Macquarie Centre unveiled the final stage of its $440 million redevelopment this week with no less than five international giants entering its doors.
AMP Capital Shopping Centres managing director Bryan Hynes and Member for Ryde, Victor Dominello MP cut the official ribbon before a confetti shower was released.
"Macquarie Centre is now the largest suburban shopping centre in Sydney, and is home to five large format international high street fashion brands, the most of any Australian shopping centre," Hynes said.
"This includes H&M, Gap, UNIQLO, ZARA and Sydney’s first store by Californian retail giant Forever 21, which is due to open in December.
"Through our focus on creating interactive experiences at our shopping centres, we have transformed Macquarie Centre into a leading contemporary urban centre. This redevelopment is part of a $2.8 billion program of shopping centre upgrades being implemented by AMP Capital Shopping Centres and our investors."
Fashion media, industry representatives and shoppers who downloaded the MyMacquarie app during a fashion runway show experienced an Australian-first in runway-to-mobile (audio-cued) technology which allowed them to save their favourite outfits from the show and then navigate their way around the centre to shop.
Thousands of shoppers lined up to make their way through the doors at 9am to be the first to see the new centre.
A huge floral runway was the focal point for the day, decorated to overload the senses with thousands of fresh flowers; it was the backdrop for two fashion runway shows featuring key looks from some of Macquarie’s fashion retailers including Macquarie’s first to Sydney stores H&M and UNIQLO.
Celebrities including Jessica Gomes, Jason Dundas, Josh Goot, and Vogue editor, Edwina McCann were spotted in the crowd, snapping their favourite looks from the show.
Macquarie Centre will continue to celebrate over the next four days, with live entertainment, free personal styling sessions and special discounts across a number of retailers.
The opening saw the unveiling of a two-level fashion galleria, which from today will feature 100 new retail stores, and the first new David Jones store to open in Sydney in seven years. T
he new-look Macquarie Centre features a strong stable of Australian designers, including Scanlan Theodore, Zimmermann, Alice McCall, Gorman, Willow and Sass & Bide.
Shoppers that missed the opening can still experience the fashion runway show by streaming the video from the Macquarie Centre website and downloading the MyMacquarie app to save their favourite looks ready to shop when they go in centre.
The centre also features a premium dining and cafe offering, and premium services including valet parking and free Wi-Fi throughout the centre, as well as over 5,000 parking spaces, more than any shopping centre in Sydney.