The mall has shared a turbulent recent history with the former Pride Hill and Riverside centres which came under common ownership in 2003 under Dunedin Property.

[9] Marks & Spencer anchors the centre and is the largest unit by some way, featuring two retail floors and a mezzanine level.

Consequently, these centres together occupied seven floors split over two horizontal locations, connected with escalators, lifts and walkway bridges.

[13] There has long been an ambition to physically link the Darwin and Pride Hill shopping centres through the development of vacant land between the sites.

Dunedin, promoters of the scheme in 2005, put four branding proposals to the public vote in a high-profile marketing push for the renaming of the present centres following the new development's completion.

[16] Chapman Taylor Architects were hired by Shearer Property in October 2010 to devise plans for refurbishment as part of a wider renewal and redevelopment of the estate.

[17] The Riverside Shopping Centre followed in February 2024[18] after its last major tenant (Heron Foods under Cooltrader branding) moved out in December the previous year.