Burwood Plaza

Burwood Plaza is a neighbourhood shopping centre in Burwood, New South Wales, serving the local community alongside the much larger Westfield Burwood. The centre is a relatively small, two-storey complex associated with the retail development pattern of suburban Sydney in the late twentieth century. It opened in 1978 on a site with a long entertainment and commercial history and was initially positioned as a competitor to the nearby Westfield centre. The land had previously been occupied by Burwood's first theatre, which opened in 1910. That venue was later replaced by the Palatial Theatre, opened in 1921 and notable for having the first Christie pipe organ installed in a local theatre. After the Palatial closed in 1971, the property was used for other purposes, including by the Royal Blind Society and as a carpet showroom. The former theatre site and associated structures were demolished in 1978 to make way for Burwood Plaza. At opening, the centre's principal department-store anchor was Waltons. Over time, its retail mix changed toward supermarket-led convenience shopping and local services. Woolworths became the centre's anchor supermarket and remains one of two Woolworths stores serving Burwood, the other being located at Westfield Burwood. Other tenants have included telecommunications, postal, food, service and specialty retailers. A Vodafone franchise operating in the centre from the early 2000s was reported to have closed in 2026, although it continued to appear on the centre's website at the time described in the reference material. Ownership changed in November 2014, when Parramatta-based Holdmark Property Group acquired Burwood Plaza from Centuria Property Funds for approximately A$80 million. The acquisition was followed by plans to redevelop the centre and neighbouring properties. Initial approval was obtained in 2016 for a large mixed-use project involving up to five towers, with the proposed height reaching 49 storeys. The redevelopment later became known as Burwood Place and was expanded to incorporate residential, retail, office, library, public-recreation and open-space uses. Construction activity for Burwood Place began in 2025. The project was divided into an urban-park component and two development stages, with Stage 2 occupying the existing shopping-centre site. Stage 1 was expected to include Coles as its anchor supermarket and was projected to open in 2028. The transition from an operating neighbourhood centre to a mixed-use precinct is therefore central to Burwood Plaza's current identity and future. The centre also attracted community attention when its post office closed in 2023 despite local opposition. In 2025, during preparation for demolition and construction associated with the redevelopment, part of a ten-storey residential property in neighbouring structures collapsed. The incident caused scaffolding to fall and led to the evacuation of nearby residents and workers. These events placed the centre's redevelopment, construction safety and impact on local services in public focus.

Burwood Plaza occupies a site that has been associated with public entertainment and local commerce since the early twentieth century. Burwood's first theatre opened there in 1910. In 1921 it was replaced by the Palatial Theatre, which featured the first Christie pipe organ in a local theatre. The Palatial ceased operating in 1971. After its closure, the site was used by the Royal Blind Society and later as a carpet showroom before the former buildings were demolished in 1978. Burwood Plaza opened that year as a small, two-storey shopping centre. Its original retail concept competed with the neighbouring Westfield Burwood, and Waltons operated as the initial department-store anchor. Over subsequent decades, the centre's role became more focused on everyday shopping and local services. Woolworths became the principal anchor supermarket, while the tenancy mix included specialty retailers, food outlets and service businesses. The centre's location gave it a local convenience role even as Westfield Burwood remained the dominant regional shopping destination. In November 2014, Holdmark Property Group, based in Parramatta, purchased Burwood Plaza from Centuria Property Funds for approximately A$80 million. Holdmark subsequently pursued a major redevelopment involving the shopping centre and adjacent sites. Initial approval was obtained in 2016 for a scheme of up to five towers, with proposed buildings reaching 49 storeys. The proposal evolved into Burwood Place, a broader mixed-use precinct intended to include housing, retail, offices, a library, public-recreation facilities and open space. The redevelopment was divided into an urban park and two principal stages. Stage 1 was planned to include Coles as its supermarket anchor and was expected to open in 2028. Stage 2 was identified as the part of the project occupying the existing Burwood Plaza site. Construction began in 2025, marking a transition from the established shopping-centre format toward a substantially denser urban precinct. The centre's redevelopment has also affected established community services. Its post office closed in 2023 despite community opposition. In 2025, a serious construction-related safety incident occurred while neighbouring structures were being demolished. Part of a ten-storey residential property collapsed, scaffolding fell, and nearby residents and workers were evacuated. The incident became an important event in the centre's recent history because it connected the redevelopment with direct safety and disruption concerns. Burwood Plaza's continuing status is therefore transitional. It remains identified as a shopping centre with Woolworths as its major tenant, but its long-term physical and commercial future is tied to Burwood Place. The available reference material does not establish a final closure date for the existing centre or provide a complete account of all current tenants.

• 2025

  Burwood Place construction begins

  [1]Burwood Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Construction began on the expanded mixed-use redevelopment.

• 2023

  Post office closes

  [1]Burwood Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The centre's post office closed despite community backlash.

• 2016

  Initial approval for tower redevelopment

  [1]Burwood Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Initial approval was granted for a five-tower proposal of up to 49 storeys covering the centre and neighbouring properties.

• 2014

  Ownership changes to Holdmark Property Group

  [1]Burwood Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Holdmark acquired the centre from Centuria Property Funds for approximately A$80 million.

• 1978

  Burwood Plaza opens

  [1]Burwood Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  A two-storey shopping centre opened on the former theatre site, initially anchored by Waltons.

• 1971

  Palatial Theatre closes

  [1]Burwood Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The Palatial Theatre ceased operating; the site was later used by the Royal Blind Society and as a carpet showroom.

• 1921

  Palatial Theatre opens

  [1]Burwood Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The Palatial Theatre replaced the earlier theatre and featured the first Christie pipe organ in a local theatre.

• 1910

  First theatre opens on the site

  [1]Burwood Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Burwood's first theatre opened on the site later occupied by Burwood Plaza.

A compact, convenience-oriented suburban shopping centre serving Burwood residents, with its long-term identity increasingly shaped by the Burwood Place mixed-use redevelopment.

• Supermarket anchor

  Woolworths

  Woolworths is the principal anchor tenant identified for Burwood Plaza. Its supermarket format provides groceries, fresh food, household essentials and routine convenience shopping for residents in Burwood. The centre is one of two locations associated with Woolworths in Burwood, with the other at rival shopping centre Westfield Burwood.

• Mixed-use redevelopment · 2016

  Burwood Place

  Burwood Place is the redevelopment project linked to Burwood Plaza and neighbouring properties. The planned precinct combines residential, retail and office space with a library, public-recreation facilities and an urban park. It is divided into an urban-park component and two stages; Stage 2 uses the current shopping-centre site, while Stage 1 is planned to include Coles as an anchor tenant.

• 2025

  Burwood Place development enters constructionStrategy

  Background

  The long-planned redevelopment was reorganized into an urban park and two stages, with the second stage using the existing Burwood Plaza site.

  Action taken

  Construction commenced on the expanded mixed-use precinct.

  Aftermath

  The project moved the property into a transition from an operating neighbourhood shopping centre toward a denser mixed-use development. A major structural collapse during neighbouring demolition also led to evacuations of nearby residents and workers.

  Source

• 2016

  Approval pursued for high-density mixed-use redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  Following its acquisition, Holdmark sought to redevelop Burwood Plaza together with neighbouring properties.

  Action taken

  Initial approval was obtained for a scheme involving five towers of up to 49 storeys. The concept later evolved into Burwood Place.

  Aftermath

  The proposal expanded beyond a shopping-centre replacement to include residential, retail, office, library, recreation and public open-space uses.

  Source

• 2014

  Acquisition by Holdmark Property GroupM&A

  Background

  Holdmark purchased Burwood Plaza from Centuria Property Funds as the centre remained an established but relatively small competitor to Westfield Burwood.

  Action taken

  Holdmark acquired the property in November 2014 for approximately A$80 million.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition was followed by plans to replace or substantially expand the existing shopping-centre format through the Burwood Place project.

  Acquisition price. approximately A$80 million (November 2014)

  Source

1. 1Burwood Plazaen.wikipedia.org