Westfield Carousel

Westfield Carousel is a large shopping centre in Cannington, a southeastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. The centre stands on Albany Highway, roughly 12 kilometres from Perth's central business district and about 600 metres from Cannington railway station. It combines department stores, supermarkets, discount and specialty retailers, dining, entertainment and transport-oriented services in a regional shopping-centre format. The centre opened in 1972 with approximately 80 shops and a group of major tenants that included Coles, KFC, three takeaway food outlets, a hotel, Boans, Aherns and Walsh's department stores. Its site also incorporated the former Boans Waverley location, which had opened in 1959 as Boans' first suburban branch, and later absorbed or replaced facilities associated with the Waverley Hotel. A freestanding Target store was added in 1973, and a 1979 extension connected the original centre with Target, Coles and additional specialty retailers. During the 1980s and 1990s, the tenant mix changed as department-store businesses were consolidated and reconfigured. Boans was taken over by Myer, while Aherns was also replaced by Myer; for a period, the centre contained two Myer stores serving different merchandise categories. Walsh's was replaced by Treasureway. In 1990, Hoyts opened an eight-screen cinema in a separate building near Carousel Road, making the site one of Perth's early suburban cinema destinations. The most important transformation before the current complex was a redevelopment that began in 1998 and cost approximately A$200 million. The project more than doubled the centre's size and added or expanded major retailers including Kmart, Coles, Rebel Sport, Lincraft, Harris Scarfe and Red Dot Stores. Woolworths was relocated, Myer was consolidated, Hoyts received a new cinema facility, and the centre gained a food court, an alfresco dining area and more than 100 additional retailers. Refurbishment of the existing complex continued through 1999. Smaller changes followed in the 2000s. After Harris Scarfe closed in 2001, its space was used for a larger Red Dot store and other retailers. A further 2008 reconfiguration created a new mall with JB Hi-Fi, Kathmandu, The Reject Shop, Goodlife Health Clubs, banks and restaurants. In the mid-2010s, the centre upgraded individual stores, added an iPlay arcade, reopened a Red Dot store and improved the food court, amenities and car park. A further major redevelopment began in early 2017 with an announced investment of approximately A$350 million. It introduced David Jones as a new anchor, a fashion mall with more than 60 new stores, a multi-level car park, an open-air lifestyle and leisure precinct, additional restaurants and a refurbished 14-screen Hoyts cinema. The expanded centre officially opened on 30 August 2018 and became the largest shopping centre in Western Australia at that time. It was later surpassed by the redeveloped Karrinyup Shopping Centre. As reported for July 2020, Westfield Carousel had 362 stores, approximately 109,795 square metres of gross lettable area and 4,300 car spaces. The centre is connected to Perth's public-transport network through Cannington railway station and Transperth bus services, including services along Albany Highway. In October 2023, it introduced large-scale Friday-night trading, described as a first for a suburban Perth shopping centre, although that arrangement subsequently ended for most retailers. Coles, Kmart and Woolworths have continued to trade late on most weeknights, subject to public-holiday exceptions.

Westfield Carousel developed from a suburban shopping complex built in 1972 on the site of the earlier Boans Waverley branch in Cannington. Boans Waverley had opened in 1959 as the first suburban branch of the Boans department-store business. The 1972 centre began with about 80 shops, a hotel, food outlets and several major department-store and supermarket tenants, including Boans, Aherns, Walsh's and Coles. A freestanding Target opened in 1973, and a 1979 extension linked the original centre to Target, Coles and new specialty stores. The centre's early department-store structure changed substantially during the 1980s. Boans was acquired by Myer and Aherns was also replaced by Myer, producing two Myer stores with different merchandise roles. Walsh's gave way to Treasureway. In 1990, Hoyts opened an eight-screen cinema in a separate building near Carousel Road, broadening the centre's role beyond shopping. Ownership also changed: the property was acquired by the Westfield Group in 1996 after having been owned by Bankers Trust in the mid-1990s. A major expansion began in 1998. The approximately A$200 million project more than doubled the complex's size and added Kmart, Coles, Rebel Sport, Lincraft, Harris Scarfe, Red Dot Stores and other retailers. Woolworths was relocated, Myer was consolidated, and the centre gained a new Hoyts cinema, food court and alfresco dining area. More than 100 new retailers were introduced, while refurbishment of the older sections continued through 1999. The project made Carousel the largest shopping centre in Western Australia at that point. Additional tenant and layout changes took place during the 2000s. Harris Scarfe closed in 2001, with its area used for other retailers including a larger Red Dot store. In 2008, the departure of several tenants led to another mall reconfiguration that introduced or accommodated JB Hi-Fi, Kathmandu, The Reject Shop, Goodlife Health Clubs, banks and restaurants. The centre continued to refresh its offer in the 2010s, including a Rebel refurbishment in 2015, the opening of an iPlay arcade beside the cinema, a new Red Dot location in 2016 and upgrades to the food court, amenities and car park. Construction on the next major redevelopment started in early 2017. The approximately A$350 million plan added David Jones, more than 60 stores in a new fashion mall, multi-level parking, a lifestyle and leisure precinct, twelve restaurants and a fully refurbished 14-screen Hoyts cinema. The redeveloped centre opened on 30 August 2018. It became Western Australia's largest shopping centre after opening, although the later redevelopment of Karrinyup Shopping Centre moved that distinction elsewhere. Westfield Carousel remains a major retail and leisure complex, with access to Albany Highway, Cannington railway station and Transperth bus routes. Reported July 2020 figures listed 362 stores, 109,795 square metres of gross lettable area and 4,300 car spaces. In 2023, the centre tested expanded Friday-night trading from 6 October. That broad Friday schedule was later withdrawn for most tenants, while selected supermarkets and discount retailers retained late weeknight hours.

• 2023

  Expanded Friday trading introduced

  [1]Westfield Carouselen.wikipedia.org

  Large-scale Friday-night trading began on 6 October, although most retailers later returned to more limited late-night schedules.

• 2018

  Redeveloped centre opens

  [1]Westfield Carouselen.wikipedia.org

  The expanded Westfield Carousel officially opened on 30 August 2018 and became Western Australia's largest shopping centre at the time.

• 2017

  A$350 million redevelopment starts

  [1]Westfield Carouselen.wikipedia.org

  Construction began on a major expansion featuring David Jones, new stores, dining, leisure facilities, parking and a refurbished cinema.

• 2008

  New mall reconfiguration

  [1]Westfield Carouselen.wikipedia.org

  A section of the centre was reorganised after several tenant departures, adding retailers, restaurants, banks and a health club.

• 1999

  Expansion and refurbishment completed

  [1]Westfield Carouselen.wikipedia.org

  The expanded centre and refurbishment programme added major retailers, dining facilities, a food court and a new cinema configuration.

• 1998

  Major expansion begins

  [1]Westfield Carouselen.wikipedia.org

  A redevelopment budgeted at approximately A$200 million began, more than doubling the complex's size.

• 1996

  Acquired by Westfield Group

  [1]Westfield Carouselen.wikipedia.org

  The property was purchased by the Westfield Group after previously being associated with Bankers Trust ownership.

• 1990

  Hoyts cinema opens

  [1]Westfield Carouselen.wikipedia.org

  An eight-screen Hoyts cinema opened in a freestanding building near Carousel Road.

• 1979

  First major extension

  [1]Westfield Carouselen.wikipedia.org

  An extension connected the original complex with Target, Coles and additional specialty shops.

• 1973

  Target store added

  [1]Westfield Carouselen.wikipedia.org

  A freestanding Target store opened beside the original centre.

• 1972

  Shopping centre opens

  [1]Westfield Carouselen.wikipedia.org

  The original Westfield Carousel shopping centre opened with approximately 80 shops and several major retail and hospitality tenants.

• 1959

  Boans Waverley opens

  [1]Westfield Carouselen.wikipedia.org

  The first suburban Boans branch opened on the site later incorporated into Westfield Carousel.

A large, transport-connected regional shopping and entertainment destination for Perth's southeastern metropolitan area.

• Shopping-centre retail · 1972

  Retail and specialty-store mix

  Westfield Carousel provides a broad multi-category retail environment rather than a single product line. Its stores cover fashion, apparel, footwear, beauty, electronics, homewares, furniture, sporting goods, health services, gifts and everyday consumer needs. The tenant base has changed through successive redevelopments, with large department stores and supermarkets supported by specialty retailers and mini-major stores.

• Dining and hospitality · 1999

  Food and dining precincts

  Dining is a central part of the centre's offer, including a food court, restaurants, cafes and an alfresco dining area. The 2017–2018 redevelopment added a lifestyle and leisure precinct and twelve new restaurants, extending the centre's role from a conventional shopping mall into an all-day retail and dining destination.

• Entertainment · 1990

  Hoyts cinema and entertainment

  Cinema and family entertainment have been part of Carousel's offer since Hoyts opened an eight-screen facility in 1990. The later redevelopment provided a refurbished 14-screen Hoyts cinema, while an iPlay arcade also opened beside the cinema in the 2010s.

• Shopping-centre infrastructure · 1972

  Transport and customer facilities

  The centre offers extensive customer infrastructure, including approximately 4,300 car spaces as reported in 2020, proximity to Cannington railway station and connections to Transperth bus services. The 2017–2018 project added a multi-level car park and upgraded public amenities.

• 2023Expanded Friday-night trading

  Perth metropolitan area · Western Australia

  From 6 October 2023, Westfield Carousel introduced large-scale Friday-night trading, seeking to provide a broader late-evening shopping and dining window for suburban Perth customers.

  Outcome. The broad Friday-night arrangement later ceased, with most retailers reverting to Thursday-night trading for much of the year. Selected major retailers continued late trading on weeknights.

  Source

• 2023

  Test large-scale Friday-night tradingStrategy

  Background

  The centre sought to extend evening access and increase the role of Friday nights in suburban shopping and dining.

  Action taken

  Large-scale Friday-night trading began on 6 October 2023.

  Aftermath

  The initiative subsequently ended for most retailers, while selected supermarkets and discount retailers retained late weeknight hours.

  Source

• 2017

  Launch a major lifestyle and retail redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  Westfield Carousel pursued a further expansion to strengthen its department-store, fashion, dining, entertainment and parking offer.

  Action taken

  Construction began on an approximately A$350 million redevelopment incorporating David Jones, more than 60 new stores, a lifestyle and leisure precinct, twelve restaurants, a multi-level car park and a refurbished 14-screen Hoyts cinema.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment opened on 30 August 2018 and temporarily made the centre the largest shopping centre in Western Australia.

  Redevelopment investment. Approximately A$350 million (2017–2018 redevelopment)

  Source

• 1998

  Proceed with major centre expansionOther

  Background

  The existing shopping complex required substantial enlargement and refurbishment to increase its retail capacity and regional relevance.

  Action taken

  An approximately A$200 million redevelopment began, adding major tenants, dining areas, a new food court, expanded specialty retail and a new cinema configuration.

  Aftermath

  The project more than doubled the complex's size and made Carousel Western Australia's largest shopping centre at the time.

  Redevelopment investment. Approximately A$200 million (1998 redevelopment)

  Source

1. 1Westfield Carouselen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Westfield Carousel websitewestfield.com.au