Draft:Floreat Forum

Floreat Forum Shopping Centre

Location	Floreat, Western Australia, Australia
Coordinates	31.9379603°S 115.7928931°E / -31.9379603; 115.7928931 (Floreat Forum)
Opening date	20 September 1965 (1965-09-20)
Developer	Hammerson Group
Owner	Apil Group
Architect	Cameron Chisholm Nicol
No. of stores and services	80
No. of anchor tenants	2
Total retail floor area	19,077 m2 (205,340 sq ft)
No. of floors	2 (Plus 1 basement floor for parking)
Parking	~900 bays
Website	https://www.floreatforum.com.au/

Floreat Forum is a shopping centre in Floreat, athe suburb west of Perth. It is located on Howtree Place, between Oceanic Drive to the south, and The Boulevard to the north. It was opened in 1965, being Perth's first ‘American-Style’ shopping Centre.

The forum uses a Shopping Mall layout, with the anchor stores; Coles and Woolworths supermarkets located along the central indoor walkway, along with other stores. The centre contains the Town of Cambridge library and municipal offices as well as an outdoor dining precinct.

History

With the expansion of the Floreat Park subdivision and sale of resident allotments including in the surrounding suburbs during the 1950s and 1960s, compounded by the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games at nearby Perry Lakes Stadium. The City of Perth saw the need for a shopping centre as a priority and preliminary plans were prepared for a shopping centre and movie theatre.

The Forum was design by the Cameron Chisholm Nicol architecture firm, originally comprising of three main buildings;

• Department Store, Food shops, Chain store& furniture
• Community Centre
• Specialty Shops

Construction of Floreat Forum began in 1963, being built by the Hammerson Group, lasting until 1965, when it was officially opened on the 20th September 1965 by Sir David Brand.

On opening of the shopping centre, the majority of stores lined a central open-air walkway. It was anchored by a Woolworths Food Fair and Moores Department Store, among some of the forty stores. There was a library, community centre and playground.

1981 Mock Invasion

In 1981, the Floreat Forum was used as a site for a mock invasion by the 5 A Res Recruiting unit of the Australian Army. The show contained various displays; the workings of a 105mm howitzer, Light Horsemen showed a 2.5 ton truck and Land rover. Army cooks prepared food on field equipment and medics exhibited their training and had an ambulance open for inspection. Larger demonstrations where conducted with Soldiers from the Special Air Service Regiment parachuting from 2,000 metres and Infantrymen rappelling down from a helicopter above the centre.

1984 Tent Roof

In 1984, a tent roof made of Sheerfill fabric, resembling a three pointed circus tent, was erected over the central walkway allowing natural light into the walkway but protecting customers from the weather. This was the first roof of its kind to be built in Australia.

In 1992 the forum was sold for A$24.5 Million

2002 Redevelopment

The 2002 Redevelopment was largest the site has seen, with the centres distinctive roof structure being removed, with only part of one, of the 1965 carparks surviving. Several other parts of the centre were also remodelled or moved, including:

• A new outdoor dining precinct, with a small playground
• A new library
• The reconstruction of the western carpark into a two level, multi-story carpark
• The two existing Petrol Stations were demolished, replaced by a single station next to the new library at northern end of the centre
• Expansion of the southern carpark

In 2009, the centre was purchased for a stated A$100 Million, by the Apil Group.

Transport

The centre is served directly by four bus routes operated by Swan Transit. Providing access to surrounding suburbs and Perth's central business district, as well as connections to the Fremantle line and Joondalup line.

External links

• https://www.floreatforum.com.au/