Lilydale Marketplace

Lilydale Marketplace is a small shopping centre located in Lilydale, Australia.^[1] It is located on Hutchison street.^[2] The centre is home to 54 shops, 1,100 parking spaces above and underground and is currently owned by the Region Group.^[3][4]

Lilydale Marketplace, the shopping center, opened on March 6, 1980. Its history is tied to the broader development of the town of Lilydale, which dates back to land sales in 1860 and grew as a commercial and agricultural centre due to its location and eventually the Lilydale Line.

The town began in 1860 with land sales. A post office, store, butcher's shop, and hotel were established within two years. The opening of the railway line from Hawthorn in 1881 significantly boosted the town's growth, bringing excursionists and goods.^[5]

The area became a sales centre for livestock, and the railway facilitated the transport of raw materials from quarries like David Mitchell's Cave Hill limestone quarry.^[6]

Before the site was built up, Markets were held on the site where the shopping centre now stands and it was known as Marketplace Emporium.^[7] This is how the centre got its name.^[8]

In 2004, the marketplace was sold by the Fleming family to Allco Finance Group for $24 million.^[9]

Today, Lilydale Marketplace is owned and managed by Region Group, which owns and manages a portfolio of convenience-based shopping centers across Australia.^[10]

The three big anchor tenants are Aldi, Woolworths and Big W. Smaller tenants include The Reject Shop, Chemist Warehouse, Specsavers, Ozmossis, Flight Centre and EB Games. A Sanity store Closed down in 2020 and an ANZ and NAB store closed in 2023.^[11][12] There is also a Ampol petrol station located in the car park that opened in 2025.^[13] Its previous location is now a U- go petrol Station.^[14]

There was one major renovation in 2012, which was the only major renovation since the centres opening and there are no plans to upgrade the centre again.^[15]

The centre was refurbished in 2012 by the Hacer group.The refubishment included

• A Big W with mezzanine
• An extension to the existing Woolworths supermarket
• An ALDI Supermarket
• New Specialty tenancies
• Alterations to existing Speciality tenancies affected by the works
• Refurbishment of existing Centre
• A basement car park
• On-grade car parking modifications
• Associated loading docks
• Intersection works providing new connections into the site, and intersection works external to the site^[16]

The centre is currently being refurbished to make the centre more modern. More stores are opening with planed Best and Less and Zambrero stores announced for the centre. The Share Tea in the centre has also opened closer to Woolworths.^[17] Amplifon has also relocated next to Flight Centre for a short period of time during construction. During this time, the lift (Elevator) will be unavailable.^[18]

Just before the 2025 centre refurbishment, Woolworths upgraded their direct to boot service area. This meant that the underground parking was unavailable and 20 parking spots were sacrificed for the new zone.^[19]

Lilydale Marketplace is a 5-minute walk to Lilydale Train Station, the start of the Lilydale line, which leads into the City of Melbourne.^[20] There is also a bus stop at the centre and many others nearby.^[21]

The Lilydale Marketplace shopping centre is significant primarily as a community hub, serving as a major retail and service destination for the growing population of Lilydale and the wider Yarra Ranges area.^[22]

• Official website
• Lilydale Marketplace on regiongroup.au
• Lilydale Marketplace on anyspaces.com