The best shopping centres outside of Melbourne’s CBD

THERE are way more shopping centres than just QV, Melbourne Central or the Emporium to visit in Melbourne. Trinity College Foundation Studies students Nam Nguyen, Zoe Sun and Ezio Fu traveled to and recommend some of the other famous shopping centres of Melbourne.

For the many international students who reside in the city, shopping centres like Melbourne Central and QV are already popular choices for students to get their fix of brand clothing, food and entertainment.

But travel a little bit outside of the CBD and students will find that Melbourne has other great shopping centres to explore as well.

To help students learn more about the other key shopping centres in Melbourne, we’ve compiled a list of the four best shopping centres you can find outside of the city!

Chadstone
1341 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone VIC

Touting itself as the fashion capital of Melbourne, if you’re a fashionista then Chadstone is the place for you. This shopping centre is perhaps the biggest in all of Melbourne and here you can find clothing brands of all kinds from the affordable like Cotton On to the luxury, designer brands of Louis Vuitton or Emporio Armani.

If you’re feeling ,drop in to either the upper level or the lower level food court. And if you’re on a date and look to impress with something a little more fancy, Chadstone also has a huge range of café and restaurants with French and Italian’ cuisines that will not disappoint you.

Although Chadstone might be a bit of a ways out from the city, there are several ways you can get there. Take a train heading towards Oakleigh, Hughesdale, Murrumbeena and/or Carnegie stations, on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines or Holmesglen station, on the Glen Waverley line, then take the bus there. The whole trip should take about one hour.

If you’re able to drive, the centre also offers 9000 free parking spaces.

For more on Chadstone, hit up its official website. 

Highpoint
120-200 Rosamond Rd, Maribyrnong

Though not as big as Chadstone, Highpoint is still a popular option amongst locals. You can find just about anything here with brands suitable both for people who have a lot to spend or want to spend but are on a tighter budget.

Two food courts exist in Highpoint: the upper level has more fast food for those looking for a quick meal while the lower level caters to those who want a proper meal at a restaurant.

If you’re tired of shopping or simply want to have a day of fun, there’s the Hoyts Cinema that operates here which screens the latest hit blockbusters or if you want to put on your bowling shoes and strike down a few pins, there’s also Strike Bowling! The Playtime arcade also exists in Highpoint if you want to get a bit old school and play new and classic arcade titles or win tickets in exchange for prizes.

To get to Highpoint, take the Sunbury or Watergardens train and get off at Footscray. From there take the tram there (there is only one tram so you can’t miss it). Otherwise drive there and park in one of the 7300 free parking spaces.

To learn more about Highpoint, check out its official website.

Westfield Doncaster
619 Doncaster Rd (Corner Williamsons Rd), Doncaster

Westfield Doncaster is kind of like the close cousin of Chadstone if you were to make a comparison. Like all other shopping centres, Westfield too contains a myriad of stores suitable for all kinds of customers. And with so many choices to choose from, it can get a little confusing even for those who’ve been there all the time!

Food choices offered at Westfield Doncaster is great too with places like Secret Kitchen offering great Chinese cuisine while The Groove Train has the perfect pizza.

To get there, simply hop on the Belgrave or Lilydale train lines, and get off at Box Hill. Take any of the following buses — the 279, 281, 293, or 903 — and you should be there in no time.

As for parking, we recommend students not to bother as the carpark can get very crowded and it is only free for three hours, once per day.

To find out more, visit Westfield Doncaster’s official website. 

DFO Essendon
100 Bulla Rd, Essendon Fields

You may already know of the DFO on Spencer St that’s right next to Southern Cross Station but did you also know that there’s one in Essendon too?

Unlike the DFO that’s on Spencer St, DFO Essendon is packed with stores which are all very big. Most of the clothing brands sold at DFO usually go at a good rate with most stores almost always offering a discount of some kind, especially sport wear!

If you need a new couch or a new table to study, go into one of the seven furniture stores there; furniture stores that offer reasonably affordable prices. Additionally, JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys also operate at DFO Essendon for those looking for a new laptop or TV.

To get to DFO Essendon from the city, take a train on the Cragieburn line to Essendon Station and then take the 903 bus bound for Mordialloc to get to DFO Essendon.

If you’re driving in from the city, it’s only a 20 minute drive and there’s plenty of parking available too.

More information and details on DFO Essendon can be found at its official website. 

This story was produced by Media and Communication students at Trinity College Foundation Studies as part of Meld’s community newsroom collaboration. Education institutions, student clubs/societies and community groups interested in being involved can get in touch with us via meld@meldmagazine.com.au.