Botany Town Centre is a large shopping mall and lifestyle centre located in Auckland, New Zealand. It has more than 200 stores[1] spread across three complexes, including restaurants and entertainment buildings such as cinemas. It is situated at the corner of Ti Rakau Drive and Chapel Road in the suburb of East Tāmaki, and was opened in 2001.[2][3]
 | |
| Location | East Tāmaki, Auckland, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 36°56′01″S 174°54′47″E / 36.933712°S 174.913167°E |
| Address | Corner Ti Rakau Drive and Chapel Road |
| Opening date | May 2001 |
| Management | Dexus |
| Owner | Canadian interests [1] |
| No. of stores and services | 200+ |
| No. of anchor tenants | 6 |
| Total retail floor area | 62,700 m2 (675,000 sq ft)[1] |
| Parking | 2,535 |
| Website | botanytowncentre |
The centre has faced competition since the 2006 opening of the nearby Sylvia Park shopping centre in Mount Wellington, which was built as an enclosed mall. However, Botany Town Centre sees its town centre format as its strength, and considers that elements such as doctors' premises and a library make Botany more attractive.[4]
History
editIn the years after it opened, Botany Town Centre won awards for its design. Meanwhile, Manukau City Council opened an "idealibrary" in the centre in 2004.[5]
In 2005, a Ministry for the Environment study of the town centre and surrounding suburbs found that the area lacked integrated land-use planning with an "incoherent mixture of conventional and medium-density housing." A planner said the "road-dominated environment to get to the nearby Botany Town Centre is not pedestrian friendly," while public transport had been "under-used and arguably inadequate in range and frequency of routes available" at the time.[6] Others had criticised the centre for being a commercialised public space.[7]
In a 2008 rating of New Zealand shopping centres by a retail expert group, Botany Town Centre received three-and-a-half stars, just under the maximum rating of four stars, based on the criteria of amount of shopping area, economic performance, amenity and appeal as well as future growth prospects.[8]
On 2 May 2019, the first stage of a three-area redevelopment was opened. The redevelopment takes the centre's size to 62,700 square metres.[9]
Transport
editThe mall is accessible via several high-frequency AT Metro bus services which depart from its bus interchange.[10] During the day, buses on the 70 line run at least every 10 minutes towards Pakuranga, Panmure and the city centre. Meanwhile, buses run every 15 minutes towards Howick and Highland Park on the 72 bus line, towards Flat Bush and Manukau on the 35 bus line and towards Ōtara on the 31 bus line. Lower frequency services, usually every half hour, provide trips to Highbrook, Bucklands Beach, Half Moon Bay and Mission Heights.
Bike racks are also provided at several locations throughout Botany Town Centre.
Future rapid transit integration
editIn 2018, Auckland Transport began planning rapid public transport between Botany and Auckland Airport.[11] It is part of a wider programme to improve the transport system in South Auckland.[12] A busway station is planned for the town centre, as the terminus for the Eastern Busway rapid transit link to Panmure railway station.[13]
A busway connecting Botany to Auckland's central suburbs is due to be completed in 2025 (later moved to 2027).[14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Botany Town Centre starting its $78m expansion". Stuff.co.nz. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- ^ "Botany Town Centre Heralds Retail Future". Scoop Independent News – scoop.co.nz. 3 May 2001. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ "Botany Town Centre". Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ South, Gill (4 November 2007). "Makeover of the shopping mall". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- ^ "Fun the aim at Botany library - New Zealand News". NZ Herald. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Botany Downs - Manukau City". Ministry for the Environment. 1 March 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Down at the mall". New Zealand Geographic. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ Gibson, Anne (7 July 2008), From 'yahoo' to ho hum - how the shopping malls rate, The New Zealand Herald
- ^ "Botany Town Centre unveils the first stage of its $78m redevelopment". Stuff.co.nz. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ Transport, Auckland. "New Network for East Auckland". Auckland Transport. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ Harrowell, Chris (15 September 2020). "Botany rapid transit busway project still on track". times.co.nz. Howick Times.
- ^ "Fast and direct transport connections to Auckland Airport take shape". Auckland Council. Our Auckland. 13 October 2020.
- ^ "Second stage of long-term Auckland Transport project to start this year". Stuff.co.nz. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "Busway bridge launched over Tamaki River". Auckland Council. Our Auckland. 10 August 2020.
External links
edit
- Botany Town Centre official website
- Photographs of Botany Town Centre held in Auckland Libraries' heritage collections.