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Harbourside Shopping Centre
Shopping mall in New South Wales, Australia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Harbourside was a shopping centre in Darling Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Built in 1988 as part of the urban redevelopment of the Darling Harbour area during the 1980s, it was located in close proximity to other notable buildings such as the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and the Australian National Maritime Museum.[1] On 9 December 2022, the centre closed permanently preceding its demolition. As of 2025, the site is being redeveloped as a mixed-use tower and retail complex.
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History
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Development
In 1983, property developer Tom Hayson was appointed by then-premier Neville Wran to assist with the Darling Harbour redevelopment. Hayson was inspired by the American festival marketplace format pioneered by James Rouse, and believed a design similar to that of Harborplace could be implemented in Darling Harbour.[2]: 98
Hayson invited Rouse to Australia to discuss the project in 1984. Later that year, Rouse called upon his principle planner Mort Hoppenfeld to help present the festival marketplace proposal to the government, so it could be included in the masterplan. However, the masterplan was published the day before his arrival in Australia, excluding the festival marketplace. Hoppenfeld successfully advocated the proposal to Laurie Brereton, who took an executive decision to freeze the masterplan and appoint Hoppenfeld as the master planner for Darling Harbour.[2]: 99
The Hayson Group (later Merlin International Properties) won the development contract for Harbourside by tender in 1985.[3] Architectural group Clark Perry Blackmore worked with RTKL Associates to design the building.[4] The design's centrepiece, dubbed the 'Crystal Galleria', was inspired by The Crystal Palace in London.[2]: 99–100 In 1987, Merlin International Properties appointed David Humphries as Director of Applied and Decorative Arts for Harbourside.[5] Humphries coordinated The Public Art Squad, a team of over 40 artists, to create art instalments throughout the building. The most substantial piece was a sculpture consisting of dolphins on a globe in the central atrium, sculpted by Doug Hurr and painted by Garry Andrews.[5] Among other notable works included terrazzo and pottery by Aboriginal artists Banduk Marika and Thancoupie.[6][2]: 100
Opening
Harbourside was opened on 4 May 1988 by Queen Elizabeth II, in which she formally opened the Darling Harbour redevelopment as part of the Australian Bicentennial celebrations. Sydney Aquarium was the first attraction to open and was soon followed by a host of museums, shops, restaurants, hotels and bars.[7] The centre was referred to as 'Harbourside Festival Marketplace' in its early years of operation, though the shorthand 'Harbourside' later became more prevalent.[8][9][10][11]
Malaysian investors Kar Wai Chan and Thomas Tiong acquired the centre for $111 million in 1995, and spent $70 million on a refurbishment in 1999.[12] They commissioned Rice Daubney for the refurbishment plans, which converted the central atrium from being an open-air space to an enclosed one. The centrepiece globe sculpture was also removed, and relocated to 1378 Windsor Road, Grantham Farm.[6]: 18–19
Beville Group acquired the centre for $127 million in 2004.[13] In 2005, Harbourside underwent a full refurbishment which unveiled a new and expanded food court, and an entertainment level which was home to a 20-lane Kingpin Bowling Centre, M9 Laser Skirmish and Australia's first Boeing 737-800 flight simulator, Flight Experience.[14]
Redevelopment
On 7 November 2013, Harbourside Shopping Centre was acquired by Mirvac for $522 million.[15]
As part of the $3 billion project underway Mirvac planned for a significant new retail shopping centre and commercial office tower," documents, lodged with the Department of Planning & Environment as part of the Harbourside Shopping Centre development in 2015.[16]
In August 2016 Mirvac dropped plans for an office complex at Darling Harbour and instead looked to build a taller, skinnier apartment tower as part of its proposed $400 million redevelopment of the Harbourside Shopping Centre.[17]
In October 2020, Mirvac updated its plans for the new retail centre and apartments which will include a new public domain of over 8,200m². This redevelopment will include the demolition of the existing shopping centre and removal of the existing pedestrian bridge over Darling Drive and the old monorail station. The development will include a mixture of non-residential and residential uses, including a new shopping centre containing retail and restaurants, residential apartments and public open spaces.[18][19][20] The centre closed on 9 December 2022 and demolition commenced in early 2023.[21]
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Tenants
Harbourside had 20,566m² of floor space. The major attractions included Kingpin bowling alley (includes M9 Laser Skirmish), Australia's first retail Jet flight simulator, RaceCentre, 9D motion moving cinema and Hard Rock Cafe (Sydney's only store).
References
External links
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