Westfield Hurstville

Westfield Hurstville is a large regional shopping centre in Hurstville, in Sydney's St George area of New South Wales. The centre serves local communities across the St George region and draws customers from parts of southern, south-western, western and inner Sydney. It is positioned as a broad-based retail, grocery, dining and entertainment destination rather than as a specialist luxury centre. The project was announced in 1975 as a joint venture involving Hurstville Council and Westfield, with a reported development cost of $30 million. It formally opened on 9 October 1978, inaugurated by New South Wales Premier Neville Wran. Its initial tenant mix included Coles New World, Waltons, Nock & Kirby, Franklins and Best & Less. An unusual feature of the original centre was Snowy Hill Park, a quiet public park built on the roof and named after former Hurstville alderman and mayor Gordon William 'Snowy' Hill. The park opened in April 1979, but the rooftop area was later converted into car parking as the centre evolved. A major expansion during the late 1980s and early 1990s extended the centre across Park Road toward The Avenue. The two sections were connected by a retail bridge, and the redevelopment added Grace Bros, Kmart, a Greater Union cinema and a large number of specialty stores. The expanded centre officially celebrated its opening on 10 April 1990, while the cinema opened on 28 June of that year. The expansion strengthened Hurstville's role as a regional shopping destination but also contributed to declining activity among some traditional Forest Road retailers. The centre experienced tenant turnover and trading difficulties during the late 1990s and 2000s. Stores and chains including Venture, Intencity, Brashs and Franklins departed or were replaced, while Food For Less later occupied the former Franklins space. Grace Bros was rebranded as Myer in 2004 and ultimately closed in early 2015. The centre also underwent an ownership change in 2004, when Deutsche Bank Real Estate acquired a 50 percent shareholding, although the available reference material does not establish the current ownership structure. In March 2015, Westfield Hurstville began a reported $100 million redevelopment, completed in November of that year and formally celebrated on 19 November. The former Myer area was reorganised to accommodate Woolworths and JB Hi-Fi on the lower level and Big W and Cotton On above. Other changes included the addition of Rebel Sport, relocation of Best & Less, a rooftop alfresco dining precinct, refurbishment and rebranding of the cinema as Event Cinemas, a large VMAX auditorium, upgraded finishes and furniture, and ticketless number-plate-recognition parking. The redevelopment was intended to refresh the centre, broaden its value and convenience offer, and restore its competitiveness. Further changes followed after Target's proposed replacement was announced in 2018. In 2019, the former Target area was divided into new mini-major spaces, including Uniqlo and TK Maxx, while JD Sports occupied the former adjacent mini-major area. Major retailers identified in the reference material include Big W, Kmart, Aldi, Coles, Woolworths, Cotton On, TK Maxx, Uniqlo, JB Hi-Fi, Rebel and Event Cinemas. The centre has approximately 61,231 square metres of floor space and a multilevel car park with 2,745 spaces. Westfield Hurstville is supported by Hurstville railway station, located opposite the centre and served by the Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line. Bus services operate along Cross Street and Forest Road, connecting the centre with the St George area, the Sutherland Shire, the Inner West, south-western and western Sydney, and surrounding suburbs. A later planning proposal contemplated residential and mixed-use towers above the centre, but the supplied material does not confirm that the proposal was approved or constructed.

Westfield Hurstville was announced in 1975 as a major new retail project for the St George area. The proposal was developed as a joint venture between Hurstville Council and Westfield and was reported to cost $30 million. The centre opened on 9 October 1978, with New South Wales Premier Neville Wran performing the official opening. Its original anchors and major tenants included Coles New World, Waltons, Nock & Kirby, Franklins and Best & Less. The original complex included a rooftop quiet park called Snowy Hill Park. It commemorated Gordon William 'Snowy' Hill, a former Hurstville alderman and mayor who had served on the council for 19 years and died shortly before the park opened. A pedestrian ramp from Croft's Avenue provided access from street level, and the park opened on 7 April 1979. As the centre expanded and parking requirements increased, the rooftop park was eventually replaced by car-parking facilities. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the centre underwent a substantial expansion across Park Road toward The Avenue. A retail bridge connected the original and expanded sections. The project added Grace Bros, Kmart, a Greater Union cinema and approximately 125 specialty stores. The redevelopment was celebrated on 10 April 1990, and the cinema opened on 28 June. Its arrival helped extend the centre's trading activity into the evening, while the larger retail complex drew business away from some Forest Road shops and contributed to proposals for a pedestrian-oriented Forest Road Mall. The tenant structure changed repeatedly during the 1990s. Venture took over the former Norman Ross relationship and later closed its two-level store in 1993; Toys 'R' Us subsequently occupied the space, eventually reducing its footprint. Intencity opened in 1995 in space associated with former BBC Hardware and Waltons operations, but the site later became part of Target. Several higher-end or variety retailers, including Brashs, also departed during the decade. By 1998, the centre was described as experiencing a trading downturn, with an ageing building and numerous vacant or changing stores. Franklins closed in 2001 and was replaced by Food For Less in 2002. Food For Less operated until 2015, when Woolworths opened in a different part of the centre; the former Food For Less space later became associated with Tong Li Supermarket and a medical centre. Grace Bros was rebranded as Myer in 2004 and remained the centre's sole department-store anchor until closing in early 2015. Deutsche Bank Real Estate acquired a 50 percent shareholding in 2004. The supplied sources do not provide enough information to establish later ownership or the current legal ownership structure. The closure of Myer and Toys 'R' Us in 2015 preceded a major $100 million redevelopment. Work began in March and the completed project was celebrated on 19 November. The former Myer space was divided between Woolworths and JB Hi-Fi on the lower floor and Big W and Cotton On on the upper floor. The project also added or relocated Rebel Sport and Best & Less, created a rooftop alfresco dining area, refurbished the cinema, introduced Event Cinemas branding and a VMAX screen, upgraded interior finishes, and installed ticketless number-plate-recognition parking. In 2018, a proposal was announced to replace the existing Target store and an adjacent mini-major with a new department-store arrangement. Georges River Council approved the development application in June 2018. The final 2019 tenant plan instead divided the former Target area among three mini-majors. TK Maxx opened on 12 September, Uniqlo on 19 September, and JD Sports opened in the former adjacent mini-major space on 10 October. The reference material does not identify the eventual third tenant in the former Target area. The centre has approximately 61,231 square metres of floor space and 2,745 car spaces. It is opposite Hurstville railway station and is served by frequent rail services, local and regional buses, and routes connecting the St George area with other parts of Sydney. A planning proposal also contemplated six towers of up to 20 storeys above the centre, containing residential, serviced-apartment and student-accommodation uses. The available material does not confirm approval, construction or completion of that proposal.

• 2019

  New mini-majors open

  [1]Westfield Hurstvilleen.wikipedia.org

  TK Maxx, Uniqlo and JD Sports opened as part of the reconfiguration of the former Target and adjacent retail spaces.

• 2018

  Department-store replacement approved

  [1]Westfield Hurstvilleen.wikipedia.org

  Georges River Council approved a proposal concerning replacement of the Target area and associated retail and management-office changes.

• 2015

  Redevelopment completed

  [1]Westfield Hurstvilleen.wikipedia.org

  A reported $100 million redevelopment was completed and celebrated in November, introducing new anchors, dining, cinema and parking features.

• 2004

  Grace Bros becomes Myer

  [1]Westfield Hurstvilleen.wikipedia.org

  The Grace Bros department store was rebranded as Myer.

• 2004

  Deutsche Bank Real Estate acquires a shareholding

  [1]Westfield Hurstvilleen.wikipedia.org

  Deutsche Bank Real Estate acquired a 50 percent shareholding in the centre.

• 1990

  Major expansion opens

  [1]Westfield Hurstvilleen.wikipedia.org

  An expansion across Park Road added Grace Bros, Kmart, a cinema and specialty stores, with a retail bridge connecting the complex.

• 1979

  Snowy Hill Park opens

  [1]Westfield Hurstvilleen.wikipedia.org

  The rooftop quiet park named for former Hurstville mayor Gordon William 'Snowy' Hill opened to the public.

• 1978

  Official opening

  [1]Westfield Hurstvilleen.wikipedia.org

  Westfield Hurstville opened on 9 October with a reported initial cost of $30 million.

• 1975

  Centre announced

  [1]Westfield Hurstvilleen.wikipedia.org

  Westfield and Hurstville Council announced plans for a major shopping centre intended to transform retailing in the St George area.

A convenient, broad-market regional shopping and entertainment centre serving the St George area and wider southern Sydney.

• Retail destination · 1978

  Shopping-centre retail mix

  Westfield Hurstville provides a broad mix of grocery, department-store, discount, fashion, electronics, sporting-goods, health and beauty, and specialty retail. Major named retailers in the reference material include Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, Big W, Kmart, Cotton On, TK Maxx, Uniqlo, JB Hi-Fi, Rebel and Best & Less. The tenant mix has changed substantially across successive redevelopments and retail cycles.

• Entertainment · 1990

  Event Cinemas

  The centre's cinema originated as a Greater Union venue opened in 1990 and was later refurbished and renamed Event Cinemas. The 2015 redevelopment added a VMAX auditorium described in the reference material as the largest in the Southern Hemisphere at the time.

• Dining · 2015

  Rooftop alfresco dining precinct

  The 2015 redevelopment created an outdoor-oriented rooftop dining area as part of the centre's effort to broaden its offer beyond conventional shopping and increase dwell time.

• Customer infrastructure · 1978

  Parking and transport access

  Westfield Hurstville has a multilevel car park with 2,745 spaces and introduced ticketless number-plate-recognition parking during the 2015 redevelopment. The centre is opposite Hurstville railway station and is also connected to a wide bus network.

• 2019

  Reconfigure the former Target area for new mini-majorsGeneration change

  Background

  Plans to replace the former Target store and adjacent mini-major evolved after council approval of a redevelopment proposal in 2018.

  Action taken

  The former Target area was divided among new retail tenants, including TK Maxx and Uniqlo, while JD Sports opened in the adjacent former mini-major space.

  Aftermath

  The openings diversified the fashion, off-price and sportswear offer, although the supplied material does not identify every resulting tenant.

  Source

• 2018

  Consider mixed-use development above the centreStrategy

  Background

  A planning proposal contemplated adding high-rise residential and mixed-use buildings above the existing shopping centre.

  Action taken

  Plans described six towers of up to 20 storeys, with residential apartments, serviced apartments and student accommodation, alongside requests to increase floor space.

  Aftermath

  The supplied reference does not confirm whether the proposal progressed beyond planning consideration or whether construction occurred.

  Source

• 2015

  Proceed with a major centre redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The centre had faced criticism over ageing facilities, tenant closures and a weaker retail offer. Myer and Toys 'R' Us also departed in early 2015.

  Action taken

  A reported $100 million redevelopment was undertaken, adding new grocery and discount anchors, revised specialty retail, rooftop dining, an upgraded cinema and modernised parking technology.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment was completed in November 2015 and repositioned the centre around convenience retail, value-oriented shopping, dining and entertainment.

  Reported redevelopment cost. $100 million (2015 redevelopment)

  Source

1. 1Westfield Hurstvilleen.wikipedia.org