Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre

infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre


image_width = 300px
caption = Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre Logo
location = Forest Hill, Victoria, Australia
opening_date = 1964
developer = Pacific Shopping Centres
number_of_stores = Approx 200
number_of_anchors =
floor_area =
manager =
owner = Colonial First State Property Management
parking = 3200
floors = 3
website = [http://www.foresthillchaseshopping.com.au/ www.foresthillchaseshopping.com.au]

Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre (also known as Forest Hill Chase or simply Forest Hill), is a major shopping centre in Forest Hill, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia (About 18 km from the CBD) and is managed by Colonial First State Property Management. It is located on Canterbury Road between Blackburn and Springvale Roads.

The architecture is distinguished by a roof of polycarbonate construction with a barrel vault design.

Main Shops

The shopping centre has two supermarkets, two "discount" department stores and one traditional department store spread across three floors/levels. Its major tenants/anchor stores include:
*MyerMyer has planned to add 2 more levels onto the Forest Hill Chase store and promises to leave it bigger and better than ever.Fact|date=August 2008
*Target
*Dimmeys
*Safeway
*Big W
*Hoyts
*AMF Bowling ten-pin bowling
*Coles
*Ambers Playhouse
*The Chase HotelAs well as around 150 specialty stores.

Forest Hill Chase is now one of the most known stores in VictoriaFact|date=April 2008 and has recently been refurbished. January 2007 saw the closure of K-Mart at Forest Hill, and a new Target. A new foodcourt has been finished, with McDonalds joining the restaurant line-up.

The Centre is surrounded by other large shopping centres such as:
*Westfield Doncaster "(currently under re-construction)"
*Knox Shopping Centre
*Centro the Glen
*Chadstone Shopping Centre
*Eastland Shopping Centre

All these shopping centres contain a multi level department store (Myer or David Jones).

Recent History

In December 2004, Melbourne businessman Maurice Alter sold the Forest Hill Chase shopping centre to listed retail property trust CFS Gandel, managed by Colonial First State Property, for $214.5 million.

The sale was close to being the largest national (Australian) retail property deal of the year and which included property management rights and the potential for redevelopment.

At the time of purchase, Colonial First State Property fund manager Bevan Towning ruled out any immediate major redevelopment plans, saying the intention was to change the centre's retailing mix by introducing the same national brands it had at its other shopping centres, Chadstone and Northland. They also wanted to revitalize the centre and give it a "New look."

The 56,886 square metre Forest Hill Chase was the first shopping centre built in Victoria by Mr Alter's group, Pacific Shopping Centres, with George Herscu, in 1964.

Revitilisation

Major construction works started around December, 2006 on the centre's revamp.

; Major Projects undertaken:
* Relocation of Kmart Tyre and Auto Service, to new free standing site in Pacific Way. "(Completed March 2007)
* Internal mall refurbishment - new floor tiling, new modern balustrades, and the removal of second stairwell
* Refurbishment of Level 2 toilets "(Completed June 2007)"
* Upgrade of the Mahoney's Road entrance - old canopy removed to be replaced by new entrance feature, also a new balcony being constructed for the "Chase Hotel". "(Completed June 2007)
* Kmart closure and refurbisment as a new (Target) (Completed September 2007)
* The new foodcourt's new outlook (Completed September 2007)

Retailer changes:

New Retailers:
* Myer (Opened July 14, 2007)
* Jamaica Blue (Opened June 25, 2007)
* Target(Opened September 27 2007)
* Ozmosis (Opened September 2007)
* Cotton On (Opened September 2007)
* Giordano (Opened September 2007)
* YD (Opened October 2007)
* The Body Shop (Opened September 2007)
* ShooBiz (Opened October 2007)
* Strandbags (Opened September 2007)
* The Chocolate Room (Opened September 2007)
* Groove Accessories (Opened September 2007)
* Edge (Opened October 2007)
* Michael Hill Jewellers (Opened October 2007)
* Optus World (Opened August 2008)

Retailers Relocating within Centre:
* Sophie Randall Cards And Gifts "(Open)
* Stuff and Nonsense (Open)
* Diva (Opened May 2007)
* Toy Kingdom (Opened May 2007)
* Colonial Fruit Company (Opened September 2007)
* The Reject Shop (Opened June 2007)
* Wendys (Opened October 2007)
* Subway (Opened October 2007)

Retailers Leaving:
* Bon Bons "(Replaced by Jamaica Blue)
* Chain Reaction
* DeNiro Menswear
* Harris Scarfe (Closed End of June 2007)
* Homeart
* Kmart (Closed January 31, 2007)
* Medibank Private
* Merringtons

Trading Hours

Most shops in Forest Hill operate from 9 or 10am and finish usually at 5 or 5:30pm depending on the day and on a Thursday or Friday, operates till 9pm. The supermarkets however are open from early morning till midnight. Other general retailers go with the normal trading hours as after some time, security gates at the shopping centre close down.

Parking & Transport

The shopping centre has good parking with 2 car parks - 1 being a five story undercover carpark covered ground level and rooftop parking.

Forest Hill Chase is also well catered by public transport. The bus routes 703, 736, 765, 888/889 all run through Forest Hill Chase. The centre is serviced from approximately 6am-10pm weekdays, 7am-8:30pm on Saturdays and 8am-9pm on Sundays and Public Holidays.

The 888/889 run through Forest Hill to either Chelsea or Nunawading every 15 minutes from 6am-9:30pm on weekdays and every 40 minutes on weekends. The last few services at night skip the centre.

Route 736 runs to either Blackburn or Mitcham stations every 30-40 minutes from 6:40am-7:30pm on weekdays only.

Route 765 runs to either Box Hill or Mitcham from 6am-7pm every 20-45 minutes on weekdays and every 30-45 mins on Saturdays. Last buses are around 6:30pm.

Route 703 runs to either Blackburn or Middle Brighton operates every 15 minutes between 9am-3pm and every 30-60 minutes 6pm-9:40pm on weekdays, every 30 minutes on Saturdays and every 45 minutes on Sundays. 703 to skips Forest Hill Chase during weekday peak times (6am-9am and 3pm-6pm) due to time constraints and late at night.

Forest Hill Chase can also be accessed by train at Blackburn or Nunawading railway stations on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines. From there, people can catch one of the above mentioned buses from the station to the shopping centre or walk.

External links

* [http://www.foresthillchaseshopping.com.au/ Official Website]
* [http://www.colonialfirststate.com.au/cfx/Portfolio/properties/cfx_property_details.asp?property_id=23 Colonial First State Shopping Centre Profile]