Highpoint Shopping Centre

infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = Highpoint Shopping Centre

|150px
caption = Highpoint Logo
location = Maribyrnong, Victoria, Australia
opening_date = 1975
developer = GPT Group
number_of_stores = 411 stores
number_of_anchors = 7
floor_area = 113,000 m² (lettable)
manager = GPT Group
owner = GPT Group
parking = over 6,200
floors = 4
website = http://www.highpoint.com.au

Highpoint Shopping Centre is a major shopping centre located in Maribyrnong, Victoria, in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The centre has over 400 stores including a four-level Myer department store, Target, Big W, Harris Scarfe, Safeway supermarket, Best and Less, Rebel Sport, Toys R Us, JB Hi-Fi, Borders and a 17 screen Hoyts cinema. It is a major centre and is the largest centre serving Melbourne's western and north western suburbs, an area with a population of at least half a million people.

The 113,000 m² centre is Australia's fourth most profitable centre after Melbourne's Chadstone Shopping Centre, Sydney's Westfield Bondi Junction and Sydney's Warringah Mall according to "Shopping Centre News"'s 2008 "Big Guns" survey with an annual turnover of $735 milllion. [ [http://www.insideretailing.com.au/articles-page.aspx?articleType=ArticleView&articleId=2470 Big Guns revealed: top 20 centres by turnover ] ]

The Shopping Centre was originally known as "Westland". It became known as "Highpoint West Shopping Centre" and was later rebranded "Highpoint City Shopping Centre". It is now simply marketed as "Highpoint".

On the grounds opposite the official "Highpoint" along Rosamond Road a large number of other stores and businesses have opened, including Bunnings Warehouse, Harvey Norman, Dick Smith Powerhouse, another JB Hi-Fi (formerly a Hi-Fi Supermarket), Officeworks, a bowling alley and a large number of homeware and furniture retailers in a section called "Homemaker City".

Highpoint is built on a high rocky outcrop, hence the name. It was previously a quarry, and an anti-aircraft battery operated on the site during World War II. Fact|date=May 2008

Ownership

Until 2006, Highpoint was wholly owned by Melbourne's Besen family (also owners of the Sussan retail chain). In March 2006, the GPT (General Property Trust) Group purchased a 50% stake and management rights in the centre for about AUD $621.2 million. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/GPT-to-acquire-50-of-Highpoint/2006/03/20/1142703253870.html GPT to acquire 50% of Highpoint] , "The Sydney Morning Herald", 20 March 2006.]

External links

* [http://www.highpoint.com.au Highpoint Shopping Centre] official site.

References

* [http://www.accessibility.com.au/melbourne/shopping/highpoint.htm accessibility.com.au - Highpoint Shopping Centre] Disability information resource reports on accessibility of this shopping centre for users of wheelchairs or baby strollers.
* [http://www.steel.org.au/docs/82Vic_TAS_Awards_Winners_2006.pdf Australian Steel Institute Steel Design Awards - 2006 - Highpoint Shopping Centre - Southern Extension] Discusses how steel trusses were used for a complex dome structure in this building extension. This was the winner in the "small project" category.