New stores rise across Armstrong Creek Town Centre

THE Armstrong Creek Town Centre precinct is a hive of construction activity, with several major developments taking shape as the area’s primary shopping destination continues to expand.

The works form part of the town centre’s second stage on the western side of the precinct, between the existing Home.Co shopping centre and the Surf Coast Highway.

Part of the corner site at 10 Main Street in the Armstrong Creek Town Centre is still up for lease. Nearby tenants will include Planet Fitness, Lake Imaging and headspace. Photo: James Taylor.

When complete, they will add new retail stores, a childcare centre, gym, supermarket, offices and health services to the growing precinct.

The first project expected to open is the Explorers Early Learning centre in Main Street, due to welcome families next month.

The centre will provide a play-based education program for children aged six weeks to school age.

A Planet Fitness gym is also under construction at 10 Main Street. The 24-hour facility will include a spa, massage chairs, spray tanning and small-group fitness training.

Nearby, Lake Imaging and a new headspace facility will occupy tenancies fronting the Surf Coast Highway, while part of 10 Main Street remains available for lease.

The corner site forms part of Brix Property Group’s $55m mixed-use development, which is delivering office space and a collection of food and beverage outlets across the town centre.

Starbucks and El Jannah have already opened as part of the development.

The Explorers Early Learning centre here is expected to open next month. Photo: James Taylor.

On nearby Rivernook Street, the Salvation Army will occupy a purpose-built retail outlet behind the former Carl’s Jr restaurant.

The 1,543sqm site was leased to the Salvation Army ahead of construction on a seven-year term and then sold to a private investor for $3.4m.

Next door and directly behind McDonald’s, a vacant, 1,938sqm commercial site at 10 Rivernook Street is on the market through Colliers.

The property already has planning approval for a two-storey, 122-place childcare centre.

Colliers Geelong senior executive for sales and leasing Chris Nanni said permit-approved sites of that scale were becoming increasingly difficult to find in the Armstrong Creek town centre.

The Salvation Army has leased this building in Riverbrook Street for a dedicated retail outlet. Photo: James Taylor.

“The combination of a ready-to-deliver childcare scheme and flexible zoning provides incoming purchasers with both certainty and versatility in a high-demand location,” he said.

Meanwhile, construction is well under way on a separate $45m development on Exhibition Street beside Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library.

Funded by HMC Capital, the project will be anchored by a 3,500sqm Woolworths supermarket and will include 14 specialty stores.