30 Years of Glendale City Centre: A Look Back Through Time

2026 marks 30 years of Glendale City Centre and this retail community. Through different eras, this centre has remained a hub of community while meeting the needs of you, our loyal customers!

We did some digging and found some fun pieces of history – read along for the story of Glendale City Centre, and then, we want to hear from you! Tell us your Glendale City Centre story! These are the stories that make this centre a place we all belong to.

1994 – Construction Begins

The concept for an American style mall was backed by local developers and the vision was set for what would become the “Glendale Supercentre” – a name chosen by the locals via a community poll! Construction began in 1994 with an open date set for March 1995.  

Image 1: Promotional billboard calling out the Supercentre “Opening Early 1996”. Image 2: And Glendale City Centre’s iconic turrets under construction. Image 3: Woolworths facade completion. 

March 28 1996 – Grand Opening

Thursday March 28th 1996 was the big day! The much-anticipated Supercentre had its grand opening, with retailers offering unique opening specials, and some first-in-region features such as Eftpos at every checkout and Home Delivery!

Julie who worked at Chemistworks Glendale during the Grand Opening fondly recalls being shuttled across the construction site in the weeks leading up to opening weekend with colleagues in order to stock shelves so that all the stores would be ready for opening day.

Images: Clippings from local papers Wednesday March 27.

Images: Target on opening day with their unique 12 and 1/2 percent discount storewide and a packed store.

Icons of Glendale

Since Day 1, Glendale has been home to some of the best brands and national retailers. These stores have been embedded in the centre’s history by supporting generations of local shoppers and growing with us through the different stages of life and celebrations (with Santa photos still going strong!), keeping community at the forefront.

In particular, we wanted to celebrate the stores that have stood the test of time from opening Weekend, and still proudly trading at Glendale City Centre today!

Target, Woolworths, Lowes, Chemistworks, and Best & Less.

Image 1: Woolworths opening advertising. Image 2: Target Glendale

Image 3: Lowes Glendale. Image 4: Chemistworks Glendale

Image 5: 1997 Glendale Santa Photos Set.

December 5, 2005 – Kmart Expansion

To meet the needs of the community, an expansion was completed in 2005 with an additional 8,749 sq.m built to bring Kmart to the centre as well as a number of specialties and mini majors. Now one of the most popular stores at the centre, a stop by Kmart is now a hallmark of any visit to Glendale City Centre!

Image: Kmart Opening at Glendale.

Market Canopy & Farmers Markets (2022)

In 2022, the centre underwent a mammoth project to introduce the purpose–built shade and weather protection structure. Built to provide weather protection to our customers on weekdays, and become home to the Glendale Farmers & Artisan Market on weekends. The market still runs every Saturday and has become a favourite event for the community.  

Images 1&2: The team at MakMax installing 4300square metres of shade canopy in rain (hail) and shine at Glendale.

Image 3: People of all ages enjoying the shade-sails at the Farmers Market to this day. 

Today – 30 years of Glendale

Which brings us to today. Our 2024 rebrand to Glendale City Centre marks a fresh chapter – one that recognises our role at the heart of the community and reinforces our vision to bring people together by creating safe, welcoming places to shop, meet, eat, and grow alongside us. 

What’s your Glendale City Centre story?

But now we want to hear from you! We’d love to hear how the Centre has been a part of your story! Maybe you shared a special memory there as a child, or perhaps you met your partner with a classic café meet-cute in our very centre!

Whatever the story or memory, big or small, we’d love to hear it. These are the stories that make our Glendale community special.

Submit yours below: