New Apple Store in Australia Now Open Inside a Historic Bank Building

[MacRumors]

Apple today opened its latest retail store at Forrest Place, a pedestrianized area in the heart of Perth, the largest city in Western Australia.

The new store is in a historic building originally built for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, at the corner of Forrest Place and Murray Street.

"Our team meticulously restored and mended heritage fabric throughout the building, including the marble tiling, ceilings, and plaster columns, to create a truly unique space for customers to shop," said Apple's retail chief Deirdre O'Brien, in an interview about the store with Perth's local newspaper The West Australian.

Apple's nearby Hay Street store permanently closed a few days ago, after 15 years of business.

The new store is larger and more modern than the original location, and the heritage building that it resides in makes it a so-called "flagship" location.

In a first for Australia, the store has an Apple Pickup station for collecting online orders.

Article Link: New Apple Store in Australia Now Open Inside a Historic Bank Building

 

[mitty]

Here for the obligatory "no store in the Melbourne CBD yet" comments. Honestly it's so far beyond a joke now it's ridiculous.

 

[vegetassj4]

They were playing this all day in the store:

The Shrimp On the Barbie - Apple TV

Carlos failed in the show-biz and currently works as waiter in a Mexican restaurant. There he meets Alex and dumb footballer Bruce, who celebrate thei…

tv.apple.com

 

[Think|Different]

...And already chock-full of bogans!

 

[mnewton91]

Here for the obligatory "no store in the Melbourne CBD yet" comments. Honestly it's so far beyond a joke now it's ridiculous.

I'd say that's more of a Melbourne problem, not an Apple problem...

 

[ErikGrim]

Here for the obligatory "no store in the Melbourne CBD yet" comments. Honestly it's so far beyond a joke now it's ridiculous.

Melbourne didn't want one, remember?

 

[canonical]

It looks very grand and impressive, and at the same time clean and modern minimal (as an interesting combo with a heritage building), and I would be delighted to visit when I am next in Perth.

 

[whatgift]

Melbourne didn't want one, remember?

Didn't want one in the middle of one of the most public squares in the city, but that doesn't mean they can't build one elsewhere in the CBD.

 

[AnakChan]

Great, so the Hay St. store was just opposite my office - 2 min walk. Now I have to walk 7 mins to get there .

Just JK. I'm happy for Apple. Just happy that little 'ol Perth makes it to Macrumors.

 

[ifxf]

Apple stores are nice as a way of picking up expensive stuff ordered online. Amazon lockers serve the same purpose.

 

[Justice for All]

I do hope the big wood and brass door was saved and put in storage - before I knew it was an Apple Store I was furious it had gone and wondering who would commit such a travesty, now I know I'm furious and know who committed such a travesty

 

[Dr McKay]

They were playing this all day in the store:

The Shrimp On the Barbie - Apple TV

Carlos failed in the show-biz and currently works as waiter in a Mexican restaurant. There he meets Alex and dumb footballer Bruce, who celebrate thei…

tv.apple.com

Given that the rest of the English speaking countries call them “prawns” instead, this would probably result in the store being vandalised.

 

[akro]

makes sense, that's where the money is

 

[@Brett]

Melbourne didn't want one, remember?

NIMBYS did not want one. I thought the designs were amazing and would have added value to Fed Square.

 

[smartatarc]

NIMBYS did not want one. I thought the designs were amazing and would have added value to Fed Square.

Yes the design was great but it was totally inappropriate to have it in that spot in a public square, particularly as it was going to be taking the place of the Koorie (First Nations) Heritage Centre. Also very unsuitable for vehicle access, and when public events are happening at Fed Square (which is often). A good location might be at the other end of the CBD, say within the Melbourne Central retail complex, or better still a flagship design to replace the derelict building on Victoria/Rathdowne corner. But please Apple, do something!

 

[svish]

Good to know about the store opening. Waiting to see some photos from the new store.

 

[orbital~debris]

The exterior looks beautiful, and the architecture reminds me a little of Apple Regent Street.

 

[tomtad]

Didn't want one in the middle of one of the most public squares in the city, but that doesn't mean they can't build one elsewhere in the CBD.

Seems Apple told them to stuff it

 

[Plutonius]

I guess it was only a matter of time before Apple wanted a bank vault .

 

[lkrupp]

Whatever happened to the Microsoft and Samsung stores?

 

[robfoll]

Apple totally ****ed up in Melbourne. Total bad planning amd arrogance. The stores in the surrounding shopping centres are unbelievably awkward to get to, and Apple is certainly losing business by not having a major presence in the CBD!

 

[fermat-au]

This is the first new Apple Store in Australia in almost 10 years, the last being Miranda in July of 2015.
{Edit} Apple Storefronts is showing this as not a new store by a new location of the former Hay St store.

 

[mnewton91]

Apple totally ****ed up in Melbourne. Total bad planning amd arrogance. The stores in the surrounding shopping centres are unbelievably awkward to get to, and Apple is certainly losing business by not having a major presence in the CBD!

I don't think people aren't buying Apple products because there's no Melbourne CBD Store... NZ doesn't even have an Apple Store anywhere and they make do just fine...

 

[frownface]

I don't think people aren't buying Apple products because there's no Melbourne CBD Store... NZ doesn't even have an Apple Store anywhere and they make do just fine...

not even apple can afford the rent in Auckland.

 

[robfoll]

I don't think people aren't buying Apple products because there's no Melbourne CBD Store... NZ doesn't even have an Apple Store anywhere and they make do just fine...

I think they would sell even more with a big public face as in comparable cities globally Everywhere I've travelled - London, Paris, Shanghai, New York, San Francisco, etc., etc. - the Apple stores have been thronged day in and day out. And it would make life a lot easier for Apple users who actually lived in Melbourne rather than in the far, far shopping centre suburbs.