Locals begged council to protect their home—developers got the green light anyway
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Residents thought their local shopping centre would stand the test of time.
Instead, it’s being demolished—and not everyone is ready to say goodbye.
The arrival of another major supermarket chain has ignited a fresh battle between big retail and beloved local businesses.
Plans to tear down Perth’s Glengarry Shopping Centre had left some Duncraig locals disheartened, with Woolworths proposing a new full-line supermarket, eateries and commercial spaces in its place.
Long-time shopper Neal Meakins said the IGA at the centre had become part of his routine.
‘It’s obviously a shame, but you can’t stop progress,’ he said.
Woolworths, which lodged a development application with the City of Joondalup earlier this year, stated the area was under-serviced in grocery retail and needed an upgrade.
‘The redevelopment would include new services and convenient shopping options, and aims to create a vibrant place for small business and the community,’ a company spokesman said.
The move would force the IGA to exit the site—something IGA supplier Metcash said was due to the proposed replacement supermarket being too small, lacking dock access and not viable.
Metcash food chief Grant Ramage said the decision reflected a troubling national pattern.
‘The trend known as creeping acquisitions is ongoing and contributes to the erosion of independent supermarket presence in local markets over time, and the overall scale of the independent network, needed to maintain a competitive offer,’ he said.
Locals like Karen Kroeger feared smaller businesses could be priced out or unable to find space in the new development.
‘I feel for a lot of small businesses who may not be able to operate in a new centre place because of rent increases, or there’s not enough space, and it’s also hard and costly for them to start somewhere again in a different location,’ she said.
Other shoppers welcomed the proposed changes, pointing to the centre’s visible wear and tear.
Rosemarie Persson, who owned Duncraig-Glengarry Flowers & Gifts, described the centre as ‘tired’ and said the upgrade would attract much-needed foot traffic.
‘There’s going to be more coffee shops and more places to eat, a Woolworths, more variety,’ she said.
‘But hopefully all the small businesses around here can come back and benefit from that.’
Not everyone would be returning.
Holmesys Bakehouse owner Steven Holmes said he couldn’t afford to relocate while construction took place, despite being offered a future space in the new build.
‘As a small business owner, I cannot afford it,’ he said.
‘I’ve only been here for three years, and I haven’t even got the revenue yet…so yeah, I’m just taking the money and I’m gone.’
Woolworths’ redevelopment plans at Glengarry came as the supermarket postponed other builds in North and West Perth due to higher construction costs, sparking questions over its broader strategy.
While marketing analyst Barry Urquhart saw the move as a natural part of the centre’s life cycle, others questioned the need for another major supermarket given there were already six Woolworths within a 10-minute drive.
Mr Ramage noted that despite public inquiries and millions spent, creeping acquisitions by major chains continued with little resistance.
He hoped upcoming merger law changes—requiring deals involving companies with turnovers above $200 million to secure ACCC approval—would slow the trend.
‘We are hopeful that the new merger laws will assist when they come into effect but will only go so far and won’t reverse the damage done to date,’ he said.
Former ACCC chair Graeme Samuel criticised the competition watchdog’s recent report on supermarkets, saying its recommendations lacked strength.
Meanwhile, Woolworths’ application remained under review, with a final decision to be made by the Outer Metropolitan Development Assessment Panel.
If you’ve ever watched your local shops transform before your eyes, you’ll know how quickly change can stir mixed emotions in a community.
Development plans might promise modern conveniences, but they can also spark fierce opposition from residents worried about losing their town’s character.
Read more: This sleepy coastal town is facing a makeover, but some locals aren’t happy
For many residents, it’s not just bricks and mortar being lost—but decades of community connection. What would you do if the heart of your town was at risk of being replaced?
Instead, it’s being demolished—and not everyone is ready to say goodbye.
The arrival of another major supermarket chain has ignited a fresh battle between big retail and beloved local businesses.
Plans to tear down Perth’s Glengarry Shopping Centre had left some Duncraig locals disheartened, with Woolworths proposing a new full-line supermarket, eateries and commercial spaces in its place.
Long-time shopper Neal Meakins said the IGA at the centre had become part of his routine.
‘It’s obviously a shame, but you can’t stop progress,’ he said.
Locals brace for major shopping centre overhaul. Image source: Aussie Random Videos
Woolworths, which lodged a development application with the City of Joondalup earlier this year, stated the area was under-serviced in grocery retail and needed an upgrade.
‘The redevelopment would include new services and convenient shopping options, and aims to create a vibrant place for small business and the community,’ a company spokesman said.
The move would force the IGA to exit the site—something IGA supplier Metcash said was due to the proposed replacement supermarket being too small, lacking dock access and not viable.
Metcash food chief Grant Ramage said the decision reflected a troubling national pattern.
‘The trend known as creeping acquisitions is ongoing and contributes to the erosion of independent supermarket presence in local markets over time, and the overall scale of the independent network, needed to maintain a competitive offer,’ he said.
Locals like Karen Kroeger feared smaller businesses could be priced out or unable to find space in the new development.
‘I feel for a lot of small businesses who may not be able to operate in a new centre place because of rent increases, or there’s not enough space, and it’s also hard and costly for them to start somewhere again in a different location,’ she said.
Other shoppers welcomed the proposed changes, pointing to the centre’s visible wear and tear.
Rosemarie Persson, who owned Duncraig-Glengarry Flowers & Gifts, described the centre as ‘tired’ and said the upgrade would attract much-needed foot traffic.
‘There’s going to be more coffee shops and more places to eat, a Woolworths, more variety,’ she said.
‘But hopefully all the small businesses around here can come back and benefit from that.’
Not everyone would be returning.
Holmesys Bakehouse owner Steven Holmes said he couldn’t afford to relocate while construction took place, despite being offered a future space in the new build.
‘As a small business owner, I cannot afford it,’ he said.
‘I’ve only been here for three years, and I haven’t even got the revenue yet…so yeah, I’m just taking the money and I’m gone.’
Woolworths’ redevelopment plans at Glengarry came as the supermarket postponed other builds in North and West Perth due to higher construction costs, sparking questions over its broader strategy.
While marketing analyst Barry Urquhart saw the move as a natural part of the centre’s life cycle, others questioned the need for another major supermarket given there were already six Woolworths within a 10-minute drive.
Mr Ramage noted that despite public inquiries and millions spent, creeping acquisitions by major chains continued with little resistance.
He hoped upcoming merger law changes—requiring deals involving companies with turnovers above $200 million to secure ACCC approval—would slow the trend.
‘We are hopeful that the new merger laws will assist when they come into effect but will only go so far and won’t reverse the damage done to date,’ he said.
Former ACCC chair Graeme Samuel criticised the competition watchdog’s recent report on supermarkets, saying its recommendations lacked strength.
Meanwhile, Woolworths’ application remained under review, with a final decision to be made by the Outer Metropolitan Development Assessment Panel.
If you’ve ever watched your local shops transform before your eyes, you’ll know how quickly change can stir mixed emotions in a community.
Development plans might promise modern conveniences, but they can also spark fierce opposition from residents worried about losing their town’s character.
Read more: This sleepy coastal town is facing a makeover, but some locals aren’t happy
For many residents, it’s not just bricks and mortar being lost—but decades of community connection. What would you do if the heart of your town was at risk of being replaced?
