Push for Bunnings Warehouse instead of Apple store at Federation Square

Apple’s plans to build a new store in Federation Square have come under fire, with a petition has been set up to install a Bunnings Warehouse instead.

The tech giant’s flagship store at the Melbourne landmark was announced by Tourism Minister John Eren on December 20.

Read more: Part of Federation Square to be demolished for Apple flagship store

The plan will see the three-storey Yarra building knocked down, and replaced by a two-storey Apple pavilion that stretches across 500 square metres of the public space.

While Mr Eren hailed the announcement as a win for the city, a number of people have slammed the move.

A petition on Change.org is now calling for a Bunnings Warehouse outlet to be built instead of an Apple Store.

“The proposed development of an Apple Store in Federation Square is a blatant abuse of precious public space,” petition creator Nick Price said.

“Bunnings is the one and only retailer that should be built on this sacred site.”

More than 1300 people have signed the document so far.

Construction of the new store is expected to begin in 2019, with the doors to open in 2020.

It comes as numerous digital mock-ups of a proposed ‘makeover’ for the site were leaked to the Herald Sun today.

A waterfall, billabong and digital art gallery are reportedly among suggestions for a refreshed look for Fed Square.

Professor Donald Bates, the landmark’s original architect, criticised all the new features as “unnecessary.”

“The square operates very well and the last thing it needs is things like that added to it,” Professor Bates told the newspaper.