RetailPhil BartschWed 04 Nov 26
Gladstone Swings Big with Plan to Turn Fairways into Homemaker Hub
As far as retail development plays go, it could be deemed a $100-million-plus hole-in-one.
Fairways will make way for a big box retail precinct under plans soon to be filed to redevelop Central Queensland’s Gladstone Golf Club.
Yaralla Sports Club has teed up with Sydney-based developer Tipalea Partners to convert its 18-hole Kin Kora golf course—about 6km south of the Gladstone CBD—into a homemaker retail destination.
The scheme designed by i2C Architects comprises a combined 25,000sq m of gross floor area across about a dozen large format retail tenancies, fast-food and fuel outlets, as well as on-grade car parking for more than 700 vehicles.
The proposal follows the golf course facing years of financial struggles and, more recently, the encroachment of development that has led to safety liabilities.
To unlock the land, Yaralla Sports Club plans to lodge a rezoning-style application with Gladstone Regional Council in December.
Under its strategic repositioning, the club will be relocated to Byellee Waters—about 4.5km away—where it has masterplan approval for a $60-million leisure and golf precinct with an 18-hole championship course, four-star resort, clubhouse and RV park amid natural wetlands.
Early civil works at Byellee Waters are slated for early 2027 ahead of a targeted mid-2029 completion.
“This move represents an exciting new chapter for both the club and the wider community,” Yaralla Sports Club chief executive Will Schroeder said.
“We’re also delighted that our current site will have a new future as a big box retail centre, ensuring the land continues to serve the Gladstone community for many years to come.”
Preliminary leasing discussions are already under way with a mix of national brands and local operators across a variety of retail categories, including furniture, electrical, bedding, homewares, outdoor sports and trade supplies.
Tipalea Partners chief executive Scott Spanton said the proposed retail development represented a significant investment in Gladstone.
The Kin Kora Homemaker Centre is expected to create about 1200 jobs during construction, followed by a further 400 ongoing employment opportunities once operational.
“Gladstone is growing, but the community still has limited choice across a number of major retail categories,” Spanton said. “Rather than travel to Rockhampton, this precinct will bring those choices closer to home.”
Subject to planning and approvals, the centre is expected to open in 2030.
