For years there has been plenty of healthy debate amongst Australian LEGO fans about whether or not we need/want/would ever get a LEGO Store in Australia. At least part of that debate ends today with news from Dreamworld that they will be the site of Australia’s first Certified LEGO Store.

A Certified LEGO store isn’t quite an official LEGO store, but the differences are mainly administrative. Certified stores feature the same LEGO Store experiences – including the Pick-A-Brick wall – but are operated by a third party.

The Dreamworld store will be 350 square metres of LEGO goodness. If you are worried that the cost of Dreamworld ticket is going to make the whole thing pointless then fear not – the store will be part of a new stand-alone precinct located at the front of the park, with access from outside the park. Dreamworld passholders will get access to exclusive LEGO products and special LEGO events though.

The LEGO store will feature “The Living Room”, an interactive play area and a “brand ribbon” display of fully assembled LEGO models. The LEGO Certified Store will have exclusive sets and regular hands-on activities for children and families to experience the creativity and imagination that goes into LEGO building.

Certified LEGO stores also generally get sets at the same time as their online release, so no more waiting for exclusive sets to show up in stores.

There are likely to be plenty of LEGO fans wishing that the store was coming to a shopping centre closer to them, but a theme park location makes a heap of sense. Dreamworld is a major tourist attraction with a huge number of local, interstate and international visitors each week.

The store will open in November this year. You can read the official press release below.

Press Release

ARDENT BUILDS NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH LEGO® Australia: AUSTRALIA’S FIRST LEGO CERTIFIED STORE TO OPEN AT DREAMWORLD

Australia’s first LEGO® Certified Store will open at Dreamworld on Queensland’s Gold Coast later this year, following a new partnership agreement signed this week between global brand, The LEGO Group and Dreamworld’s parent company, Ardent Leisure.

Announcing the partnership today, Ardent Leisure CEO Deborah Thomas said the store would be the largest retail outlet at Dreamworld. Covering an area of 350 square metres, Dreamworld’s flagship LEGO Certified Store will be part of a stand-alone precinct located at the front of the park with access from within and external to the park. Construction will begin in July with the new store due to open in November 2016.

Ms Thomas said the project would be entirely funded by Ardent as part of the overall master plan for Dreamworld.

“LEGO is one of the best known, most successful and powerful global brands and we are delighted to partner with the LEGO team to further enhance and grow exclusive experiences at Dreamworld, Australia’s biggest theme park. As a LEGO Certified Store, it is designed in partnership with The LEGO Group and will have many different and exciting features, which will also include exclusive product releases and events.

“This new store will be a destination in its own right and an added attraction to the existing retailers, rides and experiences offered at Dreamworld. It is a hugely exciting development for Ardent Leisure, for Dreamworld guests and for tourism to Australia and South East Queensland,” said Ms Thomas.

Glenn Abell, General Manager for LEGO Australia and New Zealand said, “There’s no limit to the imagination and creativity that LEGO bricks can inspire. Our brand partnership with Ardent Leisure marks an exciting journey for LEGO Australia. LEGO Certified stores provide a unique and engaging LEGO Shopping experience. It is fantastic that we will be able to provide Australian children and families the opportunity to have a deeper engagement with the LEGO brand through this exciting partnership.”

Dreamworld CEO Craig Davidson welcomed the announcement as a win for the park and Gold Coast tourism: “This will not only give Dreamworld’s millions of loyal customers a powerful incentive to visit their favourite theme park more often, but offers a new world class tourism experience for the burgeoning numbers of international and Australian tourists flocking to the Gold Coast,” said Craig Davidson.

“Only last month, Trip Advisor’s ‘Travellers Choice Awards’ saw millions of international travellers vote the Gold Coast in number 2 place (displacing Melbourne) in their “Top 10 Destinations, Australia” list for 2016. Little wonder that international tourism numbers to the Gold Coast are at record highs, with Chinese visitation alone up more than 20% on last year, making it Australia’s only major tourism destination to have China as its largest source of international visitors.

“The LEGO Certified Store will be a fully immersive experience and a LEGO builder’s paradise. The store will feature a Pick-a-Brick Wall, a custom-built fixture with round canisters, each filled with LEGO bricks and elements, “The Living Room”, an interactive play area and a “brand ribbon” display of fully assembled LEGO models. The LEGO Certified Store will have exclusive sets and regular handson activities for children and families to experience the creativity and imagination that goes into LEGO building.

“With the LEGO Certified Store, our passholders and guests will have access to exclusive LEGO product and special LEGO events adding even more value and complementing Dreamworld’s current stable of great entertainment, wildlife and thrill ride experiences,” said Craig Davidson.