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Coordinates: 37°50′07″S 145°09′45″E / 37.8354°S 145.1625°E / -37.8354; 145.1625
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Forest Hill Chase
Map
LocationForest Hill, Victoria, Australia
Opening date30 June 1964; 60 years ago (1964-06-30)
Previous namesForest Hills
DeveloperPacific Shopping Centres
ManagementHaben
OwnerForest Hill Heights / Pacific Group (1956-2004)
Novion (2004-2015)
Blackstone (2015-2022)
Haben (2022-Present)
ArchitectLeslie M Perrott (1959) Thord Lorich (1966-68) Buchan, L & B (1975, 1987)
No. of stores and services204
No. of anchor tenants7 major
10 minor
Total retail floor area64,935 m2 (698,950 sq ft)
No. of floors3
Parking~3400
Websitewww.foresthillchase.com.au

Forest Hill Chase is a major regional shopping centre located in the eastern suburb of Forest Hill in Melbourne, Australia. Owned and managed by Haben, the centre is among the oldest in Victoria, opening in 1964 as an outdoor strip shopping centre, before being developed over the years into its current three level indoor form. Currently, Forest Hill Chase contains 200 stores and over 3500 free car parking spaces. The centre has three supermarkets, two discount department stores and some smaller anchor stores.

History

[edit]

The centre was officially opened by Mayor of Nunawading Owen Goldsborough on 30 June 1964.[1]

Advertisement in The Age, 1960

The Myer Emporium had acquired 86 acres at Burwood in 1954 to develop a modern American-style drive-in shopping centre, a concept new to Victoria. However, four years later, rival company Forest Hill Heights announced plans for a similar centre on Canterbury Road in Forest Hill. The proposed centre was set to include 70 shops, two service stations, office space, and parking for 1,400 cars. In the interim, the Myer Emporium had found a new site for their previous proposal. The result was the Chadstone Shopping Centre, which had opened in October 1960.[2][3]

The Forest Hill Heights company, lead by Paul Fayman, purchased the 27½-acre site on Canterbury Road off poultry farmer Fredrick "Freddy" Loomes in 1956 for £59,800.[4][5] Leading commercial architects Leslie M. Perrott & Partners and landscape draftsman Peter Glass designed the £6 million centre and plans were finalised by mid-1959.[6][7] Tenders were called in May 1959 and construction commenced in January 1960. Gelignite was used to flatten the overgrown fields, making way for the development.

A majority of the shop sites were marketed as “own your own” units, meaning store owners could purchase an allotment and build their own store instead of leasing one from centre management. Of the 70 original stores, only 10-13 were constructed prior to sale by builder McDouggal Ireland Pty Ltd.[8][9] The F. J. Kerr construction company were awarded the tender to build the roads and drainage.[10] A small creek, which joined the Forest Hill Drain just north of Canterbury Road, originally flowed through the site but was piped for the development.[11][12]

The centre's original layout consisted of two garden courtyards surrounded by rows of shops. Their modernist facades contained Carborundum and would sparkle in the sun. The free-standing sign in the original front carpark bared the slogan "Happy Hunting" and featured an animated neon artwork depicting an Aboriginal man tossing a Boomerang. Estimated to serve a 8-kilometre catchment area of 220,000 people, the centre was developed alongside a 200-lot residential estate and was originally going to be called Stonestown after a galleria of the same name in Los Angeles.[13][14][15] The name was changed to 'Forest Hills' a few months before construction commenced - likely because Stonestown was too similar to the name of rival centre Chadstone, which was nearing completion at the time.[16] The name 'Forest Hills', likely referencing an American shopping centre or place, caused controversy as it didn't accurately reflect the local suburb of Forest Hill. Following public outcry and confusion, the name had been changed to 'Forest Hill Shopping Centre' by 1970 to honour the suburb's identity.[17]

In the early years of the centre, it was predominantly surrounded by farmland. Beginning in the late 1950s and continuing well into the 1960s, the landscape underwent drastic change with the establishment of numerous private housing developments including the “Golden Square” estate in and around Victor Crescent, the aforementioned estate constructed alongside the centre, the Heatherlea Park estate at the south-west corner of Canterbury and Springvale Roads, and the ambitious Glebe Heights Estate - occupying most of the land between Glebe Street and Blackburn Road.[18][19][20]

West Garden Courts, 1965

The Board of Works had given Forest Hill Heights approval to build a £100,000 hotel on the site in 1959, and Carlton & United Breweries had applied for a liquor license - but this was opposed by the City of Nunawading by a majority of 9 votes to 1, following petitions from ratepayers supported by 89 letters of protest which stressed such issues as road safety and the welfare of the students at the adjacent Nunawading High School. The proposal was further denounced by the establishment of the Forest Hill Hotel Protest Society. In June 1960, the centre's directors announced that they would instead build a supermarket on the site originally reserved for the hotel.[21][22][23]

Coles, 1965

The centre soft-launched with smaller tenants as early as 1963 and was officially opened by Mayor of Nunawading Owen Goldsborough on 30 June 1964.[24] The opening was attended by TV personality Graham Kennedy and shoppers came from all over Melbourne.[25] The centre had branches of the Moores department store and McEwans hardware store chains and Australia's first Safeway (now Woolworths) supermarket.[26] Moores had 8,000 customers on that first day.

Shops on South Service Road, 1965

In July 1964 it was announced that Coles would build a 930m2 variety store, completing the second stage of development. Other tenants of the second stage included Lindsay and Mackenzie, Hannams, F. J. Palmer & Son, State Savings Bank, Sussan, Edments & Hartleys, and The Toy Emporium.[27]

A pentagon-shaped radio booth with glass walls, similar to the one at Chadstone, was installed in the centre's western garden court next to Bell's Discount Store in 1964. It was home to 3AW radio announcer Arthur Lyster until Brian Amos took over around 1967, who remained there until 1991. The booth operated until the early 2000s.[28]

In April 1965 a multi-level, children's climbing structure in the shape of a rocket was installed in the eastern garden forecourt. It was extremely popular with several generations of children and their parents and remained there until June 1987 when it was removed to make way for redevelopment of the centre. It was subsequently restored by parents of the Syndal South Primary School and erected in the playground of the school where it is still in use today. A plaque commemorating its history has been placed on it.[29][30] The structure was an example of Googie architecture.[31]

In early 1966, Forest Hill Heights commissioned Swedish-Australian architect Thord Lorich and the Kingsley Engineering company to design a number of buildings for the vacant east side of Mahoneys Road including additional shops, a restaurant, sports centre, theatre, and professional offices. These additions added approximately 12,000m² to the existing 15,800m² centre.[32][33] The strip of 29 shops was the first to be completed and opened in 1967.[34]

In December 1967, Frank Dennis and his company Dennis Restaurants opened the fully-licensed "Crystal Forest" restaurant on the corner of Canterbury and Mahoneys Roads. The dining floor had a capacity of 100 and the large function space upstairs could hold 300 people.[35] Dances were held three nights a week.[36] It became a Cantonese live seafood restaurant called "Dragons Court" in 1980 - which featured in a 1983 episode of Prisoner. The building was later split into two separate tenancies - now occupied by Chinese restaurant KamBo (ground floor) and karaoke bar Kbox (1st floor). See 1969 sketch plan.

A two-storey building comprising a sports centre, showroom, book shop, and executive offices was constructed at 69-79 Mahoneys Road in 1969.[37] The lobby retains its original tiled terrazzo floors and staircase, popcorn ceilings, polished brass balustrades, and timber wall panelling.The Whitehorse Community Resource centre occupies most of Level 1. Level 2 contains partitioned office suites. The space originally reserved for a book shop and showroom was later combined and is currently occupied by Fresenius Medical Care, a healthcare company which provides kidney dialysis services.[38] The sports centre had a pool, spa, crèche, coffee lounge, and a trampoline area.[39] Originally run by ex-AFL player Brendan Edwards, but taken over by John Driver in the late 1970, the sports centre closed in August 1987 despite having 4000 members.[40][41] It sat empty for a few years but was eventually leased by the Lifestyle Fitness chain in 1992 and promptly refurbished.[42] In 2003, Metro Health & Fitness began operating out of the site until the building permanently closed in early 2005.[43][44]

Forest Hill Cinema, c. 1985

In 1967 it was announced that an auditorium, designed to TV studio specifications, would be constructed on Mahoneys Road, and would run daily matinees for shoppers, special audiences, and schools.[45] Designed by architect Thord Lorich with assistance from ATV-0 engineers, it became the first purpose-built picture theatre in the Nunawading area, boasting 362 seats (later reduced to 337), a coffee lounge, kitchen and snack bar.[46]

The opening night took place on 31 May 1968, with a screening of Otto Preminger’s “Hurry Sundown” with music by Victor Conner at the organ.[47] Underground post-apocalyptic drama film Beyond Reason premiered at the Forest Hills Theatre and Sandringham Drive-In in May 1970.[48] ATV-0 beamed a test colour television transmission from their main studios at Nunawading to the cinema in March 1970, five years before colour broadcasts were formally introduced to Australia.[49] See the original architectural drawings here and here.

Originally operated by Sherwood Productions, the complex was taken over by Dendy in 1970, then Village in 1978, and later Palace in 1980.[50][51] It closed in September 1989, just before Hoyts opened across the road in the new Forest Hill Chase redevelopment. It had its last full house in 1988 when it screened Crocodile Dundee II.[52] Canadian steak and seafood house chain "The Keg" were going to open a branch in the former cinema building though it is unclear if this eventuated.[53] The building was later converted to a night club venue called "The Bunker" which shut down in 1993 due to an uprise in antisocial behaviour.[54][55] Centre management worked with council officers and local police to re-open it as "Club 3131", a community-based blue light disco.[56]

When centre manager Paul Fayman was showing developers Maurice Alter and George Herscu around the centre in 1968, Herscu suddenly blurted out "Why just buy the shops? I want to buy the whole centre."[57] It was an impulse buy that paid off. Herscu, Alter, and Fayman partnered up and went on to create Hanover Holdings - a big player in the Melbourne property boom of the early 1970s.[58][59][60] Mr Keith Schadel took over as centre manager in 1968 and pushed to introduce Friday night trading.[61]

The Hoyts 10 Forest Hill cinema complex opened on the third level of the newly redeveloped Forest Hill Chase on 26 December 1989.[62][63] The multiplex had 10 screens and 2,500 seats. It was closed in July 2010 for a much needed refurbishment. Four of the cinemas were handed back to the centre and converted into retail space as part of the upgrade and redevelopment of Level 3, completed December 2010.[64] The current seating capacities are 161 in cinemas 1, 2, 5 and 6 and 173 in cinemas 3 and 4.[65]Numerous events have been held at the centre over the years including fashion parades, workshops, band and solo performances, exhibits, seminars, food and wine tastings, children's shows, cooking demonstrations, school holiday fairs and activities, giveaways, and contests.[66][67][68] TV stars from the neighbouring ATV-0 studios would often make appearances at these events.[69] Forest Hill Chase won the special events category of the Annual Awards for Excellence, Innovation and Outstanding Marketing (AXIOM) in 1990.[70]

The centre was originally named 'Forest Hills', likely referencing an American shopping centre or place. This caused controversy as it didn't accurately reflect the local suburb of Forest Hill. Following public protests, the name was changed to 'Forest Hill Shopping Centre' to honour the suburb's identity.[71] Forest Hill Chase and Hoyts were among the many objectors to a highly publicised 1995 proposal to establish a $25 million cinema complex with 25 screens in nearby Burwood, which ultimately failed to materialise.[72][73]

Redevelopments

[edit]

Stage 2 "Marketplace" (1975-1976)

[edit]
Information leaflet for redevelopment, 1975

In 1975, the rear car park was replaced by a modern indoor shopping centre featuring a 9,290 m2 fresh food market. Construction began in June 1975, and the redevelopment opened on 20 July 1976.[74] The $10 million upgrade was projected to serve a catchment area of 370,000 customers and added 24,155 m2 of retail space. A new logo was adapted and the front car park was renovated, increasing parking capacity to over 2,000.[75][74] Safeway moved into the upper level opposite the food market stalls. A Woolworths and the largest McEwans store outside of the city occupied the ground floor.[76]

Tenants of Forest Hill in the 1970s include the aforementioned, Pratts, Allancia Corset, RJ Gilbertson, Angela Fashions, Frocks, London Baby Carriages, Waldrons, Simon's Shoes, Armours, Edments, Hannams, Murphey's Toy Emporium, Brians Speed Shop, Crystal Forest, Madison Furnishers, State Savings Bank, Jacqueline Eve, Figgins Shoes, Showcase Gifts, Commercial Bank of Australia, ANZ, Clark Rubber, Pattersons, Bradmans, Brendan Edwards, Wardrops, Blackburn & Lockwood, Williams The Shoeman, Fletcher Jones, Target, Toy World, Alexanders, Spotless, Sussan, Coles, and Lincraft.[77][32]

Major redevelopment (1986-1990)

[edit]

In 1981, the centre's owners engaged the architectural firm Meldrum Burrows & Partners to conduct a feasibility study concerning the proposed remodelling and expansion of Forest Hill. The report indicated that while the centre had originally incorporated advanced concepts in shopping centre design, it had become increasingly outdated by contemporary standards. The study highlighted that Forest Hill was primarily populated by small convenience stores and lower-order comparison goods retailers, lacking both a department store and a large discount store capable of offering a diverse range of merchandise. This absence of variety put Forest Hill at a competitive disadvantage against rival shopping centres, which were evolving to meet consumer demands for one-stop shopping experiences.[78]

Hoyts 10, 1994

Furthermore, the centre's facilities were found lacking in several key areas. It provided insufficient amenities for shoppers, including inadequate weather protection in numerous locations, a lack of air conditioning in various shops and common areas, and limited space for display and promotional activities. Additionally, pedestrian circulation was inefficient, complicating the ability to achieve a well-balanced mix of tenants. The overall outdated appearance of the centre detracted from its visual appeal and hindered tenants' ability to showcase their products effectively. Without significant renovations to address these issues, the centre risked further decline in its market position.[79][78]

Commercial architects Buchan, Laird and Bawden designed the redevelopment and Podgor Constructions were the builders.[80][81] The City Of Nunawading approved the project in July 1986 and works commenced in August with the demolition of six houses on Flora Grove to free up space for a reconstruction of the car park and roadworks to develop Pacific Way; an access and bypass route for the new centre.[82][83] The old outdoor section was demolished in August 1987 except for a strip of three shops next to the Mahoneys Road entrance which were retained. The Stage 2 building, completed in 1976, was also retained and reconfigured.

The first stage of the expanded centre opened on 12 September 1989. By July 1990, 113 shops were operating.[84] The second stage was completed in December 1990.[85] Fifty-nine shops from the old section were relocated to the new centre. The redevelopment costed upwards of $100 million and had approximately 210 tenancies, a 450-seat gourmet food court with an indoor water fountain, a fresh food market, and parking for about 3000 cars.[86] The centre's architecture took inspiration from the St. Louis Galleria in Missouri.[87] The two atriums feature skylights of polycarbonate and reticulated steel construction with a barrel vault design. The food court originally had a late 19th century French spelter statue of a winged figure holding a clock that stood 2.4 metres high.[88]

Major tenants included K-Mart, Coles, Safeway, McEwans, Madisons Furniture, and Hoyts.[89] Supermarket chain Venture briefly had a store in the new centre before closing in 1992.[90] Harris Scarfe opened with the second stage in December 1990.[91][92]

Other tenants of the redevelopment included: Fletcher Jones, Priceline, Sportsgirl, Galaxy World, Speeds Shoes, Prouds, Brown Sugar, Collins, Priceline, Mac's San Remo, Just Jeans, Sussan, Witchery, Diamond Design, Santini, Brashs, Dimmeys, Copperart, Sportsgirl, Shoe World, Cargo Hold, Alexanders, Sonia's Boutique, Eastcoast, Roger David, The Reject Shop, Sunglass World, Ooh La La, Menz Mode, Suji Kim Collection, Angus & Robertson, Zig Zags, Williams The Shoeman, Sportscutter, Chelsea Girl, Voice, Frenzy, Jacqueline Eve, Motto Fashions, Exit, Isobellas, Syndicate, Rita Louise, Only You, Maggie 'T', Landes, Country Road, Katies, Laurens Jeweller, Man To Man, Simon Gregory, Nazario Parisi, Forest Hill Menswear, Menz Club, Rend Clothing, Hire Society, Mini Minors, Linda Leigh Lingerie, Bras N Things, PB Shoes, Mulberry Hill, Kearney Shoes, Rivers Shoes, Foot Locker, Wittner's, Australian Comfort, Bag Factory, Pearls Leather Goods, Bradmans, Only You, Just Sox, Reizer Jewellers, Jewellery Palace, Goldmark Jewellers, Luds Diamond Jewellery, Edments, Zamel's Jewellers, Southern Cross Disposals, Action World, Sportsco, Paris John's Sportswear, Forest Hill Newsagency, Collins Books, Senior Stationery, Bettina's Cards & Gifts, Kenny's Cardiology, Norman Bros, Mioi Mouse Computers, Tandy, Sight N Sound, C. C. Records, Chandlers, Fountain Flicks, Bells Discount Centre, Nectar Beauty, Amcal, Petra Haircare, Morh Lloyd Pharmacy, OPSM, Coles & Garrard, Vision Specialists, Autobarn, Lincraft, Knit N Wool, The Kitchen Cottage, The Gift Pavilion, Gifts Of Elegance, Mix N Mania, King Of Gifts, Cargo Hold, Rugs Galore, The Picture Gallery, Zig Zag, Toy Kingdom, Pets Paradise, Cash Converters, Smokes N Things, Centre Court Dry Cleaners, Flower Fair, Forest Hill Lotteries, Clean Cut Hairdressing, Ginz Hairdressing, Maestri, Le Salon, The Intern House Of Hair, Linea For Hair, Mister Mint, Shoefix Plus, Kodak, Rabbit Photo, Flight Centre, Harvey World Travel, Crustys Hotbread, Rica Cakes, Bakers Bun, French Appetite, In A Nut Shell, Nuts N Things, Don's Deli, Cut Price Deli, Werners Contin. Butcher, Oz At The Hills, Forest Hill Gourmet Deli, Nature's Choice, Fruit Bowl, Goldfields Fruit Market, Forest Hill Fruit Palace, Ferraro's Fruit Market, Long Life Health Food, San Remo Vintage Cellars, Tender Fresh Meats, Lindens Country Killed Meat, Market Meats, Chicken & Game Variety, Forest Hill Poultry, J&D Seafood, The Fish Market, Taco's, Tien Qiao, Hungry Jacks, Melba's Coffee Lounge, The Pancake Parlour, Harlequin Restaurant, Minits Cafeteria, Aust Fiesta Fried Chicken, Wendy's Supa Sundaes, The Donut Hole, Chase Rendez-Vous, New Zealend Natural, Kooky Biz, Jazzies World Of Sweets, Pacific Fair, Icee Treats, Singa Gourmet Centre, B. B.'s Coffee & Croissants, Buns & Soups, Wong's Gourmet Centre, Chaplins Carvery, Just Thai, Le Grille, Country Chicken Bar, Bon Appetite, Luv-A-Bite, Buonas Corner, Waves, D'Anasis, Andrews Takeaway, Satay Centre, Reubens Hot Dogs, Far East Chinese Gourmet, Fat Willy's, Sweetie Pie, Karan's Tandoor, Australia Post, and 7 banks.[93][84][94][89]

Alterations and additions (1993-2000)

[edit]
Food court, 1990s

Ratio Consultants identified in their 1993 report that Forest Hill Chase contained significant deficiencies which impaired its ability to compete with other regional/sub-regional centres. A poor internal layout, store-type and urban design deficiencies, and disorganised parking were highlighted as attributing factors. The centre presented an isolated and harsh "face" to Canterbury Road with poor pedestrian access. There was a lack of visual integration between Forest Hill Chase and shops on the east side of Mahoneys Road, and an absence of a sufficient identity which serves as an address/focal point for the centre. To address these issues, an amendment to the Nunawading Planning Scheme was formulated and the precinct was designated as the Forest Hill Activity Centre.[95][82]

The highly competitive nature of regional level retailing in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne leaves centres little choice: they must either modernise and provide services and facilities most relevant to meet emerging needs, or they are destined to fall behind and become less and less relevant to their own core catchment areas. A development, which would have increased the retail floorspace (GLFA) at the centre from 43,050m² to 63,900m² and the total floorspace (GLA) from 57,930m² to 83,630m², was proposed by Pacific Shopping Centres but ultimately never eventuated.[95]

The Nunawading Council Community Resource Centre opened on Level 3 around 1993. Nunawading Council Community Resource Centre opened on Level 3 in 1993 It came after several years of debate between the council and Pacific Shopping Centres about where the council's community space allocation should be placed.[96] It housed community groups such as the Maternal and Child Health Services, Adult Day Activity and Support Service, Lao Women's Association of Victoria, Nunawading Community Chest, Nunawading Older Persons' Action Group, The Communities Council On Ethnic Issues, U3A Nunawading, Youth Adult Bureau, The Iranian Society of Victoria, and the Lions Club of Victoria.[97] A council information centre was also established an offered a "non-threatening" environment where citizens could pick up council brochures and printed information on a range of council and community services or can have their questions answered.[98]

A bar lounge and tavern with 90 gaming machines (later reduced to 50) called Vegas at The Chase opened on the centre's third level in early March 1995.[99][100] The opening was delayed due to several legal disputes and trouble obtaining a liquor license.[101] The space had been reserved since the redevelopment opened.[102]

During circa 1997, Harris Scarfe was downsized from its two level form to occupying only Level 1,[103] to allow a new Big W store to open in the now vacant space on Level 2. An AMF (now Zone) bowling alley with 28 lanes and children's play centre Run Riot opened on Level 3 around the year 2000.[104]

2007-2012 redevelopments

[edit]

In the biggest redevelopment of the centre since 1989, levels one and two of the centre were completely refurbished in 2007. Kmart Tyre & Auto Service was relocated from next to the centre entrance to the former Kmart, to a new free standing site in Pacific Way, which was completed in March 2007. The interior malls on level one and two were refurbished with new floor tiling laid, removal of the traditional gold balustrades with modern steel balustrades installed, and the removal of the stairwells at the south of the centre near Big W. The level two toilets were fully refurbished, completed in June 2007.

The Mahoneys Road entrance was upgraded, with the existing canopy replaced and upgraded with a terrace installed on level 3 for use by The Chase Hotel, which was completed by June 2007. The Alliance for Gambling Reform later called for The Chase Hotel to close down its pokies after it was revealed that almost $16 million was gambled in a year.[105] The centre's Kmart permanently closed on 31 January 2007 and was subsequently converted to Target, which opened in September 2007. The food court was refurbished and extended, completed in September 2007. A dance studio began operating out of the former Forest Hill Cinema building on Mahoneys Road in 2012 but closed in 2014.[106]

The executive offices building received a minor upgrade around the time the Whitehorse Community Resource Centre moved to Suite 10 at Level 1 in 2011/2012. The original glass doors were replaced with an automatic sliding door, fire services were upgraded, and the lobby was lightly refurbished.

Level three refurbishment (2010–2011)

[edit]

The third level was expanded and refurbished during the second half of 2010, complementing the earlier refurbishment of the other levels of the centre and introducing a number of new tenants. The redeveloped level officially re-opened on 15 December 2010 with some retailers opening earlier or later in the following months. Pancake Parlour closed and was replaced by TGI Fridays.[107] The refurbishment of level 3, including mall reconfiguration, expansion and renovation, new escalators between levels two and three, and a new centre entry to a new car park, was completed in December 2010. The construction of an additional deck of car parking located west of Hoyts above the existing Target/Coles multi-deck car park, including 317 spaces, opened on 15 December 2010. An updated 'Entertainment and Dining' precinct with a refurbished Hoyts cinema, three new restaurants as well as new minor anchor retailers JB Hi-Fi, Rebel and gymnasium Fit n Fast was established.

Replacing Myer and new fresh food market (2012)

[edit]

In 2012, Harris Scarfe returned to the centre and spent more than $2 million redeveloping the store in the area previously occupied by Myer. The centre also expanded its fresh food market on level one, which included a new Aldi supermarket on top of the Canterbury Road multi deck car park, which caused a small increase in undercover parking. A new refurbished bus zone was also built as a result. (A temporary bus zone was constructed adjacent to Kmart Tyre & Auto during construction).

Minor improvements (2013)

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The glass lift in the food court that travels from the basement car park through to level 3 was replaced, as the existing lift was too small, causing heavy congestion as it became the only fully accessible way to move between levels 2 and 3 after a past level 3 redevelopment. The expanded lift is now operating and carries up to 26 people. New facade and centre entrance treatments were also installed along the Canterbury Road car park frontage and around the Level 2 Best & less centre entry.

Renovations and re-configurations (2017–2019)

[edit]

In late 2017, the latest renovations started, which were to completely revamp the third floor, and partially renovate the second floor. The east wing of the Level 2 mall, which formerly housed Dimmeys and a few other retailers, was closed down for several months and completely renovated and re-configured. Dimmeys moved to a smaller location near the Level 1 food court (which later closed down permanently) with JB Hi-Fi and Rebel moving from their former Level 3 tenancies. The escalators linking Level 2 and Level 3 were also removed to allow for more retail space.

In 2018, Big W closed down, with a new TK Maxx store occupying part of the available space, with its entrance opposite the newly re-located JB Hi-Fi and Rebel stores. A new Medical Centre and Child Care Centre will occupy the remainder of the space of the former Big W. In 2019, Level 3 was renovated, with the space left behind by JB Hi-Fi and Rebel being converted into more dining retailers, with the whole level getting a refurbishment and being branded as "The Loft". Zone Bowling (formerly AMF) and Timezone were also renovated to combine the two tenancies together with a new look. A new glass lift was also installed near the travelator located outside Woolworths with access to all levels.

Incidents

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The ANZ Savings Bank, site of the 1971 robbery
  • 20 July 1969 - A small fire broke out beneath the rear fire stairway of the Forest Hills Theatre, causing the venue to fill with smoke. It began in a pile of empty cardboard cartons and waste paper from nearby shops but was swiftly extinguished. Luckily the incident occurred outside of opening hours, as the rear stairway and exits would not have been usable to evacuating attendees. Provisions were put in place to prevent a reoccurrence.[46]
  • 15 June 1971 - Masked bandits and a bank teller fought a running gun battle during a robbery at the ANZ bank. It was Victoria's biggest bank hold-up at the time. The teller fired twice to stop them as they shot their way in with a sawn-off shotgun. The robbers blasted the teller's counter and then forced him to drop his revolver. Then they forced the teller and the bank manager against the wall. The bandits, wearing hessian masks, scooped up $84,700 in notes from a table near the main vault at the back of the bank. A third man who stood outside armed with a pistol fired two shots through a side window as the other two robbers grabbed the money. At least seven shots were fired in the two-minute battle, but nobody was hurt. The bank's security camera was not activated during the hold-up. They ran from the bank, firing as they left, and sped off in a stolen Holden sedan. Five employees, including two young women, were in the bank when the thieves crashed in at about 6:15 pm after smashing the front glass door with a fire hydrant cover.[108] Victoria Police subsequently commissioned a special squad to tackle armed hold-ups.[109] A similar robbery described as a "carbon copy" of the one at Forest Hill occurred in 1974 at an ANZ bank in Prahran.[110]
  • 5 January 1979 - The National Bank was held up by a 25-year-old man with an imitation pistol, who stole $9,000. He had no criminal history and told police prosecutors he carried out the robbery because of severe financial struggles.[111][112]
  • 12 May 1986 - Several employees at the Safeway supermarket noticed a strong smell of gas and immediately notified the store manager, who notified the fire brigade. The store was evacuated as fireman wearing breathing apparatus tried to locate the gas leak. 31 men attended the scene. The leaking substance was discovered to be Freon II gas from a refrigeration unit, probably from the air conditioning system. Although everyone who entered the building wore breathing gear, three fireman and a female shopper were treated at Box Hill Hospital for headaches, dizziness, and nausea, while two others were treated at the scene. A store employee later reported to the hospital with similar symptoms.[113][114]
  • 12 September 1989 - Stage 1 of the redeveloped centre opened without a certificate of occupancy or a certificate indicating compliance with the Victorian Building Regulations. The Metropolitan Fire Brigade took the Pacific Group to the Supreme Court, citing that the centre should be deemed a safety risk and closed to the public.[115]
  • 1992 - Peter David McEvoy and his gang conspired to steal about $110,000 from an ATM at the centre. Police knew about the gang and were secretly following some of them as part of Operation Mac. Detectives believed McEvoy was planning the robberies while he was on trial in the County Court - where he was charged and acquitted of the killing of two policemen. During the trial, McEvoy tried to organise a meeting with Tommy Roy Stevens, an Armaguard security officer who provided McEvoy with information on payroll and bank drop-offs. Stevens said he was to be paid 20 per cent of all robbery hauls in which he provided information. Detectives were concerned the job was to be carried out on Easter Thursday when the shopping centre would be busy. Police had followed McEvoy and other members of the gang to the centre at least three times. Once, about 70 police, including members of the Special Operations Group, surrounded the shopping centre. They planned to arrest McEvoy and his team nearby, and detectives were ready for a shoot-out.[116]
  • January 1993 - Violence broke out between up to 30 people on the centre's second level. Police District Chief Superindenant Ron Braybrook said the incident, which could be described as a riot, began after a group of youths started arguing.[117] Due to the growing problem of youth violence, police presence was boosted with the introduction of an information caravan, the first of its kind to be fully owned and operated by police in the district.[118]
  • 17 March 1998 - Two men in their 20s carried out an armed robbery at the centre.[119]
  • 16 May 1998 - Two men ambushed two Armaguard security officers on the third floor at 12:20pm. A guard carrying a bag of cash was ordered by the thieves drop the bag but was shot in the hand and stomach before doing so. They grabbed the bag and ran off through the centre, startling shoppers. The other guard, who had taken cover, fired a shot but missed. Police said the men stole between $10,000 - $50,000. One of the ski masks and a gun was later found in a bush on Mahoneys Road.[120]
  • 28 November 1998 - A man illegally entered the office of a shopkeeper and stole a briefcase.[121]
  • 30 August 2000 - Staff were attending to an ATM machine about 9am at the National Australia Bank in Mahoneys Road when a man knocked on the door and said he was there to do an audit. When staff asked for identification the man produced a handgun, but staff members closed the door on his arm. The man managed to break free and fled the scene. There were no injuries.[122]
  • 1 September 2011 - At around 10pm a male offender armed with a knife entered the Hungry Jacks restaurant and stole cash from a register.[123]
  • 4 May 2018 - A male offender allegedly produced a firearm and threatened a bus as it left the shopping centre about 6:40pm.[124]
[edit]

References

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  1. ^ "Opening of Forest Hills". The Age. 1 July 1964. p. 6.
  2. ^ "Shopping centre". Herald. 19 July 1957. p. 13.
  3. ^ City of Whitehorse Post-1945 Heritage Study (PDF). Melbourne: Built Heritage. June 2016. p. 42.
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