November 29th, 2024Ballarat’s Bridge Mall ready for big lead up to Christmas

The City of Ballarat is working with the Bridge Mall Business Association and traders to celebrate the first Black Friday sales and Christmas season in the city’s newly revamped Bridge Mall.

The Bridge Mall Business Association is launching The Bridge is Back campaign in the lead up to Christmas.

Bridge Mall traders aim to keep the spirit of Christmas alive with an exciting range of festive events, promotions, a Christmas market, entertainment, activities and Santa visits in the lead up to Christmas, as well as getting a jump on Black Friday with a four-day sales extravaganza – that started yesterday Thursday 28 November.

With the Grenville Street roadworks recently completed and the mall for now remaining pedestrian-only, shoppers can park nearby and explore the revitalised shopping and dining destination on foot.

Upcoming highlights include:

Black Friday sales – Thursday 28 November to Cyber Monday 2 December

• Save with exclusive VIP sales at multiple stores on Thursday.
• Spend more than $30 in any store for your chance to win one of two $500 gift vouchers.

Christmas festivities – from Saturday 7 December

• Santa arrives at the Christmas Bridge Market on Saturday 7 December, from 9am to 1pm. Santa’s Workshop will be located in the new event area opposite Best and Less, alongside Wen and Ware.
• Pet photos with Santa on Sunday 8, Sunday 15 and Sunday 22 December, from 10am to 3pm, in the new event area.
• Secret Santa giveaway on Saturday 14 December with kids’ entertainment, face painting, gingerbread decorating, James the fire truck and jumping castle in the new event area. Spend $30 or more and with your receipt spin the wheel to win a gift voucher from participating stores at The Bridge – with more than $5,000 in vouchers to win! The Spin to Win wheel will be hosted by Lara from Power FM and starts at 10am and runs until 3pm – or until all prizes are won.  
• The Bridge Christmas Festival Community Event on Saturday 21 December featuring Ballarat Memorial Concert Band performing Christmas carols, roving performers, face painting, gingerbread decorating, James the fire truck, jumping castle, and Santa makes a special appearance for the day.
• Explore the Christmas Art Trail, part of the City of Ballarat’s annual Christmas decorations, which features five locations including two in the mall.
• Enjoy the 12 Days of Christmas performances exclusive to the Bridge Mall, including an interactive session with the Ballarat Wildlife Park, a magician, a spectacular fire-twirling performance, dancers and singers.
• Large Christmas star decorations will light up the entrance into the mall, at the heritage Nicholson Light at the Grenville and Sturt Streets intersection.
• Visit the large crystal star decoration installed near Foundry Way in the mall.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves encouraged the wider community to get behind their favourite businesses and explore the new-look mall this Christmas.

“Shopping locally is one of the best ways to give back to our community,” she said.

“The redeveloped Bridge Mall promises a shopping experience like no other – where every purchase helps build a stronger, more vibrant community.

“Every dollar spent at the Bridge Mall – and right across our retail and hospitality sector – helps sustain our local businesses, supports local jobs and enhances the Christmas spirit of our city.”

Bridge Mall Business Association President Wendy McLachlan said traders are excited about their first Christmas season in the revamped mall.  

“We have an amazing entrance to The Bridge, with pedestrian access from both sides of Sturt Street connecting The Bridge to the CBD,” she said.  

“The stores are fully stocked with new season’s fashions, footwear, kids wear, great homewares and gifts for Christmas, and with over 1200 car parks, it makes Christmas shopping easy.  

“With new and existing food and coffee offers you will be able to re-charge while Christmas shopping in our beautiful new space all while supporting local small business.”

Bridge Mall Redevelopment update

The complex works to replace the 153-year-old bridge are progressing but have proved more challenging than anticipated, with the full extent of the structural issues unable to be fully identified until reconstruction works began.

The timeframe for completion will depend on the ground conditions for piling and bridge slab installations to ensure pedestrian and motorists’ safety, as well as a certified load rating for the bridge to meet modern standards.  

Vehicles will only be able to utilise the mall space once the bridge and associated road works are completed.  

The City of Ballarat is working with contractor 2Construct, the Bridge Mall Business Association and all traders to minimise the impact of bridge rectification works as much as possible. However, as with any major development, there will be unavoidable impacts to businesses and community while construction occurs.    

The Bridge Mall redevelopment now features a landscaped entry into the mall, trees and plants creating garden beds throughout the space, a dynamic new play space as well as plenty of new seating and gathering spaces.  

Fully-funded by the City of Ballarat, the redevelopment has already led to significant new investment in the Bridge Mall.

This story based on a City of Ballarat media release. Image: Supplied