Site-Seeing on LFRA’s QLD Study Tour

With more than 100 LFRA members on two coaches, courtesy of Tomkins and CBRE, this year’s domestic study tour was the first of its kind and to be involved was exciting.

It is a new initiative where members can showcase their Large Format Retail stores and Homemaker Centres. It also presents the opportunity for members to network, walk and talk about the projects, share ideas and learn from peers.

Maroochydore Homemaker Centre

At the first stop of the tour, LFRA members were greeted by waitstaff with trays of breakfast buns and bagels. There was also fresh juice and coffee, granola pots, protein balls and cookies for those with a sweet tooth.

The design and layout of Maroochydore Homemaker Centre is modern, inviting and inspiring.

The Centre’s lower level houses the full stable of Harvey Norman brands- Harvey Norman, Joyce Mayne, Domayne and The School Locker. Other tenants include notable furniture and bedding brands like Plush, Sleepy’s, Fantastic Furniture and smaller bespoke operators. Upstairs is a commercial office level with a 24-hour Goodlife Health Club gym at the back.

This site was developed by Harvery Norman with Leffler Simes as the architect.

Sunshine Coast Home

Sunshine Coast Home is a traditional Large Format Retail site with spacious single-level stores and an abundance of parking. It offers customers a range of stores from pet, home and lifestyle to automotive. There’s also food and fitness brands like BWS, Domino’s Pizza and Fernwood Fitness. With its wide range of brands customers can shop in one convenient spot.

It is located within a kilometre of the Sunshine Coast’s leading regional shopping destination, Sunshine Plaza, 100km north of Brisbane’s CBD. The catchment population of 307,412 people is forecast to grow 2.2% per annum, with LFR spending 4.6% above the Queensland regional average.

This site was developed by Aventus Group, a leading fund and asset manager of Australian Large Format Retail centres.

Primewest Morayfield and HomeCo Morayfield

Morayfield was the perfect pitstop halfway between Brisbane CBD and the Sunshine Coast. This precinct forms part of a major expansion corridor between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast to accommodate the expected growing population.

The neighbouring sites both had a traditional Large Format Retail layout and conveniently located off the main road through town.

Primewest Morayfield comprises of five tenancies anchored by The Good Guys, BCF, Pillow Talk and Officeworks. HomeCo Morayfield comprises of four tenancies including Early Settler and Amart Furniture.

Currently there are a few tenancies up for grabs at both sites. It will be interesting to see who moves in – whether it is another Large Format Retailer or maybe a leisure or food outlet. Depending who they are, it will impact the way locals shop.

HomeCo North Lakes and Primewest North Lakes

Conveniently located opposite one another at North Lakes, approximately 25km from Brisbane CBD, LFRA Tour members explored the two LFR centres within the one lunch break.

Notable brands that call HomeCo North Lakes home include Chemist Warehouse, James Lane and Snooze. The Centre also accommodates leisure and lifestyle needs with EMF Performance Centre and Videopro.

The successful mixed-use retail model to attract people to centres during the week, maybe even get them thinking about getting a new bed or new sofa.

Across the road at Primewest North Lakes, it comprised of three sites across Mason Street, North Lakes Drive, Endeavour Boulevard and Bergin Street.

Stores conveniently wrapped around the large carparks at each site. There was a significant cohort of LFRA Retail Members’ stores at Primewest North Lakes including Spotlight, Amart, Petstock, Baby Bunting, Fantastic Furniture, OMF, and Supercheap Auto.

Skygate Home & Life

Skygate Home & Life is Brisbane Airport’s first and only Large Format Retail precinct, serving passengers, airport workers and locals.

It is being opened in two stages, with stage 1 currently fully leased and operating. It is a part of the wider Skygate commercial, retail and leisure precinct.

It offers travellers an array of shopping options, maybe a pillow before a long-haul international flight, but also caters to local demand. Skygate Home & Life pays homage to traditional Large Format Retail with single-levelled specialty stores with plenty of parking.

What is uniquely different is that there is a driving range and mini golf course nearby as well. The Skygate precinct is a place where you can stop, shop, style your home and more.

This site was developed by BNE Property with Buchan as its architect.

Beacon Lighting, Fortitude Valley

Beacon Lighting recently opened at this location earlier in March 2019. The natural light coming in from their tall windows enhanced the products on display. The sleek multi-storey building with its bright lights and tall windows captured the attention of passersby.

A premium service offered at this store is the ‘Beacon Design Studio’.

Using a unique software program designed exclusively for Beacon Lighting, it is a dedicated space where lighting designers and clients create a customised lighting plan for their new home, business or renovation.

Bunnings Warehouse Newstead

Bunnings Warehouse Newstead was the first multi-level Bunnings Warehouse in Queensland and considering the size of Bunnings Warehouse store it should be considered a Newstead landmark!

Like Beacon Lighting Fortitude Valley this also opened earlier this year, an investment of $112m replacing the long standing Albion small
format store.

The site’s rooftop nursery makes great use of the Queensland sun and leaves room downstairs for bigger, bulkier products. Facilities including car parks across the two levels, large goods lifts, a truck turntable and a travelator installed connecting the two floors make it easier for customers to transport larger items.

After the site tour we made our way to the final stop, Homemaker The Valley.

Homemaker The Valley

Homemaker The Valley was urban, contemporary and fitted right in the trendy Fortitude Valley area It comprises of two retail precincts and two commercial office towers.

Stores included household brands like Harvey Norman, Domayne, Freedom and OzDesign Furniture, complemented with everyday essentials like an Aldi supermarket, Guardian Early Learning Centre and Goodlife 24/7 Health Club. There’s even a Tesla store and service centre too. The use of mixed retail at Homemaker The Valley was creative and exciting.

After all the site-seeing, coffees and gift bags, LFRA Members were treated to a generous dinner at Hellenika Restaurant. We all learnt new concepts and new ways to satisfy the needs of the ever-changing customer.