By Brendan Rees
Cranbourne Park has celebrated 40 fabulous years with a party for its customers.After several years in planning, and a construction phase the Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre welcomed its first customers and retailers on 13 November 1978 – with a supermarket and about 20 specialty retailers among the drawcard for locals.
One of those retailers was South Gippsland Jewellers – which remains at Cranbourne Park today.
The community were invited to the shopping centre on Tuesday 13 November with live music, face painting, an appearance from Peppa Pig, cup cake decorating and sales.
Customers also have the opportunity to win a share of $2000 worth of prizes, simply be spending $40 or more at Cranbourne Park on the day.
The centre has changed a lot in years since 1978, with the latest transformation in 2015 when Cotton On and was among the drawcards to join the expanding centre.
Third generation jeweller at South Gippsland Jewellers, Toni Van Den Broek, said, “From the very moment Cranbourne Park opened it has been a feature in the community, not just as a shopping centre but as a place where people gather, a meeting place to shop and dine.”
Ms Van Den Broek said that while Cranbourne Park keeps evolving it has always maintained a community focus, celebrating customers and each retail partner, whether they be majors or independents.
