Legoland to open at Chadstone shopping mall

Legoland is due to open in mid-2017 at Chadstone shopping mall.

The Chadstone Lego centre will make be the first discovery centre in southern hemisphere for Lego, part of a global network of Lego Discovery Centres operated by British group Merlin Entertainment, including nine in North America, four in Europe and two in Japan.

"It could become Australia's version of the New York's FAO Schwarz," said Zelman Ainsworth, head of Melbourne retail leasing at property group CBRE said of the iconic, but recently closed New York toy store.

Merlin's chief new openings officer John Jakobsen told Fairfax Media the discovery centre concept has been a huge success worldwide, offering a family day out of shopping and dining.

Australia and Asia are very important development areas for Merlin with the group's Sydney attractions including Madame Tussauds and Sydney Aquarium.

Lego will take 2800 square metres, designed to entertain three-to-10 year olds for up to three hours.

Legoland was described in January by Forbes' Fast Company publication as "the Apple of toys".