Remember that time AC/DC rocked Eastland? That’s right this very spot. This wasn’t just any gig. It was 1975 during their High Voltage tour. Eastland. Back then it was a much smaller place. Just imagine.
Eastland Shopping Centre. A Melbourne icon. It opened in 1967. One of the first indoor shopping centres in Victoria. It was a big deal. Part of a trio of massive projects planned by Myer. Northland and Southland were the others.
Building Eastland wasn’t easy. It meant taking over a public park and sportsground. Thirteen houses fourteen shops and a private hospital were demolished. There were protests. People worried about the extra traffic. 150000 extra visitors were expected. A local landmark the Ringwood Clock Tower even had to be moved. It stands today near Main Street and the Maroondah Highway.
The original Eastland was a two-level complex. Myer and Safeway were the main stores. About 40 smaller shops were there too. A 1250-car park. The whole thing cost $13 million in 1966. That’s a lot of money then.
But Eastland didn’t stay small. It grew. Massive redevelopments happened. The entire centre was demolished except for the Myer building in 1993. The new Eastland was launched in 1995. Then came more expansions in 2002 and 2016.
Today Eastland is massive. Over 340 stores. A huge cinema. Restaurants. Even a hotel and a library. It’s a destination. Not just a shopping centre. It’s a community hub. Eastland’s legacy goes beyond shopping. It shows how a place can evolve. How it can adapt and grow. It’s the heartbeat of Ringwood. A testament to vision. And a place where rock legends once played. So soak it all in. Eastland.