Macquarie Centre, a large shopping complex, located in North Ryde (a suburb in Sydney’s north-west) opened in November 1981. At that time it was one of the first shopping precincts with a focus on accessibility. It has continued to provide good services for shoppers with access needs but the one thing that our readers have told us over the years is that they couldn’t stay there as long as they would have liked because it was missing one element – that’s a Changing Places style of bathroom with adult-size change table and hoist. That’s until recently. One of our readers posted in our Accessible Sydney Facebook group that a new Changing Places style of bathroom is now available at Macquarie Centre so you can be sure I popped in to take a look for myself!
Macquarie Centre, Changing Places style of bathroom
In what looks like a general renovation of all the public bathrooms located on level 1 of Macquarie Shopping Centre, a Changing Places style of bathroom can now be found.
Motion sensor doors provide access to a foyer area where there is a stand-alone unisex bathroom and the Changing Places style of bathroom.
No MLAK key is required to enter the bathroom, instead there is a large green push button for opening the room.
Inside there is a similar button for locking the door and a spacious area with good circulation space. Grab rails and a back rest are provided on the toilet, there’s good access under the sink for a wheelchair user and to ensure you exit looking your best, there’s a well lit mirror.
A large adult-size change table is located in the room with a ceiling hoist providing access to both the change bed and the toilet.
The Changing Places style of bathroom and the unisex stand-alone accessible bathroom are located in a passage way on Level 1 (the very bottom level) of Macquarie Shopping Centre opposite Specsavers and Chantilly’s cafe (also accessible). It’s close to Service NSW and not far from Kmart.
For those unfamiliar with Macquarie Centre, what makes it relatively unique is the wide ramps that link the various levels of the original building in a circular direction. It’s a bit of a work out pushing a manual wheelchair around the levels but we appreciate the fact that we can make our way from the top to the bottom or vice versa using the ramps and avoiding the often long wait for lifts.
The centre offers free to loan wheelchairs, scooters and prams and you can book ShopMobility equipment by contacting the Centre Concierge Team on 9887 0820. Customers booking equipment can park in the marked ShopMobility parking spaces which can be accessed by entering from the express Herring Road ramp.
If you have an accessible parking permit you can also register your car rego with the Concierge Team and receive free parking.
Macquarie Centre is home to Event Cinemas, Timezone, bowling and a plethora of restaurants and shopping. If you don’t want to drive to the centre the Sydney Metro has a stop at Macquarie Centre, too.
Our reader Julie has advised that she and her husband (both wheelchair users) regularly stay nearby at the Mercure Hotel (formerly a Travelodge) next to the Macquarie University Hospital. Julie reports that “the hotel is very accessible and within accessible walking distance to the Shopping Centre.”
If a Changing Places style of bathroom with hoist or adult-size change table makes the difference as to whether you can stay to shop, dine or enjoy the movies, then Macquarie Centre might be the shopping centre pick for you.
