Rockdale Plaza

“1963? A shopping revolution?” The shopper next to you at Rockdale Plaza chuckled, adjusting her overflowing bag. Rockdale Plaza. A place that has seen its fair share of transformations. It’s hard to believe this bustling hub, with its Big W, Aldi, and Woolworths, was once a humble collection of market gardens. Back then, in August 1963, it wasn’t even called Rockdale Plaza. It was Southside Plaza, a brand new shopping centre opened by Rockdale MP Brian Bannon. Imagine the scene: tonnes of soil brought in to raise the ground level to match the Princes Highway, creating a platform for this retail dream. Southside Plaza boasted a Mark Foy’s, a Woolworths Food Fair (later to become Flemings, and then, circling back, Woolworths again), a Franklins, and even a bowling alley. Thirty-three stores in total, a revolutionary number for the time, kickstarting a retail boom in southern Sydney. And on Sundays? Forget quiet relaxation. Southside Plaza hosted a vibrant trash and treasure market. Disaster struck in 1967 when a fire ravaged Mark Foy’s. From the ashes rose McDowells, later transforming into Waltons. But the retail landscape was shifting. Roselands and a revamped Miranda Fair drew shoppers away, leaving Southside Plaza struggling. Redevelopment plans were floated, but none came to fruition. Finally, in 1992, the old Southside Plaza was demolished. A new era dawned on October 29, 1997, with the grand opening of Rockdale Plaza. Big W, Franklins, and Woolworths anchored this fresh retail space, joined by over 50 specialty stores. The bowling alley, sadly, didn’t make the transition despite promises. More changes were to come. In 2013, Franklins closed, making way for Best & Less and Aldi. Best & Less later gave way to Chemist Warehouse in 2020. Then, in a significant financial move, Charter Hall acquired Rockdale Plaza in 2019 for a cool $142 million. So, as you wander through Rockdale Plaza today, remember the layers of history beneath your feet. From market gardens to a retail powerhouse, this place has seen it all.