Factiva|insret0020011003dxa10006b}}}} Watergardens railway station was also opened in 2002 following the extension of M>Train's St Albans services to Sydenham, with QIC purchasing the naming rights to the station.{{cite news |title=Silence on what's in a name |work=Brimbank Messenger |publisher=News Limited |date=29 January 2002}}

A further expansion to the centre was announced in 2003, adding a further {{convert|25000|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} of retail space south of the complex.{{cite news |last1=Cameron |first1=Kellie |title=Centre begins to grow |work=Brimbank Messenger |publisher=News Limited |date=25 February 2003}} Construction commenced in December 2005 and was originally planned to open in April 2007, but was delayed until May of that year.{{cite news |last1=Cameron |first1=Kellie |title=Centre unextended |work=Brimbank Leader |publisher=News Limited |date=3 April 2007}} The expansion included Big W, JB Hi-fi and a second Woolworths supermarket.{{cite web|url=http://www.watergardens.com.au/files/documents/GTnewsletter_HR_amended.pdf|title=Watergardens Town Centre - Newsletter|date=March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911163605/http://www.watergardens.com.au/files/documents/GTnewsletter_HR_amended.pdf|archive-date=11 September 2007|url-status=dead}} A record crowd attended the centre on 23 December 2007, with more than 45,000 customers attending the centre.{{cite news |last1=Cameron |first1=Kellie |title=Record crowd at shopping centre |work=Brimbank Leader |publisher=News Limited |date=5 February 2008}}

An expansion of the centre was undertaken between 2019 and 2020, resulting in the closure of the Coles (previously Bi-lo) store. The expansion, known as 'The Marketplace', was completed in 2020 and included an Aldi supermarket.{{cite web|url=https://brimbanknorthwest.starweekly.com.au/news/expansion-takes-shape/|title=Expansion takes shape|publisher=Star Weekly|date=26 February 2020}}

As part of nationwide restructuring, the Target store was replaced by Kmart in early-mid 2021.{{Cite web|title=Business Update|url=https://www.target.com.au/businessupdate|access-date=21 September 2021|website=Target Australia}}

In June 2023 the second Woolworths supermarket, which opened as part of the second expansion of the centre in 2007, was closed. This resulted in a revamp of the South Mall, which saw the opening of TK Maxx and the relocation and expansion of Cotton On Mega, Kathmandu, Rebel Sport and EB Games, opening on 7 March 2024.https://watergardens.qicre.com/Campaigns/South-Mall-Launch

Watergardens is serviced by the adjacent Watergardens railway station, with all Metro Trains Sunbury line and some V/Line Bendigo line trains stopping at the station.{{cite PTV route|Sunbury|mode=train}}[https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/1740 Bendigo - Melbourne timetable] Public Transport Victoria[https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/route/1848 Swan Hill - Melbourne timetable] Public Transport Victoria Seven bus routes originate at Watergardens station, with the 476 to Moonee Ponds Junction making additional stops to the north of the main complex building and outside the homemaker centre complex.{{cite PTV route|476}}

Watergardens Town Centre has more than {{convert|115000|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} of floor space, comprising 250 stores including a Woolworths supermarket, Aldi, Big W, Kmart, Rebel Sport, JB Hi-Fi, Hoyts, with Zone Bowling & Timezone on the rooftop. Tenants at the adjacent homemaker centre include Bunnings and Harvey Norman.

• Taylors Lakes, Victoria
• List of largest shopping centres in Australia

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Shopping centres in Victoria}}

Category:Shopping centres in Melbourne

Category:1997 establishments in Australia

Category:Shopping malls established in 1997

Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Brimbank