Cinemas for Docklands

Movie lovers rejoice – Docklands is set to get its own cinemas.

Waterfront City developer Ashe Morgan last month announced it had signed Hoyts as the anchor tenant for its proposed multimillion-dollar entertainment precinct.

The cinema will have eight screens and will be built at the rear of Harbour Town, on what is currently the Wonderland Fun Park site.

Wonderland Fun Park will relocate to a new location under the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel early next year. See our next edition for more details.

The move is part of the developer’s plan to reposition Waterfront City, including Harbour Town, as a shopping and entertainment drawcard.

Ashe Morgan purchased Harbour Town Shopping Centre, the ice-skating rink and undeveloped Waterfront City land parcels from ING Real Estate at the end of 2014.

Since then, it has steadily been progressing plans to revitalise the precinct.

While the Waterfront City moniker had slipped away in recent years, Ashe Morgan has reclaimed the name for the precinct.

Ashe Morgan principal Alton Abrahams said the company was excited to enter into a partnership with Hoyts.

“We are pleased to partner with Hoyts, a market leader in the entertainment industry that has a solid vision and continues to lead the guest experience for movie goers,” Mr Abrahams said.

“We’re confident that the addition of the Hoyts cinema complex will entice movie-goers from across Melbourne to visit Waterfront City and enjoy the unique shopping and entertainment experience the centre is set to offer.”

“It’s great to see our vision for Waterfront City coming to life, and with the commitment from Hoyts, it represents another step towards the centre’s transformation into a leading leisure and retail destination.”

Hoyts Group CEO Damian Keogh said the company was excited about the new venture.

“We’re excited to be part of the rejuvenation happening at the entertainment leisure precinct at Harbour Town Docklands – it’s the perfect fit for Hoyts,” Mr Keogh said.

“And we can’t wait to keep pushing ourselves to continue to create cinemas of the future.”

Docklands Chamber of Commerce president Joh Maxwell said the cinema would be wonderful for Docklands.

“It will certainly complement all of the work Ashe Morgan is doing at Harbour Town and will be a great drawcard for Docklands,” Mrs Maxwell said.

“The Docklands Chamber of Commerce congratulates the management team at Harbour Town for initiatives across the centre and look forward to continuing to work with the traders as work continues.”

Alongside plans for a cinema, Ashe Morgan is also currently completing upgrades to Harbour Town, including installation of a transparent roof canopy and creation of two piazzas.

The company will lodge a planning permit application for the new cinema with the City of Melbourne by the end of this year.

Subject to approval, construction of Waterfront city’s “entertainment and leisure precinct” is scheduled to begin late next year.