Macquarie Centre facts for kids
Macquarie Centre main carpark entrance on Waterloo Road
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| Location | Macquarie Park, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Coordinates | 33°46′37″S 151°07′14″E / 33.7768102°S 151.12046250000003°E |
| Address | Cnr Herring Rd &, Waterloo Rd, Macquarie Park NSW 2113 |
| Opening date | 17 November 1981 |
| Management | AMP Capital Shopping Centres |
| Owner | AMP Capital |
| No. of stores and services | 350 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 10 |
| Total retail floor area | 134,900 m2 (1,452,052 sq ft) |
| No. of floors | 4 |
| Parking | 4,900 |
| Public transit access |  Macquarie University |
Macquarie Centre is a large shopping centre in Macquarie Park, a suburb in Northern Sydney, Australia. It is located right across from the main campus of Macquarie University. It's a popular spot for shopping, eating, and entertainment for people of all ages.
Contents
Getting to Macquarie Centre
It's easy to get to Macquarie Centre using public transport or by car.
Train Services
The Metro North West Line offers regular train services. You can get off at Macquarie University station. This station is located right next to Macquarie Centre. Trains run between Tallawong and Chatswood.
Bus Connections
Macquarie Centre also has many bus connections. These buses can take you to the Sydney CBD. You can also reach the North Shore, other parts of Northern Sydney, and Greater Western Sydney. Most bus services stop on Herring Road, which is in front of the shopping centre's main entrance.
Parking for Cars
If you come by car, Macquarie Centre has a large multi-level car park. There are 4,900 parking spaces available for visitors.
History of Macquarie Centre
Macquarie Centre has an interesting history, starting many years ago.
Early Plans and Approval
In 1968, a company called Grace Bros. bought land in North Ryde. They planned to build a big shopping centre there. Another department store, David Jones, also wanted to build a shopping centre nearby.
After some discussions and plans, the State Government approved Grace Bros' idea in 1969. This meant their shopping centre could go ahead.
Construction Begins
Work on Macquarie Centre started in March 1979. The AMP Society joined in to help fund the project. The shopping centre was planned to cost $80 million.
There were some delays during construction. These were mainly due to disagreements with workers. The centre was supposed to open earlier, but it was pushed back a few times.
Grand Opening in 1981
Macquarie Centre officially opened its doors on 17 November 1981. The premier of New South Wales, Neville Wran, was there for the opening.
When it first opened, the centre had many exciting features:
- An Olympic-sized ice rink.
- Major stores like Grace Bros. (which later became Myer), Big W, Target, and Woolworths.
- About 130 other smaller shops.
Macquarie Centre was one of the first shopping centres in Sydney to have an "incline mall" design. This meant the floors were connected by ramps, stairs, and escalators. It felt like a gentle slope as you walked through.
The Famous Ice Rink
The Macquarie Ice Rink is a very special part of the centre. It's home to ice hockey teams like the Sydney Bears and Sydney Ice Dogs. People use the rink for ice skating, ice dance, speed skating, and ice hockey.
It's the only shopping centre in Sydney with a full-size Olympic ice rink. This rink is 60 metres by 30 metres and has seats for about 2000 people. It was even used for the 1991 World short track speed skating Championships.
Adding Entertainment and More Shops
A cinema complex was planned from the start, but it took a while to open. In September 1994, an eight-screen Greater Union cinema opened on the rooftop.
In 2000, new areas called 'Escape' and 'Loft' were added. This brought more shops, food places, and extra parking. The cinema complex also grew from 8 to 16 screens. Greater Union later changed its name to Event Cinemas.
In 2012, AMP Wholesale Shopping Centre Fund No. 2 became the full owner of the centre.
Recent Upgrades and Expansion
Macquarie Centre has had big upgrades to make it even better.
Major Redevelopment in 2014
In late 2012, a huge redevelopment project began. It cost $440 million.
- Stage 1 finished in July 2014. It added new supermarkets like Coles and Aldi. It also brought in a fresh food market.
- Stage 2 was completed in October 2014. This stage added a whole new section to the centre.
This new section included:
- A large David Jones department store.
- A new two-level mall connecting David Jones to the rest of the centre and Myer.
- Around 130 new shops. These included Sydney's first H&M, Zara, Uniqlo, and Sephora.
- An extra 1,050 car parking spaces.
Thanks to these upgrades, Macquarie Centre is now the largest suburban shopping centre in Sydney.
Future Plans for Macquarie Centre
There are exciting plans for the future of Macquarie Centre.
New Towers and Community Space
Plans for a $1 billion redevelopment have been approved. These plans include building 1000 new apartments in four tall buildings. There will also be 5000 square metres of community space. This space could include a library and a public creative hub.
The new buildings will be between 26 and 33 storeys high. The plans also include adding another 2175 car parking spaces. A new plaza will be built between Macquarie University station and the centre. These developments will happen in stages over several years.
Saving the Ice Rink
In 2019, there was a plan to close the Macquarie Ice Rink. It was going to be removed to make way for new shops and apartments. However, many people were upset about this.
Because of the strong public support for the rink, AMP Capital Shopping Centres decided to keep it. The iconic ice rink will remain open for everyone to enjoy.
Shops and Entertainment
Macquarie Centre has a huge floor area of 134,900 square metres. It offers a wide range of shops and entertainment options.
Some of the main stores and attractions include:
