Numerous events have been held at Forest Hill over the years including fashion parades, workshops, band and solo performances, exhibits, seminars, food and wine tastings, children's shows, cooking demonstrations, school holiday fairs and activities, giveaways, and contests.

In July 1957, Fayman announced that he would build a rival centre with 70 shops, two service stations, office space and parking for 1,400 cars at Forest Hill.

[9] Leading commercial architects Leslie M. Perrott & Partners and landscape draftsman Peter Glass designed the £6 million centre and a master development plan was finalised in mid-1959.

One or more of the original timber, tin-roofe cottages on the site since were burnt down as part of a CFA training exercise and Gelignite was used to level the overgrown land.

[12][13] Estimated to serve a 8-kilometre catchment area of 220,000 people every week, the centre was originally going to be called Stonestown after a galleria of the same name in Los Angeles.

[7][14][15] The name was changed to 'Forest Hills' a few months before construction commenced, likely because Stonestown was too similar to the name of rival centre Chadstone; which was nearing completion at the time.

[16] The Board of Works had given Forest Hill Heights approval to build a £100,000 hotel on the site and Carlton & United Breweries had applied for a liquor license, but this was opposed by the City of Nunawading by a majority of 9 votes to 1 — backed by 89 objection letters which stressed issues such as road safety and the welfare of the students at the adjacent Nunawading High School.

But now it is booming" - Paul Fayman in an interview for The Herald, 29 October 1969The centre's layout consisted of two garden courtyards surrounded by rows of shops.

Forest Hills original open-air layout was similar to the successful Bell Street Mall in Heidelberg West (opened c.

A free-standing sign in the original front carpark bared the slogan "Happy Hunting" and featured an animated neon artwork depicting an Aboriginal man tossing a Boomerang.

TV personality Graham Kennedy attended the opening of Australia's first Safeway (now Woolworths) supermarket, which had 12 checkout points and a staff of more than 50 assistants.

[30] In early 1966, Forest Hill Heights commissioned Norway-born architect Thord Lorich to design additional shops, a restaurant, a sports centre, a theatre and professional offices which were to be built on the opposite (east) side of Mahoneys Road.

It was later operated as "Phase 2", which served a range of asian cuisine and was run by Louis & Suzan Kwan, Alan Tam and Antonieta Pereira.

A two-storey building comprising a sports centre, showroom, book shop, and executive offices was constructed at 69-79 Mahoneys Road in 1969.

[36] The lobby retains its original period tiled terrazzo floors and staircase, popcorn ceilings, polished brass balustrades and timber wall panelling.

The space originally reserved for a book shop and showroom was later combined and is currently occupied by Fresenius Medical Care; a healthcare company which provides kidney dialysis services.

[41] An independent company called Metro Health & Fitness began leasing the site in 2001 but increasing maintenance bills left them bankrupt in mid-2005.

[42][43] The mosaic-tiled pool was not drained properly when they vacated and remained full for almost a decade, causing accelerated erosion of the basement and ground level.

In 1967 it was announced that an auditorium, designed to TV studio specifications, would be constructed on Mahoneys Road, and would run daily matinees for shoppers, special audiences, and schools.

[44] Designed by architect Thord Lorich with assistance from ATV-0 engineers, it became the first purpose-built picture theatre in the Nunawading area, boasting 362 seats (later reduced to 337), a coffee lounge, kitchen and snack bar.

[58] In 1981 Pacific Shopping Centres engaged design consultants Meldrum Burrows & Partners to conduct a feasibility study concerning a proposed remodelling and expansion of Forest Hill.

It provided insufficient amenities for shoppers, including inadequate weather protection in numerous locations, a lack of air conditioning in various shops and common areas, and limited space for display and promotional activities.

[61][62] The City Of Nunawading approved the project in July 1986 and works commenced in August with the demolition of six houses on Flora Grove to free up space for a reconstruction of the car park and roadworks to develop Pacific Way; an access and bypass route for the redevelopment.

The food court originally had a late 19th century French spelter statue of a winged figure holding a clock that stood 2.4 metres high.

There was a lack of visual integration between Forest Hill Chase and shops on the east side of Mahoneys Road, and an absence of a sufficient identity which serves as an address/focal point for the centre.

[73] Forest Hill Chase and Hoyts were among the many objectors to a highly publicised 1995 proposal by Reading Cinemas to establish a $25 million 25-screen complex in the nearby suburb of Burwood, which ultimately failed to materialise.

[74][75] A bar lounge and tavern with 90 gaming machines (later reduced to 50) called Vegas at The Chase opened on the centre's third level in early March 1995.

[83] The executive offices building received a minor upgrade around the time the Whitehorse Community Resource Centre moved to Suite 10 at Level 1 in 2011/2012.

An updated 'Entertainment and Dining' precinct with a refurbished Hoyts cinema, three new restaurants as well as new minor anchor retailers JB Hi-Fi, Rebel and gymnasium Fit n Fast was established.

The open space near Coles was refreshed in late 2024 with new modern floor tiles, enhanced ceiling features, upgraded architecturally incorporated lighting, and new seating & furniture pods.