Twenty years ago, Botany Town Centre opened as a first-of-its-kind shopping centre and hub for the community centred around a pedestrian-friendly mall concept. Having enjoyed a $78m makeover in 2019, the AMP Capital managed centre has expanded to 62,700m2 and boasts more than 200 stores.
The development included an extension to the Fashion Pavilions, the refurbishment of HOYTS Cinemas with more than 1,000 luxurious powered recliner seats, an extended landscaped area outside the Pavilions with seating for dining and the enclosure of the outdoor area of Garden Lane.

Kerrie Hughes, Centre Manager at Botany Town Centre says, “Botany was one-of-a-kind when it opened, and we have always worked to cultivate what sets it apart. We are pleased to mark our 20^th birthday having completed a multi-stage development that keeps the centre at the forefront of retail, hospitality, and entertainment destinations for Aucklanders. Our goal is to remain the focus of a sense of place, purpose and wellbeing in our community – so we host a range of events and cultural festivities.

She continued, “In the past we have hosted Dog Adoption Drives to help rescue pups find their forever homes, and partnered with charities to fund the planting of thousands of native trees by schoolchildren, and to support new mums and their families. It is also very important to us that people are not limited in their access to the centre by age or mobility, so we partner with MECOSS and the Salvation Army to provide complimentary mobility equipment for a door-to-door shopping shuttle service.”

The Sweet Land is one of 19 stores that have been at Botany Town Centre since it opened in 2001. Grace Lee has run the confectionery store with her husband for over 20 years. They emigrated from Korea, where, Lee says, “We never really liked sweets too much. So when we first started here, we really had to learn. We have learned from our customers what they like and we stick to what we do best.

“Over the years we have had customers come from north, south and west Auckland as well as locally – it is a good atmosphere here. We really love the people and meeting new people. They are always so kind, they smile and love coming into The Sweet Land”, she said.

Hughes says, “The development of Botany Town Centre in the three years leading up to its 20^th birthday showcased the wide appeal of a refurbished centre, with a high degree of interest from popular brands here and globally, who had their pick of locations. The advantage was that the centre was developing from a strong footprint and could combine what was new with the best of the established centre. It is a credit to the owners that they invested further in the centre to enable us to deliver a premier shopping centre experience for our customers and retailers.”
The development at Botany Town Centre added a number of new retailers to the mix. The newest retailers include H&M, Mecca Maxima, DECJUBA, The Cosmetic Clinic, Allure Beauty, Laser Clinic, Toyworld, Platypus, Presshouse, Stewart Dawson, Westpac, Sushi Sushi, Starbucks and Postie (both previous tenants which returned to the new-look centre), PappaRich, Gong Cha, Connor, Sunglass Hut, Cotton On Mega, Adairs and Skechers. Existing retailers Hallensteins, Pandora, Novo, Macpac and Silvermoon also opened new-look stores.

A recent competition on the Botany Town Centre Facebook page inviting people to share their Botany memories illustrates how shoppers feel about the centre; the six winners each claimed a $50 gift card and revealed something special in their winning comment about the role the centre has played in their lives.

Erin Steele posted, “Meeting my new friend for the first time upstairs at the café in Whitcoulls in 2001. Drinking four cups of coffee in one day to not let the date end. For us to marry 10 years later and still be married 10 years after that! First day of the rest of my life!”

Devon Henehan recalled, “Having Mother’s Day brunch with my mum and nanna (who has since passed away). Every time I walk past the café it reminds me of that happy memory of her.”
And Tracey Clooney posted, “I had my first baby scan there with my husband. And also to find out she was a girl (she is now 12!).”