Mainbrace and BWP Trust kickstart an Aussie-first at Fountain Gate Central
Mainbrace has recently commenced the transformation of a former Bunnings Warehouse in Narre Warren, Melbourne, into an Australian-first adaptive reuse project, set to become a contemporary Large Format Retail and lifestyle destination with all four Super Retail Group brands opening side-by-side.
The development, for real estate investment trust BWP Trust, will be known as Fountain Gate Central and will complement an already vibrant retail precinct located opposite Westfield Fountain Gate.
When complete, Fountain Gate Central will be the only location in Australia where Supercheap Auto, Rebel, BCF and Macpac open side-by-side, offering a unique co-location opportunity for Super Retail Group and a major retail infrastructure boost for the local population.
As the managing contractor, Mainbrace will draw on more than three decades of retail construction experience to reconfigure the existing building using a collaborative and supportive approach to create a modern and sustainable shopping destination that meets the needs of retailers and customers, today and tomorrow.
The project is another great example of adaptive reuse. The existing 11,000 sqm warehouse structure will be largely retained and expanded, reducing demolition waste, to create five Large Format Retail tenancies covering 14,300 sqm, as well as a restaurant pad site and 425 car spaces, including EV charging bays.
There are powerful sustainability benefits in this approach with re-purposing estimated to cut embodied carbon by around 50% compared with a new build. The centre will operate gas free, leveraging renewable energy where it can.
Other sustainable measures include high-efficiency heating and hot water, rainwater harvesting, drought-tolerant landscaping, and maximised natural daylight. Low-VOC and recycled-content materials will deliver a healthier indoor environment.
Fountain Gate Central builds on Mainbrace’s recent work with BWP Trust. This includes the refurbishment of a former Bunnings at Hervey Bay Home, a project which won the Queensland Master Builders Association award for refurbishment and renovation, and has guided many aspects of the approach at Fountain Gate Central.
Mainbrace brings extensive experience in delivering projects within complex, high-traffic, live environments – expertise that will be essential given the prominence and activity of the Fountain Gate Central site. To maintain momentum and enable early occupation, the project has been carefully planned and staged so tenant fitouts can commence while construction continues.
The team remains focused on delivering the development safely, responsibly, and with minimal disruption to the surrounding retail precinct, ensuring Fountain Gate Central is well-positioned for a seamless opening and to serve the community for the long term.
With construction underway, completion is scheduled for the third quarter of 2026, and ahead of Christmas trade.
