A deserted shopping centre has been slammed as ‘pathetic’ and ‘sad’ as shoppers steer clear and retailers await a proposed $350million upgrade.
The Morley Galleria in Perth‘s north-east is devoid of businesses and customers after the planned refurbishment failed to materialise.
More than 10 retailers and restaurants including McDonald’s have left since 2020 due to a lack of foot traffic.
Only a handful of stores, including clothing and footwear outlets Valleygirl and Foot Locker, remain.
Locals took to social media to label the centre a ‘disaster’.
‘The stalls and shop lots are pathetic, the upper floor is deserted and awfully sad,’ one person wrote.
‘The Galleria is just awful these days…toilets are disgusting…almost no food outlets, no food courts (and many) shops have closed down,’ another person wrote.
The shopping centre’s management has been accused of letting down the once thriving establishment.
The Morley Galleria (pictured), in Perth’s north-east, is devoid of businesses and customers as it awaits a planned upgrade
‘The Galleria is an absolute scrap failure of greed by the owners,’ one person wrote.
‘What a disaster it is… I remember when it opened, it held so much promise for the community,’ another person said.
The centre was set to undergo a multi-million dollar redevelopment four years ago.
Real estate management company Vicinity Centres was tasked with overseeing the project.
A spokesperson for the management said the upgrade has been paused until retail conditions improve, with the cost-of-living crisis corroding people’s capacity to spend.
‘Vicinity Centres is working hard to meet its commitments on the revitalisation of Galleria and delivering a contemporary centre that meets the retail, entertainment and leisure needs of the community,’ the spokesperson told Perth Now.
‘Our priority is to continue to support our retailers and customers, and we look forward to progressing plans to proceed with our planned investment in the future of Galleria.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Vicinity Centres for further comment.
City of Bayswater Council CEO Jeremy Edwards told the newspaper the council has not received any updates about the upgrade.
Mayor Filomena Piffaretti told Daily Mail the council had been lobbying for the upgrades for years.
The shopping centre (pictured) was set to undergo a massive $350million dollar redevelopment four years ago
‘Once a jewel in Vicinity’s crown, the Galleria is in dire need of refurbishment,’ Ms Piffaretti said.
‘Our residents deserve a vibrant shopping centre that is once again a must-visit destination where people go to shop, eat, drink and be entertained’.
The Morley Galleria was opened in 1994 and is still home to major supermarket stores and retailers, including Coles, Woolworths and Myer.
The centre was last upgraded in 2008.