Retail Pulse: What the New Openings and Planning Approvals Say About Camberwell’s Economic Direction

The Camberwell name spans two continents, but in both London and Melbourne the local retail scene is sending a clear signal: investors and operators are placing bets on the high street. On the London side, Camberwell High Street has been rated the third busiest in its survey, drawing visitors for snacks, coffee, banking, and top-up shopping at a frequency that rivals some West End locations. Across the globe, Melbourne’s Camberwell has seen retail occupancy rates soar, buoyed by a wave of new store openings.

London Camberwell: Cafes, Bakeries, and a Bookshop Boom

In South London, the past year has introduced a fresh crop of food-and-drink destinations. Lala Books, a bookshop-café, opened in March 2025, adding a hybrid retail-experience format to the high street. Around the same time, bakery and comfort-food spot Hello JoJo took over the former Forza Win site, filling a gap left by the previous tenant. The Southwark Council report notes the high street’s strength lies in frequent, small-basket trips, not just weekly big shops, which supports a diverse mix of independents and chains.

The shift toward service-oriented retail is clear. Rather than rows of clothing stores, Camberwell High Street now hosts a higher density of cafes, restaurants, gyms, and experiential venues. This mirrors a wider trend identified in London’s high-street data partnerships: the most resilient precincts are those that offer reasons to linger, not just to buy.

Melbourne Camberwell: Flagship Stores and a Landmark Development

On the Australian side, Camberwell’s retail occupancy has climbed recently, driven by a string of notable openings. A Country Road flagship store has landed, alongside Silvermaple Boutique’s third location. Newcomers include Ziera, Husk pop-up, Bailey Nelson, and Beyond homewares. Together, these additions have bolstered the strip’s appeal and pushed occupancy rates higher.

Perhaps the most telling indicator of investor confidence is the fresh planning approval for a 1,950sqm site at 697-699 Burke Road in Camberwell Junction. The approval clears the way for a 12-level development with ground-level retail, a vote of confidence in the area’s long-term retail potential. The site’s size and central location suggest developers are betting that Camberwell Junction will continue to draw both local and destination shoppers.

What This Tells Us About Investment Flows

These two Camberwells, separated by 16,000 kilometres, share a common narrative: retail investment is flowing into locations that offer a mix of convenience and experience. In London, the emphasis is on food, drink, and service use. In Melbourne, it is on flagship stores, specialty pop-ups, and high-density mixed-use development. Both approaches reflect a post-pandemic recalibration in which landlords and tenants prioritise footfall-generating uses over traditional retail categories.

The planning approval for the Burke Road site, in particular, demonstrates that developers see ground-floor retail as a stable anchor for larger residential or commercial projects. Combined with rising occupancy and new entrants, the data suggests Camberwell’s retail strips are positioned to attract further capital, provided they continue to evolve with consumer preferences for experience, service, and convenience.

Sources Include (But not Limited to): Southwark Council High Street Report; Camberwell Society Quarterly; Commercial Real Estate Australia; Camberwell Shopping Centre; Property Markets News.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.