AUSTRALIA FAIR JOINS SHOPPING CENTRE ARMS RACE

AUSTRALIA Fair will undergo a multi-million renovation, hot on the heels of Robina Town Centre announcing a $160 million redevelopment and Pacific Fair relaunching earlier this year.

The three major shopping centres appear in an arms race to take the cake as the choice centre for the Gold Coast.

Works are already underway at Australia Fair Metro, but the main building will begin a redevelopment next month (render pictured left), tipped for completion in 12 months.

Australia Fair Metro will sooner come to life as an al fresco dining and retail precinct, set to become a centrepiece to the new area, featuring landscapes outdoor areas.

The broader upgrade will entail a new fresh façade fronting Scarborough Street and revamping the ground floor from the Scarborough Street entrance to the existing Tap and Grind Café.

Australia Fair general manager Ramon Otten believes the redevelopment will play a key catalyst in the redevelopment of the broader area of Southport as a revitalised cosmopolitan urban hub.

"Australia Fair was first built in the early 1980's and is proud of its long-standing role as an integral part of the Southport community," says Otten.

"We envisage Australia Fair Metro will become a destination for families, students, business people and visitors alike to mingle and relax as they enjoy delicious food and stylish courtyard dining, in a modern open-air space."

Owners YFG Shopping Centres have appointed Retail First to handle the redevelopment, which will include a full renovation of Coles and upgrades for major and smaller tenants, including Kmart and Event Cinemas.

Coles will expand into the Fig Tree Food Court to bring shoppers an in-store butcher, seafood specialists and qualified bakers. The supermarket will remain open for trading throughout the redevelopment works.

New amenities on the ground floor will open by the end of the week in preparation for the overhaul of the ground floor concourse.

Selected restaurants have already begun trading including flagship dining outlets - Kubos Bar and Grill and Tian Shan - with more food outlets to follow. The centre has also earmarked an organic café, fresh fruit and vegetable market space, and a gourmet butcher with seafood.

Marked as a priority area for re-development, Southport has attracted a total of $5 billion in private and public investment on initiatives which aim to boost the location as a key business, leisure and retail hub.

This news comes on the tails of Robina Town Centre - an area not too long ago competing with Southport for the CBD crown -  announced it will undergo a $160 million between now and the end of the year.

Robina Town Centre will launch a new food precinct, The Kitchens (render pictured right), which it says is the first of its kind in Australia.

Later this year, it expects to open the area up to 55 retailers, which will span two floors and feature industrial indoor and outdoor spaces with a sky-rook.

Food lovers will have the chance to sharpen their culinary skills through a series of tastings, workshops and master-classes in the open kitchens and other pop-up venues.

The Kitchens is designed as an epicentre where artisans, chefs, providores and purveyors can come together for fresh, local produce, and consumers can learn about and sample a variety of foods. This will include boutique fines, craft beers, raw desserts and cured meats.