By NARELLE COULTER
THE first sod was turned on the $40 million redevelopment of Cranbourne Home on Wednesday.
When completed in 12 months’ time, the expanded centre will boast a Masters and five yet-to-be-announced new retailers.
It will be the first time anywhere in Australia that Bunnings and Masters will trade within the one centre.
Cranbourne Home is owned by local success story Brett Blundy.
Mr Blundy, who grew up at Clyde, started his business empire with a small music shop in Pakenham. His expansive business network has included iconic retail brands Sanity, Bras N Things and Lovisa.
His property management company BBRC Property owns 11 homemaker centres around Australia. Cranbourne was his original purchase 10 years ago.
Chief executive officer of BBRC Property, Darren Holland, flew from Sydney to attend the sod turning.
Mr Blundy’s mother Helen and sister also attended.
“Ten years ago almost to the day, I was working for another company in Sydney when I got a call from Brett Blundy,” Mr Holland said.
“He told me he was thinking of buying a homemaker centre at Cranbourne and wanted my advice.
“I met with him, which was in effect a job interview. The next day I was working for him and a month later he purchased the Cranbourne Homemaker Centre.”
Since then, the centre has been expanded five times and now boasts a host of national retailers including JB Hi Fi, Officeworks and The Good Guys.
The final stage will bring the total centre to 62,000 square metres, making it one of the largest in the country.
Mr Holland said he was confident the close proximity of Masters and Bunnings would be a boon for consumers.
“We have 11 centres nationally, and in our experience big is better. We want customers to stay in the centre for a long time and shop comparatively.
“The two can co-exist. Two home wares giants competing will make renovating in this area more affordable.”
Mr Holland said the development would create 600 construction and retail jobs.
Casey mayor Geoff Ablett welcomed the development, saying the creation of local jobs was essential to Casey’s prosperity.
“This is a statement of confidence in the bright future of Casey. It is a signal to the development industry that Casey is open for business.”
