Westfield Fountain Gate

infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = Westfield Fountain Gate

---

image_width = 250
caption =
location = Narre Warren, Victoria, Australia
opening_date = 1970
developer = The Westfield Group
number_of_stores = 329 [ [http://westfield.com/fountaingate/ourstores Westfield ] ]
number_of_anchors
floor_area =
manager = The Westfield Group
owner = The Westfield Group
parking =
floors = 2 (Level One and Two)
website = [http://www.westfield.com/fountaingate westfield.com/fountaingate]
coordinates = coord|38|1|7|S|145|18|15|E|display=inline,title

Westfield Fountain Gate is a large regional shopping centre located at Narre Warren in the outer south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. It is currently the second largest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere (behind Knox City Shopping Centre with a lettable area of over 138,000 m². It has approximately 316 stores which makes it the 13th largest in Australia by number of shops. [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/08/1173166897954.html Will Castle Hill get Australia's biggest mall?] Sydney Morning Herald, 9 March 2007] .

Built in the 1970s, it was purchased by The Westfield Group in the 1990s and redeveloped into a much larger complex in 2001. The centre hosts a variety of major chains including Kmart, Coles, Safeway, BiLo, Big W, Target, Aldi and approximately 320 specialty stores.

Under an agreement made in 2003, David Jones are to open a store between 2008 and 2012 of a size around 12,500 sq.m. David Jones have flagged that the store will open in 2011 as part of their 4 year plan.

One of the major drawcards of the centre is the entertainment precinct known as The Street. This precinct features a number of entertainment stores, book stores, cafes and a Village Cinemas.

The centre has plans for further future development, including cinema extensions, and construction of more specialty stores. In August 2007 it was announced that, if approved by the City of Casey, the centre may undergo a $200 million dollar extension. It will house a new David Jones department store, approximately 50 new shops and an extra 1200 car parking spaces.

It is the location of the first ever Krispy Kreme in Victoria.

Fountain Gate Shopping Centre is named as the mall frequented by the characters in popular television series "Kath & Kim". Scenes in the show are filmed at Fountain Gate, and at another Westfield complex, Westfield Southland.

Fountain Gate Shopping Centre was a filming location in feature film "Bad Eggs", where in the first scene a car rolls into the actual shopping centre. In the film's story the mall is named "Crystal Heights Shop Kingdom".

Stores

Fountain Gate has 326 individual stores. There are two Bakers Delights, two Hairhouse Warehouse shops, two Angus & Robertson bookstores and three Wendy's franchises in the complex.

Major stores in the centre
* Dick Smith Electronics PowerHouse
* Bi-Lo
* Coles
* Safeway
* Big W
* Village Cinemas
* Aldi
* Target
* Kmart
* David Jones "planned opening 2008-2012"

As well as a fitness gym, a local Centrelink office and also housed in the Fountain Gate precint is the City of Casey Aquatic Centre and the community library.

Next Major Development

DAVID Jones is coming to Westfield Fountain Gate.

The retailer has confirmed it will still set up shop, with late 2010 a possible opening date.

Group general manager of retail development Antony Karp told the News an agreement was in place for David Jones to form part of Westfield’s proposed $200 million extension.

“We are committed to opening a store in Fountain Gate,” Mr Karp said.

“Westfield has an agreement to notify us of any developments with the extension and give us sufficient time to plan the store.”

Casey Council gave the go-ahead to Westfield’s extension in December.

Westfield Group corporate affairs manager Julia Clarke said the redevelopment at Fountain Gate would begin next year and take about 15 months to complete.

Ms Clarke wouldn’t confirm whether David Jones would be a part of the centre, but said the new major stores would include a department store, new Coles and an enlarged Target.

The last major redevelopment at the centre was in 2000 and included the incorporation of Safeway and Big W and a new food court, with cinemas and an entertainment and lifestyle precinct.

Since then there have been minor refurbishments including the addition of a fresh food market and Bi-Lo in 2001.

The retail area at the Princes Highway shopping centre is 80,000 square metres with stores such as Target, Kmart, Big W, Coles, Safeway, Bi-Lo and Aldi.

After the redevelopment works, the centre’s retail area will be 115,000 square metres and will result in a further 1200 retail jobs.

Westfield Fountain Gate has 266 stores operating within the centre, and will have a total of 393 stores after the works.

The existing car park has 4022 spaces with the proposed number set to be 5468.

Transport

Narre Warren railway station is approximately 1km away from the centre and is linked by a number of bus routes to Westfield Fountain Gate. Some regional buses also stop at Fountain Gate.

The following bus routes stop at Fountain Gate:
* 695: Belgrave to Fountain Gate (via Selby, Menzies Creek, Clematis, Emerald, Cockatoo, Gembrook & Lysterfield)
* 697: Belgrave to Fountain Gate
* 827: Hampton to Berwick (via Highett, Cheltenham, Moorabbin Airport, Dingley Village, Keysborough, Dandenong, Doveton & Hallam)
* 828: Hampton to Berwick (via Highett, Cheltenham, Moorabbin Airport, Dingley Village, Keysborough, Dandenong, Doveton & Hallam)
* 834: Berwick - Narre Warren Circle.
* 835: Berwick - Narre Warren Circle.
* 838: Emerald to Fountain Gate (via Berwick & Beaconsfield)
* 841: Narre Warren North to Cranbourne (via Narre Warren South)
* 842: Endeavour Hills to Fountain Gate (via Narre Warren North)
* 894: Amberly Park to Fountain Gate (via Hallam)
* 895: Hampton Park East to Fountain Gate (via Hallam)
* 926: Pakenham to Fountain Gate (via Officer, Beaconsfield & Berwick)

Routes 834, 835, 840, 841 and 895 operate via Narre Warren railway station.

The Hallam Bypass, a new section of the Monash Freeway opened in 2003 passes beside the complex and can be viewed from the windows in the food court. A trail known as the Hallam Bypass Trail constructed at the same time runs beside the centre, on the north east side, providing access for cyclists and pedestrians.

References

External links

* [http://www.westfield.com/fountaingate Westfield Fountain Gate website]
* [http://westfield.com/corporate/retailer/au/fountaingate.html Westfield corporate - Fountain Gate]