Meridian Mall, Dunedin

The Meridian Mall is a large shopping complex in Dunedin, New Zealand designed by ASA Crone Architects, an Australian development company. At 16,000 m2 (172,222.6 sq ft)[1] it is the largest retail mall in the southern South Island, and one of the largest in the South Island as a whole.

Meridian Mall
The Meridian Mall, Dunedin
LocationDunedin, New Zealand
Coordinates45.870006°S 170.505103°E / -45.870006; 170.505103
Address267 George Street
Opening date1997-09-04
DeveloperArthur Barnett Ltd
ManagementPrime Retail
OwnerLend Lease Real Estate Partners New Zealand Fund
ArchitectASA Crone Architects
No. of stores and services50
No. of anchor tenants3
No. of floors3

The mall was constructed in 1995-1997 behind the former Arthur Barnett building in George Street which was designed by Edmund Anscombe (1874-1948) and completed in 1924. The new complex is a central retail hub, with H&J Smith (formerly Arthur Barnett) as one of the two anchor tenants. It opened on 5 September 1997 with the final development costs close to NZ$50 million. Arthur Barnett sold the mall to ING Real Estate Australia for $52.65 million in April 2003,[2][3] using the proceeds to retire debt.

In 2010 it was purchased by Lend Lease Group (LLC) for $185 million, along with three Dress Smart outlets in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.[4] In October 2011, Lend Lease sold the four shopping centres to its new Lend Lease Real Estate Partners New Zealand Fund for $NZ197 million.[4]

The mall contains 50 shops spread over three levels, including a large food court on the lower level.[1] Above these three levels is a multi-storey car park, the Arthur Barnett Corporate Offices, and a doctor's office.

The neon advertising sign for Arthur Barnett that sits atop the mall is a prominent feature on the Dunedin skyline. Named Can't Stop, it features a small man trying to control a large horse, possibly a Clydesdale. It was designed by the New Zealand artist Heber Thompson for the 1924 building. The historic neon sign was turned off in May 2016 "for maintenance" and is still inoperative as of February 2019.

Golden Centre Mall and Wall Street Mall
The Hanover Street facade of the mall

Lying immediately south of the Meridian Mall is the independently operated Golden Centre, which was one of Dunedin's first shopping malls. Renovation and expansion of the Golden Centre during 2009 has resulted in the two malls (and the Wall Street Mall) being linked internally in November 2009.[5] The three malls thus form one continuous complex occupying almost the entire two-hectare central city block, having a total floor area of over 28,000 m2 (6.9 acres).

Beyond the Golden Centre Mall lies the Wall Street Mall, which was opened on March 21, 2009.[6] The Wall Street development was delayed by the discovery on the site of one of Dunedin's earliest walkways, dating from the 1850s, less than a decade after the city was founded.[7]

References
  1. "Property Management - Meridian Mall". Prime Retail Management Ltd. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  2. "Arthur Barnett sells mall". New Zealand Herald. 17 April 2003. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  3. Gibson, Anne (21 January 2004). "Full buildings, new tower buoy sector". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  4. "Meridian mall sold for third time | Otago Daily Times Online News : Otago, South Island, New Zealand & International News". Odt.co.nz. 2011-10-21. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  5. Morris, Chris (21 March 2009). "$5m Golden Centre redevelopment". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  6. Sat, 21 Mar 2009 (2009-03-21). "Dunedin's Wall Street shopping mall opens | Otago Daily Times Online News : Otago, South Island, New Zealand & International News". Odt.co.nz. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
  7. Historic Places Trust website
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