Westfield Burwood

Westfield Burwood is a major shopping centre in Burwood, in Sydney's Inner West, Australia. It is one of the early large-scale Australian shopping centres and has been associated with the Westfield name since its opening in 1966. The original centre was opened by New South Wales premier Robert Askin on 11 October 1966 and was designed around the idea of a shopping centre that offered more than conventional retail. It incorporated services and leisure uses, including food retail, department stores, cinemas and other community-oriented facilities. This concept was reflected in the early use of the name Westfield Shoppingtown Burwood and helped establish the centre as an example of the broader Australian shopping-centre format. The site is built on sloping land, which influenced its distinctive incline-mall design. Rather than arranging every retail level on a flat plane, the centre used a gently rising circulation route connected by ramps, stairs and escalators. Early architectural and experiential features included a circular stage and an air fountain that propelled coloured metallic balls using controlled compressed air. The original complex was approximately half the size of the present centre and was among the first Westfield locations to include a Hoyts cinema. The centre was partly developed on land associated with the former Hoyts Astor theatre, while the rebuilt Hoyts Burwood became part of the site's entertainment history. The initial tenant mix included Farmers, Coles New World, Mark Foy's and Winns. The centre expanded southward onto Victoria Street in 1972, adding a Fosseys store that later closed and was replaced by Target. Further redevelopment in 1976 brought Nock & Kirby to the centre. The department-store presence also changed over time: Farmers was rebranded as Myer in 1976, became Grace Bros in 1983, and ultimately returned to the Myer identity in 2004. A major redevelopment began in January 1999 and involved the complete demolition and reconstruction of the existing centre. The project, reported as costing approximately A$300 million, doubled the size of the original facility. The rebuilt centre opened on 17 August 2000 with a substantially expanded retail and entertainment offer, including department stores, discount department stores, supermarkets, a 12-screen cinema complex and food-and-fresh-market precincts. Its entertainment and lifestyle area was known as The Street, while Food on the Park provided an approximately 800-seat food court with a balcony overlooking the adjacent park. The Market precinct was positioned around fresh-food retail near Coles. The department-store anchor changed again in 2007. Myer closed on 24 March, and David Jones opened in the space on 5 May after alterations that included a new cosmetics department, refurbishment of the upper floor and replacement of some carpets and finishes. The change was linked in contemporary accounts to a broader exchange of department-store locations and changing local demographics. Westfield Burwood became part of the Scentre Group portfolio during the 2014 restructuring that separated Westfield's Australian and New Zealand shopping-centre operations from its international property interests. In May 2019, Scentre Group sold a 50 percent interest in the centre to Perron Group for A$575 million, leaving the asset jointly owned while Scentre continued to be associated with its management and Westfield branding. The centre provides approximately 63,204 square metres of floor space and remains anchored by a mix of supermarkets, department and discount department stores, specialty retail, consumer electronics, sporting goods and cinema entertainment. It is also served by Burwood railway station, nearby bus routes and multilevel parking with approximately 3,014 spaces.

Westfield Burwood opened on 11 October 1966 in Burwood, Sydney, and was among Australia's first major enclosed shopping centres. It was opened by New South Wales premier Robert Askin and was initially known as Westfield Shoppingtown Burwood. The centre was significant within Westfield's development because it was the first Westfield location to use the company's logo and the first to adopt the Shoppingtown branding. That name expressed an early ambition to create a broader destination containing not only shops but also services, food, leisure and community facilities. The centre's location on a slope shaped its architecture. Its original circulation system used an incline-mall arrangement, with a gently ascending route linked by stairs, ramps and escalators. A circular stage and a decorative air fountain, which lifted coloured metallic balls using compressed air, contributed to the centre's experiential design. The original complex was about half the size of the later centre and included one of Westfield's early in-centre Hoyts cinemas. Development also involved land associated with the former Hoyts Astor theatre, while the rebuilt Hoyts Burwood became part of the site's cinema history. The original retail mix included Farmers, Coles New World, Mark Foy's and Winns. In 1972, the centre expanded south across Victoria Street, where a Fosseys store operated until 1993 before the site was taken over by Target. A further redevelopment in 1976 added Nock & Kirby. The department-store identity changed several times: Farmers became Myer in November 1976, the store adopted the Grace Bros name in April 1983, and it returned to the Myer brand in 2004. In January 1999, Westfield began a large-scale reconstruction. Rather than renovating the existing building in place, the company demolished and rebuilt the centre, an approach described as the first complete demolition and reconstruction of a Westfield centre. The approximately A$300 million project doubled the centre's original size and introduced a substantially broader tenant and leisure offer. The new Westfield Burwood opened on 17 August 2000 with Grace Bros, Kmart, Target, Coles and Woolworths, as well as a 12-screen Greater Union cinema complex, later known as Event Cinemas. The redevelopment incorporated several themed areas. The Street was an entertainment and lifestyle precinct, while Food on the Park was an approximately 800-seat food court with a balcony facing the park. The Market precinct grouped fresh-food retailers outside Coles. Together these spaces reinforced the centre's positioning as a destination for shopping, dining and entertainment rather than simply a collection of stores. The department-store anchor changed again in 2007. Myer closed on 24 March, and David Jones opened on 5 May. The replacement involved a new cosmetics department, refurbishment of the upper floor and various interior updates. The switch was associated with a broader exchange of department-store locations between Westfield Burwood and Bankstown Central and was explained in contemporary accounts by demographic differences between the two catchments. The centre became part of Scentre Group during the 2014 restructuring of the Westfield business. In May 2019, Scentre Group sold a 50 percent stake to Perron Group for A$575 million. Westfield Burwood therefore continued under Westfield branding while operating within a joint-ownership arrangement. The centre has approximately 63,204 square metres of floor space, a large supermarket and department-store base, specialty retail, a cinema complex, dining facilities and multilevel parking. Its location near Burwood railway station and its bus links to Sydney's CBD, Inner West, northern and western suburbs support its role as a regional suburban destination.

• 2019

  Perron Group acquires a 50 percent interest

  [1]Westfield Burwooden.wikipedia.org

  Scentre Group sells half of the centre to Perron Group for A$575 million.

• 2014

  Centre enters the Scentre Group portfolio

  [1]Westfield Burwooden.wikipedia.org

  Westfield Burwood becomes part of Scentre Group following the restructuring of the Westfield Group.

• 2007

  David Jones replaces Myer

  [1]Westfield Burwooden.wikipedia.org

  David Jones opens on 5 May after Myer's departure and associated interior refurbishment.

• 2004

  Grace Bros returns to the Myer brand

  [1]Westfield Burwooden.wikipedia.org

  The department-store anchor changes from Grace Bros back to Myer.

• 2000

  Rebuilt Westfield Burwood opens

  [1]Westfield Burwooden.wikipedia.org

  The rebuilt centre opens on 17 August with expanded retail, food, lifestyle and cinema facilities.

• 1999

  Complete centre reconstruction begins

  [1]Westfield Burwooden.wikipedia.org

  A major reconstruction project begins, involving demolition and rebuilding rather than a conventional staged renovation.

• 1983

  Department store becomes Grace Bros

  [1]Westfield Burwooden.wikipedia.org

  The former Myer store adopts the Grace Bros identity.

• 1976

  Further redevelopment and Nock & Kirby addition

  [1]Westfield Burwooden.wikipedia.org

  A redevelopment adds Nock & Kirby; the Farmers department store is also rebranded as Myer later that year.

• 1972

  Expansion onto Victoria Street

  [1]Westfield Burwooden.wikipedia.org

  The centre expands southward onto Victoria Street and adds a Fosseys store.

• 1966

  Original centre opens

  [1]Westfield Burwooden.wikipedia.org

  Westfield Burwood opens on 11 October as one of Australia's early large enclosed shopping centres and the first Westfield centre to use the Westfield logo and Shoppingtown branding.

A large, transit-accessible suburban shopping and entertainment centre serving Burwood and Sydney's Inner West, combining department stores, supermarkets, specialty retail, dining, cinema entertainment and services.

• Grocery and food retail

  Supermarket and fresh-food retail

  Westfield Burwood's supermarket offer has included Coles, Woolworths and Aldi, supported by fresh-food retailers associated with The Market precinct. These stores provide everyday grocery, household and fresh-food needs for the surrounding residential catchment and help anchor regular visits to the centre.

• General merchandise retail · 1966

  Department and discount department stores

  The centre has hosted successive department-store and discount department-store anchors, including Farmers, Myer, Grace Bros and David Jones, alongside Kmart and Target. These stores have supplied fashion, beauty, homewares, electronics and general merchandise and have been central to the centre's changing retail mix.

• Entertainment and lifestyle precinct · 2000

  The Street

  The Street was introduced as an entertainment and lifestyle precinct in the rebuilt centre. It complemented conventional shopping with dining, leisure and cinema uses, helping position Westfield Burwood as a destination for extended visits rather than only transactional retail.

• Cinema entertainment · 2000

  Event Cinemas

  The rebuilt centre included a 12-screen Greater Union cinema complex, subsequently associated with the Event Cinemas brand. The cinema forms part of Westfield Burwood's entertainment offer and traces the site's earlier history as one of the first Westfield centres to include an in-centre Hoyts cinema.

• Shopping-centre specialty stores · 1966

  Specialty retail

  Specialty retail includes fashion, footwear, beauty, electronics, sporting goods, homewares and services. Named major retailers associated with the centre include JB Hi-Fi and Rebel, with the broader tenant base changing as leases and retail categories evolve.

• 2019

  Sale of a 50 percent ownership interestM&A

  Background

  Scentre Group reshaped its ownership of selected shopping-centre assets.

  Action taken

  Scentre Group sold a half interest in Westfield Burwood to Perron Group.

  Aftermath

  The centre continued under joint ownership, with Scentre Group remaining associated with its operation and Westfield branding.

  Transaction value. A$575 million (May 2019)

  Source

• 2014

  Transfer to Scentre GroupStrategy

  Background

  The Westfield Group reorganised its Australian and New Zealand shopping-centre operations.

  Action taken

  Westfield Burwood was placed under the control of Scentre Group.

  Aftermath

  The centre continued operating under the Westfield brand within Scentre Group's shopping-centre portfolio.

  Source

• 2007

  Replacement of Myer by David JonesOther

  Background

  The centre's department-store mix changed amid a broader exchange of department-store locations and reported demographic differences between Burwood and Bankstown.

  Action taken

  Myer closed on 24 March and David Jones opened on 5 May after refurbishment of the space.

  Aftermath

  David Jones became the centre's department-store anchor, with upgraded cosmetics and selected interior areas.

  Source

• 1999

  Complete demolition and reconstructionStrategy

  Background

  The original centre had become too limited for the scale of retail, dining and entertainment Westfield sought to provide at the Burwood site.

  Action taken

  Westfield initiated an approximately A$300 million project to demolish and rebuild the centre, doubling its approximate original size.

  Aftermath

  The rebuilt centre opened in August 2000 with expanded anchors, a cinema complex, themed lifestyle areas, a large food court and fresh-food retail.

  Redevelopment cost. A$300 million (1999-2000)

  Source

1. 1Westfield Burwooden.wikipedia.org
2. 2Westfield Burwood official websitewestfield.com.au