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. The site will be redeveloped for a mixed-use tower and retail complex.
 Main entrance | |
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| Location | Darling Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Coordinates | 33°52′19″S 151°11′56″E / 33.871967°S 151.198886°E |
| Opening date | 4 May 1988 |
| Closing date | 9 December 2022 |
| Owner | Mirvac |
| No. of stores and services | 126 |
| Total retail floor area | 20,566 m2 (221,371 sq ft) |
| No. of floors | 3 |
| Parking | 1,430 spaces |
| Website | www.harbourside.com.au |
History
editHarbourside 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.[2]
Beville Group acquired the centre for $127 million in 2004.[3] In 2005, Harbourside underwent a full refurbishment which unveiled a new and expanded food court, an entertainment level which is home to a 20-lane Kingpin Bowling Centre, M9 Laser Skirmish and Australia's first Boeing 737-800 flight simulator, Flight Experience.[4]
On 7 November 2013, Harbourside Shopping Centre was acquired by Mirvac for $522 million.[5]
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.[6]
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.[7]
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.[8][9][10] The centre closed on 9 December 2022 and demolition commenced in early 2023.[11]
Tenants
editHarbourside 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
edit- ^ "Harbourside". Mirvac. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "History and Heritage - Darling Harbour". Darling Harbour. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- ^ "Mirvac closes Harbourside deal". The Australian. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- ^ "Harbourside - Darling Harbour". Darling Harbour. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- ^ Cummins, Carolyn. "Mirvac purchases Harbourside shopping centre". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- ^ McKenny, Leesha (15 November 2015). "Office tower proposed as part of Harbourside Shopping Centre redevelopment". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- ^ Cummins, Carolyn (22 August 2016). "Mirvac plans apartments at Harbourside". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- ^ "Revised Plans submitted to transform Harbourside Shopping Centre Precinct". Mirvac. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Sydney Darling Harbour redevelopment progresses". Architecture Australia. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Object, object (29 October 2020). "Mirvac Switches Up Darling Harbour Plans". The Urban Developer. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Iconic Harbourside shopping centre shuts for demolition after three decades Sydney Morning Herald 9 December 2022