This week, Warrnambool City Council adopted its Retail Strategy document.
The strategy outlines actions to improve the City’s retail sector.
Among the information guiding the strategy is a breakdown of where people undertake their retail activities.
While the CBD has traditionally been the heartbeat of country cities and towns like Warrnambool, that model has now being challenged.
In March 1986, a significant new player came into town, with the opening of Gateway Plaza in East Warrnambool.
In the 40 years since, this retail precinct has grown and now stretches almost to Deakin University, and includes major brands such as Bunnings, Harvey Norman and the Good Guys.
In the retail strategy this area is called the Eastern Activity Centre (EAC).
The retail strategy reports that the CBD creates 5580 jobs and generates over $1.6 billion in output per annum.
The EAC supports 2200 jobs and produces approximately $664 million annually.
The total retail floor space of Warrnambool is dominated by these two areas, taking up a combined 90 per cent.
The CBDÂ supports 127,000sqms of retail floor space comprising 416Â stores, while the EAC is 81,000sqms, with 101Â stores.
(Gateway Image: Coles Myer Archive, State Library Victoria).
