$12m Revamp For Corso

Work has started on the $12 million revamp of the St Matthews end of The Corso.  The Anglican Church, which owns the seven shops adjacent to St Matthews, has commenced a major rebuild of the properties. 

         Work commences Corso Shops                   Artist's Impression of New Works

The historic facade on the first floor will be kept, but behind that will be new kitchen facilities, a row of flexible meeting rooms and offices. The set-back second floor, not visible from The Corso, will contain a 180-seat auditorium with a kitchen and cafe. There will be a large new basement for storage space. 

At ground level, the row of shops will have ‘consistent’ frontages and signage, with the church looking for up-market tenants, including ‘iconic’ clothing brands, and a high-end coffee shop. Manly’s much-loved chemist Malouf’s Pharmacy, which was in that row of shops and was forced to relocate, will be offered a spot.

The work will take up to a year to complete, but the experience will be softened with a mural coming to replace the existing ugly hoardings.