Redevelopment of Essendon Airport
Following the commissioning of Tullamarine airport over 30 years ago, the need for a strategy to unlock the potential for commercial and retail redevelopment and of Essendon Airport has long been recognised.
In 2002 we undertook a masterplan to guide future development and redevelopment of the 305 hectare site. A 16.5 hectare site was marked as suitable for a direct-to-consumer outlet centre and bulky goods retail use. Currently used for non-aviation activities, its position adjacent to the arterial road network marked it as a suitable location for the proposed development.
Situated in the southern sector of Essendon Airport, adjacent to the intersection of Bulla Road and Tullamarine Freeway, this proposal comprises a single-storey 25,000sqm outlet centre for shops arranged around an internal mall, three buildings housing 36,200sqm for bulky goods retail and parking for 1,900 cars. The building will stretch 650 metres along the southern boundary next to Tullamarine Freeway. To excite interest the façade will have angled and stepped façades with some ‘blades’ of signage varying in height from 13 to 16.5 metres, colour and embedded graphics.
Producing an additional income stream for the Airport, the development enables the airport to fund the consolidation of the emergency vehicle access point with other airport operations in the English Street precinct.
