Australia’s first ever Apple Global Flagship Store will open at Federation Square (pictured) in Melbourne, delivering more public space, visitors and events to Victoria, and creating hundreds of local jobs.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren says the new flagship store would be a major drawcard for visitors and locals, breathing new life into one of Melbourne’s most iconic landmarks. The store will create nearly 500 square metres of new public space within Federation Square and make it easier for people to move between the Yarra River and Birrarung Marr.
Apple will bolster our creative offerings and events in Federation Square alongside the likes of the Koorie Heritage Trust, ACMI and the National Gallery of Victoria.
The store will replace the existing Yarra Building, creating extra open space in front of the big screen. The Koorie Heritage Trust will relocate within the Alfred Deakin building at the Square, providing a larger central area and better public access.
Securing Apple is part of a broader strategy to reinvigorate Federation Square, following the recent announcement of new LED screens to create one of the world’s first outdoor digital art galleries, says Eren. Federation Square is expected to attract an extra two million people every year once the Global Flagship store opens its doors, having already welcomed more than 100 million visitors since opening in 2002.
The redevelopment will create more than 250 construction jobs and support more than 200 new ongoing jobs across the precinct once complete. Construction is set to begin early 2019 and the store will open in 2020.
Apple’s investment at Federation Square will be its first Global Flagship store in the southern hemisphere, the second outside the United States, and the fifth worldwide.With the opening of the store, Apple will have 502 retail stores in 23 countries and an online store available in 39 countries.
