This week in retail property

A new way to connect at Stockland

Diversified property developer Stockland has launched an online meeting place that creates a link between shopping centre retailers and customers, Belong by Stockland.

The website features live meetups, food inspiration and DIY ideas, wellbeing content, interviews with retailers and more.

Spanish-born Australian chef, restaurateur, author and television presenter Miguel Maestre is thrilled to be part of the hub and will be hosting a cooking event later this month on the new site. Maestre has hosted many events at Stockland town centres and is looking forward to his next event, “where we can all cook together – apart”.

Stylist Jules Sebastian said she was eager to connect with the community again with her upcoming on-demand fashion edit.

“I’m really looking forward to offering my expertise on the Belong by Stockland hub. I’ll be sharing some new fashion styling advice and there will be a special interview coming your way soon,” Sebastian said.

Urban farm delivers food to needy

Frasers Property’s Burwood Brickworks in Melbourne, in partnership with Acre Farm and Eatery and Crossway LifeCare, is delivering fresh fruit and vegetables from its rooftop gardens to local people in need.

 The centre’s 2000sqm urban farm, which opened last year, was created by Tully Heard, the team behind Acre Eatery Camperdown, The Greens North Sydney and The Fernery Mosman. It was billed as Australia’s first shopping centre rooftop urban farm and eatery.

 While the restaurant connected with the urban farm remains closed due to COVID-19, the new partnership ensures that the farm’s produce is not wasted or left to rot, but regularly delivered to Crossway LifeCare’s customers.

 Eric Park, Burwood Brickworks centre manager, said the program is about “using a community resource to help people and families who may be experiencing food insecurity in these challenging times”.

 He said part of Burwood Brickworks’ mission statement is to “have a different perspective on waste by viewing and treating waste as a resource”.

 “It would be against the spirit of the centre for the quality produce grown in the community farm not to be used for the community’s benefit,” Park said.