Food queen Donna Hay will be at the opening of the Canberra Centre’s new lifestyle precinct on 2 November.

A very special masterclass schedule is planned for launch weekend, featuring a mix of Australia’s most aspirational lifestyle personalities. Kicking off celebrations on Thursday 2 November will be leading Australian food editor and best-selling cookbook author Donna Hay, hosting a highly-anticipated masterclass on her trademark food styling and cooking, with other fantastic styling masterclasses to follow across the weekend.

Lucy Feagins, Editor and Founder of The Design Files, will share her tips on design and style on Saturday 4 November in her ‘Decoding Colour’ masterclass, and DESIGN Canberra will be unveiling plans for the month-long festival.

Other enticing masterclasses coming up soon include a ‘Bedroom Styling Masterclass’ with The Style School founder Bec Judd, a ‘Festive Table Styling Masterclass’ by with interior stylist Megan Morton, and a ‘Spring Champagne Masterclass’ with Kyla Kirkpatrick from The Champagne Dame.

Homeware trendsetters top3 by design lead the new arrivals, bringing Canberra a stunning range of design products and gifts that encourage expressiveness and individuality. Likewise, premium cookware and kitchen brand Le Creuset will open its doors in the nation’s capital, as will The Pen Boutique – a top-quality retailer that proves the pen really is mightier than the sword.

The new lifestyle offering will also see the likes of Haigh’s Chocolates, Husk and spice boutique Gewürzhaus open their first ACT locations following the successful launch of Monaro Mall’s beauty and wellness precinct in July this year.

There’s plenty more to come at Canberra Centre, with global fashion icon H&M set to launch on 23 November.

Joining these headline openings are a number of brands that have become local favourites already, such as Nespresso, jewellers Arnold & Co, eclectic stationery specialists Pepe’s Paperie, Bed Bath N’ Table and The Tea Centre.