Revised Plans for Flagship Apple Store in Brisbane, Australia Surface

[MacRumors]

A revised construction plan for Apple's flagship retail store in Brisbane, Australia has surfaced nearly two years after the store was originally announced to be built, reports ifoAppleStore (via AppleInsider). Plans for the Australian store were thought to have been abandoned after a bankruptcy filing from a major contractor in 2012 as well as reported problems with the modification of the historic building which the store is to be built in.

The store will be located in the MacArthur Chambers building, a 10-story high-rise that was originally constructed in 1934. Apple plans to make few structural changes to the interior, with the plans showing minor changes to a mezzanine wall, some windows, and a stairway.

According to the revised landscape plan, Apple is planning to remove a number of structures on the sidewalk in front of the store, like a large pedestrian bench, as well as relocate a tree to create symmetry with the store's front entrance.

The updated filing for the store did not indicate a timeframe for when it would open; however rumors suggest that the location could open in October of this year at the earliest.

Article Link: Revised Plans for Flagship Apple Store in Brisbane, Australia Surface

 

[fullauto]

Apple needs to build a flagship in Surfers Paradise, especially with the new light rail and approaching commenwealth games. The Robina store is constantly jam packed..

 

[RichardOwens]

Duplicate

there might be another thread on this ...

 

[the8thark]

I have been outside this very building many times as it's my home town. And I haven't seen any work done on the building since the last company who started it went belly up. The building has been unused ever since.

And I know the bench you are talking about. And I'm glad it'll be removed. Also there is more info that this will probably become reality finally.

1. From ifoapplestore
Court Orders Apple To Finish Retail Space
http://www.ifoapplestore.com/2013/04/11/court-orders-apple-to-finish-retail-space/

The final word has been issued on the long-running and troubled construction of the MacArthur Chambers (Brisbane, Australia) Apple retail store, but mystery still surrounds why Apple cancelled the project in the first place. According to tipsters, a Queensland state court has ruled that Apple must continue to pay for construction on their portion of retail space within the historic building, up to a “end-of-lease handover” standard. That is, additional construction must be performed inside the space so the building owner can lease the space to another tenant. Within days of the court’s ruling, Apple began taking bids from local contractors for the required work. Right now, passersby say the two-level retail space in city-center is quiet. About half the interior work is unfinished before another retailer could install their own store interior. An extensive renovation on the 1934-era building began in mid-2011, but was interrupted in early 2012 when contractor Kell & Rigby went bankrupt. Work began anew within months, but stopped again in in Nov. 2012 when Apple decided to cancel the store. Since then, virtually no work has been performed on the interior. The reason for Apple pulling the plug on the project is still unknown.

2. Jobs at Apple
http://www.apple.com/jobs/au/retail.html

3. The ifoapplestore guy also tweeted these.

So there is a lot of evidence to say this Apple store will finally go ahead, thanks to a little help from the courts. And it will be the longest time an Apple store took to be completed.

Will I be there at some silly early hour in the morning waiting at the closed door on opening day hoping to get a free t-shirt or something?
You bet your sweet dollar I will be. I really can not wait for this.

----------

**tumbleweed**

This is no different to other store openings. And this one is rumoured to look amazing inside. Every new Apple store is interesting to the locals in that country/area. Even though this is a US based site, >50% of Apple's revenue these days is outside the US. It makes the international happenings of Apple just as important as the US ones.

 

[hoylen]

MacArthur Central: a historic building

For those interested in history, this building was General Douglas MacArthur's headquarters during World War II, between July 1942 and November 1944. That is why the building is now called MacArthur Central and houses the MacArthur Museum Brisbane.

It would be good to have a central Apple Store in Brisbane. The current two (Chermside and Carindale) are located in suburban shopping centres.

 

[Yvan256]

The grid layout is neat, it reminds me of the one for the icons in iOS 7.

 

[the8thark]

It would be good to have a central Apple Store in Brisbane. The current two (Chermside and Carindale) are located in suburban shopping centres.

This new Apple store would probably kill the store within a store Apple have in Myer, in the Myer Centre, and any resellers if they still exist. The last reseller I knew in Brisbane shut up shop a long time ago. I wonder how the other stores that sell Apple products too will fare after the Apple store is finished?

Brisbane defo needs the Apple store though. Just yesterday in Brisbane I took photos of so much Apple advertising in Brisbane. Mostly for the iPad. Everywhere, billboards, signs, posters, etc etc. Apple is really pushing hard that way. And having the Apple store, using the advertising to . . . well in a way direct the customers indirectly to the soon to be opened Apple store I think is the way to go.

Does the outside of the building look any different when I saw it yesterday? Not really. There could be work done on the interior in secret, but I don't think so. I don't think Apple have started on the final work for the store yet. But hopefully soon they will.

 

[RichardOwens]

Does the outside of the building look any different when I saw it yesterday? Not really. There could be work done on the interior in secret, but I don't think so. I don't think Apple have started on the final work for the store yet. But hopefully soon they will.

http://tinypic.com/r/o8ufkj/5

Like on Saturday maybe

http://tinypic.com/r/doxf9l/5
http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/keep-calm-and-smile-and-wave-5.png

Plans on Skyscrapercity http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=106556178&postcount=359

Of course this was a hint http://tinypic.com/r/6eqex5/5

 

[the8thark]

All your quoted links

I didn't see that. I'll have a look again this week and take some more photos of it. Thanks for that I don't doubt the store will be happening. That is fact now. I just am waiting to see if the store will be one of the biggest in Australia as people claimed a while ago.

I remember when Dymocks book store was at that site before they moved a while ago, And the shop size was huge. Three floors of retail space plus extra floors above for office space that the public was not allowed to go in. If Apple use up all 3 floors, then this store is to be huge. Apple almost don't have enough products to fill up the space.

This store opening in one to go to, (even if you don't want the chance of a free t-shirt), just to see how Apple will deal with that really large space and how beautiful Apple can make it.

 

[RichardOwens]

2.3 Floors

#1 I didn't see that. I'll have a look again this week and take some more photos of it.


#2 Three floors of retail space plus extra floors above for office space that the public was not allowed to go in. If Apple use up all 3 ?? floors, then this store is to be huge. Apple almost don't have enough products to fill up the space.

#1 Waiting on Pix

#2 According to the plan 2.3 Floors - Mezzanine is a third

The rest of the building is a hotel of sorts ...

 

[the8thark]

#1 Waiting on Pix

#2 According to the plan 2.3 Floors - Mezzanine is a third

The rest of the building is a hotel of sorts ...

1. I'll get the photos next week when I go to Brisbane again. I'll do it. .
2. I dunno what the plans say but as far as I know that building was never a hotel.

 

[RichardOwens]

1. I'll get the photos

Courtesy of Whirlpool Forums http://tinypic.com/r/142yonr/5

2. I dunno what the plans say but as far as I know that building was never a hotel.

Entry via Edward St, rather overtly a Hotel

http://www.macarthurchambers.com.au/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacArthur_Central

Courtesy of Skyscraper City and NathanDavid

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=106556178&postcount=359
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=106584261&postcount=366

As a matter of interest Australian Premier Mac Site is Mactalk

http://www.mactalk.com.au/rumours-apple-events/

Does the outside of the building look any different when I saw it yesterday?

NO

Not really. There could be work done on the interior in secret

Jackhammers almost non stop

, but I don't think so.

Your opinion is very welcome

I don't think Apple have started on the final work for the store yet. But hopefully soon they will.

So the herd of tradies going in and out are just doing lunch

 

[the8thark]

Thanks for all that information.
And I'll get photos of the place next week. Probably in 1-2 days time. I've been too busy helping out with federal election campaigning all this week.

 

[RichardOwens]

Thanks for all that information.
And I'll get photos of the place next week. Probably in 1-2 days time. I've been too busy helping out with federal election campaigning all this week.

I take it you dont live in Brisbane ?

 

[the8thark]

I take it you dont live in Brisbane ?

Ipswich technically. 1 hour train ride away from Brisbane.

 

[RichardOwens]

No use looking for an update from MacTalk, site has been hacked

 

[the8thark]

I have updates. Photos I took of the site today.

A traffic control box 2-3 metres from the door way. I laughed at the artwork on it when I saw it.

Overall Pic of the outside of the building.

A plaque of the floor next to the steps leading to the doors.

A zoom in of the statues on the front of the building.

A shot of one of the windows. The black plastic is up. And there was lights and sounds coming from inside the building. And one guy was working outside the building doing some wiring work I guess for the Apple store. But there was no one going in or out.

 

[the8thark]

I take it you dont live in Brisbane ?

Photos are up of the building in my above post.

 

[RichardOwens]

Lights On Someone Is Home

Photos are up of the building in my above post.

http://tinypic.com/r/10q9vmx/5

That will brighten up a dark corner of Edward St

 

[the8thark]

http://tinypic.com/r/10q9vmx/5

That will brighten up a dark corner of Edward St

It's not really a dark corner but I get your point 100% Lets hope this Apple store is as successful as we all want it to be.

 

[RichardOwens]

On the move

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/dig...ped-for-macarthur-central-20131003-2ux4k.html

Scaffolding shrouds the Brisbane CBD's Macarthur Central site, widely believed to be an Apple store.

http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2013/10/03/4801767/ca-apple-wide-20131003171704796903-620x349.jpg

 

[the8thark]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/dig...ped-for-macarthur-central-20131003-2ux4k.html

Scaffolding shrouds the Brisbane CBD's Macarthur Central site, widely believed to be an Apple store.

http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2013/10/03/4801767/ca-apple-wide-20131003171704796903-620x349.jpg

I just saw this. And thanks for sharing it. I would have shared it if you had not. But that's cool doesn't matter who shares it.

I'll be back in Brisbane on Saturday and can take some more photos. To show the progress.

 

[RichardOwens]

Lifted these off the Whirlpool site

http://tinypic.com/r/ngxb2u/5
http://tinypic.com/r/fcjspc/5
http://tinypic.com/r/2ekr67c/5
http://tinypic.com/r/11lhdgx/5
http://tinypic.com/r/10riv5t/5
http://tinypic.com/r/357gh1k/5

Hope they dont mind

Plenty happening

 

[RichardOwens]

I just saw this.

Excellent

And thanks for sharing it.

Appreciation noted

I would have shared it if you had not.

Great

But that's cool doesn't matter who shares it.

So long as some does that is fine

I'll be back in Brisbane on Saturday and can take some more photos.

Waiting for them

To show the progress.

No doubt it will

 

[the8thark]

Excellent

Thank you.

I was there today. No camera with me unfortunately. But the whole facade and side of the building was covered. with Apple's usual store hiding black material. Right up to the top of the statue at the top of the door. So almost two stories covered with black. And in front of the 2 stories of black material was a lot of scaffolding. And in the ground floor there was a basic black wood blockade in front of the scaffolding.

So basically Apple is up to the "gotta hide everything really well" stage. So not long to go now.