Willows Market Court

CLIENT: DEXUS PROPERTY GROUP

STATUS: COMPLETED

LOCATION: TOWNSVILLE

SERVICES: RETAIL DESIGN MANAGEMENT, INTERIOR DESIGN

FITOUT BUILDER: ADCO CONSTRUCTION PTY LTD

PROJECT SIZE: 11,000m2

Commencing in early 2015, Willows Shopping Centre underwent an $80million facelift, reaching completion in August 2017. The centre, owned by Dexus Property Group, was redeveloped to accommodate Townsville’s rapidly expanding population, which was forecast to grow by 2.4% per annum over the next ten years. The 11,000sqm redevelopment reinforced Willows Shopping Centre as the leading convenience based sub-regional shopping centre in Townsville. Alkot Studio worked closely with Dexus Property Group to transform Willows Shopping Centre into a community retail hub that is relevant to the market over the long term.  

To ensure growth and equity, Alkot Studio was engaged for two different redesign stages - the fresh food area and the fashion mall. Willows Shopping Centre introduced a fresh food market precinct, a hugely successful retail format throughout Australia that was yet to be seen in Townsville city. Designed to offer a relaxed market feel, the Market Court houses Woolworths, Angliss Meats, Willows Fresh Market, BWS, OPSM, and multiple restaurant and food tenancies. Alkot Studio designed and design-managed several tenancies in the Market Court, establishing a consistent visual narrative throughout the space. Industrial elements such as exposed ceilings, raw timber, black steel, and accents of red bricks were incorporated, attracting a new, younger crowd. 

With stage two of the development, Alkot Studio delivered an exciting mix of local and national fashion retail brands in the new fashion mall. The mall functioned as the link between the old shopping centre building and the new, modernised Market Court wing. Townsville’s only Harris Scarfe and a new expanded Cotton On were joined by a range of new fashion stores including Surf Dive n Ski, Pandora, and Sportsgirl.