Uptown, Brisbane
Uptown is a six-floor shopping complex located on the Queen Street Mall in the central business district of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] The centre was formerly named The Myer Centre as it used to house Queensland's largest Myer department store. However, in 2023 Myer announced that, after being unable to reach a commercial agreement with the landlord, it would not be renewing its lease and was seeking a new location in the CBD, thus ceasing 35 years of continuous operation at the site in July 2023. As a result, the shopping complex was renamed Uptown.
Level A entrance, corner of Albert and Elizabeth Streets | |
| Location | Brisbane CBD, Queensland, Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 27°28′12″S 153°01′30.75″E / 27.47000°S 153.0252083°E |
| Address | 91 Queen St |
| Opening date | 28 March 1988[1] |
| Owner | Vicinity Centres |
| No. of stores and services | 130+ |
| No. of anchor tenants | Event Cinemas, Target, Coles |
| No. of floors | 9 |
| Parking | 1450 |
| Public transit access | Queen Street bus station |
| Website | www |
Stores Edit
Uptown is currently home to approximately 130 stores. Upon opening in 1988 it housed 230 stores including Australia's second-largest Myer department store which closed in 2023. Uptown stores are open to the public seven days a week.
Layout Edit
Due to the hilly landscape of the Brisbane CBD, Uptown's floors are labelled differently from that of most shopping centres. Whereas many shopping centres label their floors purely by number (level 1, level 2, etc.) or its vertical position (lower level, upper level, etc.), Uptown is laid out in the following fashion (lowest level to highest):
- Level S (named after the former Sizzler restaurant located on this level): no longer open to the general public
- Level T (formerly lower Target level): no longer open to the general public[citation needed]
- Level A (Albert Street entrance): Queen Street bus station, Target, food court
- Level E (Elizabeth Street entrance): Coles Central, food court, specialty stores
- Level Q (Queen Street entrance): specialty stores
- Level 1 (first floor above any street level): Lincraft, specialty stores
- Level 2 (second floor above street levels): DVD King, Daiso, Lincraft, Best & Less, Oxfam Shop, Skinnys
- Level 3 (third floor above street levels): Event Cinemas
- Level 4 (fourth floor above street levels): (formerly Upper Myer level) no longer open to the general public
- Level R (two lifts only): Centre Management
History Edit
The shopping complex opened under the name The Myer Centre on 28 March 1988[1] just prior to Brisbane's World Expo '88. Myer relocating its Brisbane City department store into the centre from its previous location in the Allan and Stark Building.[4] More than 500,000 customers visited within the first four days of operation.[5]
Construction of the centre started in late 1986 requiring excavation of 375,000 cubic metres of earth, to a depth of 22 metres (eight metres below the Brisbane River level), which was the largest urban excavation in Australia at the time.[6] The design emphasised a Victorian theme, utilising ornate railing and fittings in brass and green, with terrazzo floor tiles. Using facadism, the facades of four historic buildings previously located on the site were been retained and restored. The historic facades of the Hotel Carlton (1885), New York Hotel (1860), Newspaper House, from which the Brisbane Telegraph was first published, and the Barry and Roberts department store were restored and retained.[6]
In November 1998 the Myer Centre was purchased by Gandel Retail Trust for $371 million, making it the second largest property transaction in Australia's history at that time.[6][7]
During the early 1990s, the centre basement area (subsequently occupied by Sizzler) hosted "The Funkyard", a nightspot with an emphasis on the "alternative" guitar rock of the era. The centre also featured the "Metropolis" nightclub.
In 2000, the fun park named Tops located on the centres top level was demolished and replaced by cinemas.[8] Tops comprised various small shops, an amusement centre, a swing ship, a dragon train, and a Ferris wheel.[9] Prior to 2000, the cinemas were situated in the area now occupied by Target, and operated by Hoyts.[10]
In 2005, the centre was purchased by Colonial First State Property group as part of the purchase of Gandels Centres.[11]
The centre was valued at A$732 million in 2012 when ISPT purchased a half stake.[12]
On 8 March 2013, the front of the Myer Centre was the scene of an hour-long siege. The gunman was subdued by police using rubber bullets.[13]
Myer's departure Edit
On 16 March 2023 Myer announced that, after being unable to reach a commercial agreement with the landlord, it would not be renewing its lease and was seeking a new location in the CBD, thus ceasing 35 years of continuous operation at the site in July 2023.[14] Griffith University emerged as a possible occupant of the site, albeit temporary, as the university required immediate expansion space whilst finding a more permanent CBD location.[15] However Griffith University subsequently clarified The Myer Centre was not one of the short-listed options for their city campus.[16] [17]
Centre Rebranding Edit
Due to Myer's departure the centre was rebranded from The Myer Centre to Uptown on 1 August 2023.[2][3]
It has been announced by Vicinity Centres on 11 August that the former Myer store will be turned into UPTOWN Attraction, which will feature an Aquarium, escape room, Arcade, Laser tag arena & the first ever indoor Ski-field in Australia, with Vicinity stating that it will turn UPTOWN into an attraction & has stated that it’s brightest days are ahead. Uptown Attraction is expected to partially open by Late 2024 & be fully completed by early 2025.
Transport Edit
Car Edit
Uptown has Brisbane CBD's largest car park with 1,450 undercover car park bays and on-site staff available 24 hours a day. The car park uses Park Assist technology to guide drivers to an available bay and help find their car if the driver can't locate it on their return.[18]
Bus Edit
Uptown is one of the bus transit hubs for the Brisbane CBD. Many bus routes commence and terminate under Uptown at the Queen Street bus station on the Albert Street level of the complex.
Train Edit
Uptown is also within easy walking distance of three railway stations:
References Edit
- ^ a b Harley, Robert (27 May 1988). "VALUE OF MYER CENTRE JUMPS $25M". The Australian Financial Review (Late ed.). p. 69. from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ a b Kruk, Courtney (31 July 2023). "The Myer Centre has a new name – but does it have a vision to match?". Brisbane Times. from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Uptown our properties Vicinity Centres". Vicinity Centres. from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ JONES, MELISSA (21 April 1988). "REMM BUYS MYER QUEEN ST STORE IN BRISBANE FOR $50M". The Australian Financial Review (Late ed.). p. 55. from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ Brisbane Australia Towards the 21st Century (1st ed.). Double Bay NSW: Focus Books Pty Ltd. 1991.
- ^ a b c . Archived from the original on 12 July 2002.
- ^ House, Kathryn (16 September 1998). "Gandel wins $371 m trophy". The Australian Financial Review (Late ed.). p. 33. from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ "What happened to the Dragon Coaster in Brisbane's Myer Centre?". 7 February 2018. from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
- ^ Wilson, Bob (13 July 2001). "Cinema tops for Myer Centre - No trading halts for this market leader". Courier Mail. p. 44. from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- ^ White, Allison (25 August 2000). "Major makeover for Myer Centre". Courier Mail. p. 41. from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- ^ Hele, Michelle (14 October 2005). "Gandel sells centre management business". The Courier-Mail (1 - First with the news ed.). Brisbane, Qld., Australia. p. 41. ISSN 1322-5235. ProQuest 354061928.
- ^ chong, florence (23 February 2012). . The Australian (1 - All-round Country ed.). p. 29. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
- ^ "Brisbane CBD stand-off ends, injured gunman in custody". 8 March 2013. from the original on 5 January 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
- ^ "Myer to leave Brisbane's Queen Street Mall after more than 30 years". ABC News. from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "Myer Brisbane CBD vacant space may be taken by Griffith University". MSN. from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ Green, Eli (31 July 2023). "Final days for Brisbane's iconic Myer Centre store". news.com.au. from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Myer to Depart Landmark CBD Centre: Paving the Way for Possible Redevelopment". Brisbane Development. from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "Myer Centre Car Park Brisbane - The Myer Centre Car Park". www.myercentrecarpark.com.au. Retrieved 13 February 2017.