On 20/02/2017 7:38 PM, 'Brian'bblunt@... [TramsDownUnder] wrote:
>

> While it is feasible for me to stop off at a local supermarket to pick up a few grocery items on the way home, I am a bit daunted at the prospect of getting most of Ikea's flat packs in to a bus.

>

Shopping malls are alive and well in Melbourne - and so are street based shopping strips.

The Victoria Gardens terminus in Victoria Pde is immediately adjacent to the IKEA store and I'm sure that trams are much better at large packages than buses! :-)
http://tdu.to/IKEA_VictoriaGardens_20July2014.JPG

Further, the Highpoint West shopping mall in Maidstone is mid-way along the Moonee Ponds to Footscray line. It's apparently Australia's 4th biggest shopping mall.
The traffic to Highpoint on this line from both Footscray and Moonee Ponds has helped to ensure the on-going viability of this cross-town tram line.

Mal Rowe, whose great-uncle once owned the quarry where Highpoint was built.