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 named The Myer Centre from its opening in 1988 to 2023 as it used to house Queensland's largest Myer department store.

Uptown
Uptown logo
Level A entrance, corner of Albert and Elizabeth Streets
LocationBrisbane CBD, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates27°28′12″S 153°01′30.75″E
Address91 Queen St
Opening date28 March 1988 (1988-03-28)[1]
ManagementVicinity Centres
Owner
  • Vicinity Centres
  • ISPT[2]
No. of stores and services130+
No. of anchor tenantsEvent Cinemas, Target, Coles
No. of floors9
Parking1450
Public transit accessQueen Street bus station
Websiteuptownbrisbane.com.au

Stores

Uptown is 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
Escalators in the central area Uptown at Christmas

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
  • 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

Construction and opening

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.[4] 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, and the Barry and Roberts department store were restored and retained.[4]

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.[5] More than 500,000 customers visited within the first four days of operation.[6]

1990s and 2000s

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.[4][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]

2010s and 2020s

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]

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 prior to moving into the Queens Wharf retail development in 2024, thus ceasing 35 years of continuous operation at the site in July 2023.[14]

Due to Myer's departure the centre was rebranded from The Myer Centre to Uptown on 1 August 2023.[2][3]

Transport

Car

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 cannot locate it on their return.[15]

Bus

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

Uptown is also within walking distance of three railway stations: Central Station, South Brisbane Station and Roma Street Station.

References
  1. Harley, Robert (27 May 1988). "VALUE OF MYER CENTRE JUMPS $25M". The Australian Financial Review (Late ed.). p. 69. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  2. Kruk, Courtney (31 July 2023). "The Myer Centre has a new name – but does it have a vision to match?". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  3. "Uptown our properties Vicinity Centres". Vicinity Centres. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  4. "The Myer Centre". Archived from the original on 12 July 2002.
  5. JONES, MELISSA (21 April 1988). "REMM BUYS MYER QUEEN ST STORE IN BRISBANE FOR $50M". The Australian Financial Review (Late ed.). p. 55. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  6. Brisbane Australia Towards the 21st Century (1st ed.). Double Bay NSW: Focus Books Pty Ltd. 1991.
  7. House, Kathryn (16 September 1998). "Gandel wins $371 m trophy". The Australian Financial Review (Late ed.). p. 33. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  8. "What happened to the Dragon Coaster in Brisbane's Myer Centre?". 7 February 2018. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  9. Wilson, Bob (13 July 2001). "Cinema tops for Myer Centre - No trading halts for this market leader". Courier Mail. p. 44. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  10. White, Allison (25 August 2000). "Major makeover for Myer Centre". Courier Mail. p. 41. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  11. 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.
  12. chong, florence (23 February 2012). "Super fund to take half-stake in Myer Centre". The Australian (1 - All-round Country ed.). p. 29. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  13. "Brisbane CBD stand-off ends, injured gunman in custody". 8 March 2013. Archived from the original on 5 January 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  14. "Myer to leave Brisbane's Queen Street Mall after more than 30 years". ABC News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  15. "Myer Centre Car Park Brisbane - The Myer Centre Car Park". www.myercentrecarpark.com.au. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
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