Shopping
Bridge Mall Shopping Centre
Address Bridge St
Suburb/town: Ballarat
Phone: 03 5331 8948
Email:
bridgema@netconnect.com.au
Show on map
The Bridge Mall is strategically situated in the heart of the city of Ballarat. Comprising of 118 retailers, the Bridge Mall Shopping Centre has the largest and most exciting mix of National and Independently owned stores within Ballarat and its surrounding region. National fashion retailers including Fletcher Jones, Sussan, Sportsgirl, Millers, Jay Jays, and Jeanswest have recently been joined by Supre. The nationals are complimented by an array of locally owned retailers such as Messer & Opie, Faull’s shoes, Skin Ski & Surf, and Wen & Ware to name just a few. Services are also strongly represented with eight telecommunications / electrical retailers (including Telstra Shop, Optus World and Dick Smith Electronics), a couple of pharmacies, various banking and financial institutions, along with an abundance of hair, beauty and health offers. Sports and leisure include Athletes Foot, Sportbiz, and Wetsports, all of whom are further complemented by various specialist stores. The Bridge Mall is also recognised as a meeting place with its abundance of cafes and restaurants ranging from steak and curry house’s, a McDonald’s family restaurant and a Starbucks, to the quaint and truly country Ballarat atmosphere of the various locally owned and run cafes.
The Bridge Mall Shopping Centre is also complimented by a Big W department store to the North, along with Coles and Safeway supermarkets to the South.
Together with over 1,200 conveniently located free car parks, this shopping precinct provides versatility and convenience that is truly one stop shopping.
History
The Bridge Mall precinct takes in one of the oldest commercial retail areas of Ballarat. The precinct was an important location in the early 1850’s being the main thoroughfare between the gold diggings spread over Ballarat Flats to the East and the official township on the highground to the West.
The area takes an important and much analysed place in Australian history as the meeting place for miners during the Eureka Rebellion, which took place in November and December of 1854.
The turn of the century had brought about a greater sophistication in the approach retailers took to their trade. Shop interiors and window displays were revamped and specialized and in 1911, the Ballarat Courier reported “great improvements in the quality of Bridge St”. According to historian Weston Bate, “the tram network impacted on retailing in the Bridge St & Sturt St areas by increasing its access to middle class Women”. A further consequence of public transport to and from the area was the relocation of many shopkeepers and their families to newer residential areas further out of the central business district. This enhanced the distinction between trading and business areas of Ballarat from Residential areas.
Up until to the 1970’s changes and updates to Bridge St were largely unchecked, with no long term planning for the area. However, in response to the opening of Ballarat’s first indoor shopping centre at Wendouree in 1978, Bridge St was closed to traffic and re-opened as a pedestrian Mall on June 5th 1981. The Bridge Mall Traders Association was reborn and had the effect of providing a united vision for the mall, hence the Bridge Mall Shopping Centre....
Redevelopment
August 2004 saw the beginning of major redevelopment works for the Bridge Mall, costing in excess of $4 million. Patrons of Ballarat and the greater region are highly parochial in relation to change within the Bridge Mall, predominately due to the historical significance documented earlier. The revitalisation was the product of extensive community consultation with key stakeholders including patrons and Bridge Mall businesses. The result of the redevelopment is outstanding in terms of aesthetics; retail turnover; business investment; and community culture.
“We are delighted with the end result of the redevelopment. It was a great partnership with all involved. I congratulate the traders for having the vision to make their financial investment, and it is a very worthwhile investment from a council and state government perspective into a leading Victorian regional area”. David Maloney, President, Bridge Mall Traders Association.
Contact Details
- Jason Lowson
- Bridge Mall Centre Manager
- Shop 62a Bridge Mall Shopping Centre
- Ballarat VIC 3350
- PH: 03 5331 8948 M: 0447 318 948
- bridgema@netconnect.com.au
Associated Documents
Store Listings and Bridge Mall Map (PDF)
Images
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