Charlestown Square

Charleston Square, serving as the major subregional shopping centre for the Hunter Valley since the 1970’s, was in need of a major overall that included a new philosophy - ‘extroverting’ the mall. CIVITAS was engaged as the lead master planner to rethink the internal-focused building and re-envision the shopping centre and its surrounding public realm as a vibrant town centre.

The Master Plan included initiatives aimed at regenerating the ‘heart’ of Charlestown Square including:

• The introduction of the South Plaza, a lively public space offering a new front door to the community.It contains interactive fountains, a children's adventure play area, multi-level cafe and restaurant seating, and a performance space;
• The introduction of the North Plaza, a pedestrian-scaled space at the foot of the transit interchange;
• The potential for residential sleeving to create a living edge to Pearson Street;
• Upgrades, additions and redesigns of significant public amenity such as a new youth and community centre, child care, a renovated bowling green and cricket oval;
• Major entertainment and food services such as anew cinema, fresh food precinct and food court;
• A completely re-imagined shopping street; and
• Expanded parking and loading facilities that were sensitively designed to reduce the visual impact on the surrounding road network.