A MALL that once boomed with shoppers now looks like a scene from Zombie apocalypse, causing a widespread outrage.
Horrifying images show a deplorable state of the Market Square in Australia.
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The shopping centre gradually closed down in stages to be replaced with a new retail and residential redevelopment before it was shut down for good last April.
Some of the last boutiques housed in Market Square included retailers like Sportsgirl, The Birdcage on Hunter and Tree of Life.
The mall also had a food court and an outdoor glass lift which are now destroyed.
The former food court has a collapsed ceiling and debris everywhere while the lift’s glass is completely shattered.
Broken glass, graffiti and rubbish are strewn everywhere.
The scenes of abandoned shops, holes in the wall, damaged tables and chairs and weed growing outside are straight out of the Zombie movie.
The residents were outraged when they saw the abandoned site in a Facebook post.
They slammed the council and local police for neglecting the mall and taking “zero responsibility” for fires and vandalism at the site.
Locals lamented the centre’s downfall, calling it “a squalid eyesore”.
One person said: “Sad to see it so trashed.”
Many dwelt on the past sharing fond memories of the place.
One user wrote: “I remember being there as a kid with the place absolutely packed. There used to be a pedestrian bridge above the mall to help manage traffic flows.”
Others reminisced about the quirky shops, the coffee lounge on the sky walk, and the food court having “the best chips and gravy.”
The Market Square’s demolition is part of a $880 million redevelopment plans to turn the area into residential and retail spaces.
A local council spokesperson admitted the site has become a considerable safety risk for people.
She also added that the construction is due to start in just a matter of days.
“City of Newcastle has been working with NSW Police and Iris Capital as the property owner in relation to significant public safety concerns around part of the Hunter Mall,” she said.
The demolition of the site is set to commence on January 8.
At the time of the centre’s closure in April, Iris Capital representative said the demolition was crucial to return the mall to its former glory.
“This site provides another opportunity for revitalisation and for Iris Capital to contribute further to the transformation of the Hunter Street Mall,” he said.
The final stage of redevelopment is scheduled to finish in late 2025.
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