Location (refer Melways 69, D4)
The Melbourne PC User Group premises are located within the Chadstone Shopping Centre, the largest shopping complex in the Southern Hemisphere.
The most direct access to these premises is from the Woolworths car park accessed either directly from Dandenong Road or via Middle Road. See diagram below.
Access by car
The main entrance to Chadstone Shopping Centre is on Dandenong Road. An alternative is via Warrigal Road, turning west into Middle Road.
Approach 1: From the city: travel southeast along Dandenong Rd and 400m after crossing Chadstone Rd (Macdonalds' on the corner), turn left into the south end of Castlebar Road. Proceed to the second roundabout close to the shopping centre. Turn right into the Ground Level Woolworths Car Park.
Approach 2: From the city: travel southeast along the Monash Freeway. Exit at Warrigal Rd and turn south under the freeway. Proceed as for Approach 3.
Approach 3: From the north: Travel south on Warrigal Road. After passing under the Monash Freeway, turn right into Middle Rd which leads directly to the Shopping Centre. As you approach the shopping centre, turn left at a set of traffic lights. Proceed to a roundabout and turn right to reach the Ground Level Woolworths Car Park.
(Note: If approaching via Middle Rd, be sure to take the left turn at the traffic lights; otherwise you will descend to the Lower Level car park. You may of course use this park if desired. See the section titled Locating the meeting rooms from within the Chadstone Shopping Centre, below.)
Locating the meeting rooms from Woolworths car park — yellow line on map
After reaching the Woolworths car park, your next task is to locate the Melbourne PC User Group premises. They are located on the second level at the yellow 'rectangle' with red border on the map above, which otherwise shows the Ground Level of the Shopping Centre. Chadstone Place (the Melb PC office location) is actually the office block associated with the Shopping Centre.
Close to the Woolworths parking area is a part of the Centre containing Jones the Grocer, the Oriental Tea House and the UN Cafe Bar. There is also a distinctive scupture (shown at right) in front of the Centre at this point.
Go to this entrance and once inside the Centre, turn left at the lift sign just beyond Simon Johnson which also leads off to the toilets. As you follow the corridor around you will come to glass doors on the right with a large No Smoking sign. Go through these doors to a vestibule where you will find a lift. Take the lift to the second level. You walk out of the lift into the Melbourne PC User Group premises.
Locating the meeting rooms from within the Chadstone Shopping Centre — orange line on map
For all sorts of reasons, members may choose to park other than in the Woolworths Car Park at ground level, perhaps because this car park may be full, or because you prefer to park under cover beneath the shopping centre. If you park at will and walk into the vastness of Chadstone Shopping Centre, you now need to reach the Melbourne PC User Group rooms in Chadstone Place, as follows:
- The first action is to go to the Ground Level. This is the upper of the two levels on which the Chadstone Shopping Centre exists. Do not remain on the lower level. You will never locate Chadstone Place from the lower level.
- Now walk towards the Target/Coles end of the complex. This is away from the David Jones/Myer end of the complex. Walk up the main aisle, away from the fashion end and towards the 'technical' end. You'll know you're at the right end when you begin to see mobile phone stores, Dick Smith, computer stores etc.
- In one of the hubs you will find a staffed Information Centre (see map). Go to this point.
- Now find the large aisle where Aldi is located. The staff member will point this out if you can't see it.
- Once outside Aldi look for the Oxfam store on your right. Beyond this is a corridor on the right, with a lift sign. Enter this corridor.
- Now walk down the corridor and directly past the lift on your left. (This is the wrong lift). Go through the glassed entrance way where you will find a ramp on the left leading upwards. Walk up this ramp.
- At the top of the ramp is a lift. Take the lift to the second level. Walk out of the lift into the Melbourne User Group premises.
Parking
Chadstone has over 9000 free car parking spaces, many of which are under cover. Parking is free but 3- or 4-hour time restrictions apply in most areas. Be sure to check as you park. We believe that the areas of Woolworth's car park farthest from the shops, marked in white rather than yellow, are unrestricted, but please use this advice at your own risk.
A number of parking spaces for the Mobility Impaired are located adjacent to all Centre entrances. The Centre also has a number of parking spaces allocated for Parents with Prams. Clear colour-coded car parking signage directs to all major car parks. Signage at the entrances to the Centre reminds customers of which car park they are entering/leaving. For easy identification, the car parks are named after the major stores nearest to them.
The most direct access to the Melbourne PC User Group premises is through the Woolworths car park accessed either directly from Dandenong Road (the Woolworths park being ahead at the second roundabout) or via Middle Road. In the latter case, turn left at a set of traffic lights close to the shopping centre, then turn right at a roundabout to reach the Ground Level Woolworths park.
(Note: If approaching via Middle Rd, be sure to take the left turn at the traffic lights; otherwise you will descend to the Lower Level car park. You may of course use this park if desired. See the section titled Locating the meeting rooms from within the Chadstone Shopping Centre, above.)
Access by train
The stations nearest to Chadstone Shopping Centre are:
Hughesdale on the Cranbourne/Pakenham line; approx. 1.5km
Murrumbeena on the Cranbourne/Pakenham line: approx. 1.7km
Oakleigh on the Cranbourne/Pakenham line: approx. 1.9km
Holmesglen on the Glen Waverley line: approx 1.9km.
Buses run from all these stations to the Chadstone Shopping Centre.
Access by bus
Access by bicycle
The Scotchman's Creek Linear Trail and Waverley Rail Trail come to within easy reach of Chadstone Shopping Centre. Visit www.vicroads.vic.gov.au for maps of the nearby bike tracks. When at the Centre, bicycle racks are located outside the Bank of Melbourne entrance on the ground level, and the AMF Bowl, Goldcross Cycle and OPSM entrances on the lower level.
Public Transport References
