Westfield Woden
A major regional shopping centre in Woden Town Centre, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Westfield Woden is a large shopping centre in the Woden Town Centre area of Phillip, Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory. Originally opened as Woden Plaza in September 1972, it was developed by Lendlease as part of the planned expansion of Canberra's suburban town-centre network. The centre was formally opened by Australian Prime Minister William McMahon on 18 September 1972. The original complex was considerably smaller than the present centre. Its first principal retail areas correspond broadly to the parts of the building now associated with Big W and David Jones. During the 1980s, the centre expanded its food and dining offer with the addition of a medium-sized food court. A major redevelopment in 1996 substantially broadened the centre's retail, grocery, entertainment and connection infrastructure. This project introduced a new wing known as The Fresh Food Market, later associated with the Coles and Woolworths supermarket areas, and added an eight-screen Hoyts cinema complex. GPT also acquired the first three storeys of the nearby Bonner House building and linked them to the shopping centre by a pedestrian bridge. The centre's tenant mix combines department-store, discount-department, supermarket, specialty retail, food, leisure and entertainment uses. Its principal anchor tenants are David Jones, Big W, Coles and Woolworths, supported by more than 250 other outlets. These include retail stores, restaurants, cafés, service businesses and leisure facilities. The centre therefore serves both everyday grocery and household needs and higher-order shopping and entertainment demand from Woden and surrounding Canberra suburbs. Ownership and management changed during the 2000s and 2010s. The Westfield Group purchased a 50 percent interest in July 2005 and assumed management from Lendlease at the same time, while GPT retained the other half. Following the restructuring of the former Westfield Group, the Westfield shopping-centre management business became associated with Scentre Group. In December 2015, Perron Group acquired GPT's shareholding. The centre is consequently associated with Scentre Group's Westfield operating platform and a co-ownership structure involving Perron Group. Westfield Woden is integrated into Canberra's transport and civic infrastructure. The Woden Interchange opened beside the centre in December 1972 and for decades supported ACTION and later CDC Canberra bus services. The interchange closed in January 2023 for relocation and reconstruction on a new site. Its proximity to the transport interchange has helped reinforce the centre's role as a major commercial destination within the Woden town centre. The brand's positioning is that of a regional shopping, dining and entertainment destination rather than a standalone retail store or product manufacturer.
History
Westfield Woden began as Woden Plaza, a Lendlease-developed shopping centre built within Canberra's Woden Town Centre. It opened on 18 September 1972, when it was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister William McMahon. The centre formed part of the planned development of Woden as a suburban commercial and civic hub. Its opening occurred shortly before the adjacent Woden Interchange began operating in December 1972, giving the retail complex an important public-transport connection from its earliest period. The original centre occupied a more limited footprint than the present complex. Its initial retail areas were concentrated in the portions of the building now associated with the Big W and David Jones areas. As Woden developed and consumer demand increased, the centre expanded its food offer during the 1980s through the addition of a medium-sized food court. This helped shift the complex from a primarily conventional shopping facility toward a broader retail and dining destination. A major redevelopment completed in 1996 transformed the centre. The project added a new wing known as The Fresh Food Market, now associated with the Coles and Woolworths supermarket areas, and introduced an eight-screen Hoyts cinema complex. GPT also purchased the first, second and third storeys of Bonner House, a building opposite the rear of the centre, and connected those floors to the shopping complex with a pedestrian bridge. The expansion increased the centre's grocery, entertainment and commercial capacity and strengthened its physical integration with the surrounding town-centre buildings. A significant ownership and management change took place in July 2005. The Westfield Group acquired a 50 percent stake in Woden Plaza and assumed management responsibility from Lendlease on the same date. GPT retained the other half of the centre. The change brought the property into the Westfield operating network and supported its later rebranding as Westfield Woden. The former Westfield Group subsequently separated its shopping-centre operations into Scentre Group, under which the Westfield brand continued to be used for relevant Australian and New Zealand centres. In December 2015, Perron Group acquired GPT's shareholding. This left the centre associated with a co-ownership arrangement involving the Westfield operating platform of Scentre Group and Perron Group. The centre's retail offer has continued to be anchored by David Jones, Big W, Coles and Woolworths, alongside more than 250 specialty, dining, leisure and service outlets. Transport has remained central to the centre's role. The Woden Interchange operated beside the shopping centre for many years, serving ACTION and subsequently CDC Canberra bus services. It closed in January 2023 to allow relocation and rebuilding on a new site. Through its combination of anchor stores, supermarkets, specialty retail, food, cinema and public-transport access, Westfield Woden functions as a regional commercial destination for Woden Valley and nearby Canberra districts.
- 2023
Adjacent Woden Interchange closes
[1]The bus interchange closed in January for relocation and reconstruction on a new site.
- 2015
Perron Group acquires GPT's interest
[1]Perron Group purchased GPT's shareholding in December, altering the centre's ownership structure.
- 2005
Westfield acquires a half share and management responsibility
[1]The Westfield Group purchased 50 percent of the centre and took over management from Lendlease, with GPT retaining the other half.
- 1996
Major redevelopment adds grocery, retail and cinema facilities
[1]The redevelopment added The Fresh Food Market wing, a Hoyts eight-screen cinema complex, and a pedestrian bridge linking the centre with Bonner House floors acquired by GPT.
- 1980
Food-court expansion
[1]During the 1980s, the centre expanded its dining offer with a medium-sized food court.
- 1972
Woden Plaza opens
[1]The Lendlease-developed shopping centre opened on 18 September and was inaugurated by Prime Minister William McMahon.
- 1972
Woden Interchange opens beside the centre
[1]The adjacent bus interchange began operating in December, providing an important transport connection for shoppers and local residents.
Products and positioning
A major regional shopping, grocery, dining and entertainment centre serving Woden and surrounding Canberra communities.
Department store
David Jones
David Jones is one of the centre's principal department-store anchors, providing a broad range of fashion, beauty, homewares and general merchandise within the larger Westfield Woden retail mix.
Discount department store
Big W
Big W is a major value-oriented anchor offering general merchandise across categories such as household goods, apparel, toys and everyday consumer products. The original Woden Plaza complex included the area now associated with the Big W and David Jones sections.
Supermarket
Coles
Coles provides full-line supermarket shopping, including packaged groceries, fresh food, household essentials and other everyday provisions. Its presence is linked to the Fresh Food Market wing created through the 1996 redevelopment.
Supermarket
Woolworths
Woolworths serves as a second major supermarket anchor, offering groceries, fresh food and household essentials. Together with Coles, it broadens the centre's role beyond discretionary shopping and supports regular local visitation.
Cinema and entertainment · 1996
Hoyts cinema complex
The Hoyts cinema complex added an entertainment function to Westfield Woden during the 1996 redevelopment. The complex was described as having eight screens and helped establish the centre as a combined shopping, dining and leisure destination.
Brand decisions
2015
Perron Group acquires GPT's shareholdingM&ABackground
GPT continued to hold the non-Westfield half of the centre after Westfield acquired its 50 percent interest in 2005.
Action taken
Perron Group purchased GPT's shareholding in December 2015.
Aftermath
Perron Group became the co-owner alongside the Westfield operating interest associated with Scentre Group.
2005
Westfield enters the ownership structure and assumes managementM&ABackground
The centre had previously been developed and managed by Lendlease, with GPT holding an ownership interest.
Action taken
Westfield Group acquired a 50 percent stake and took over management, while GPT retained the other 50 percent.
Aftermath
The centre became part of the Westfield-managed shopping-centre network and was subsequently known as Westfield Woden.
1996
Redevelopment expands the centre into a broader retail and entertainment destinationStrategyBackground
The original shopping centre required additional grocery, dining and leisure capacity as Woden developed as a major Canberra town centre.
Action taken
A new Fresh Food Market wing, an eight-screen Hoyts cinema and a pedestrian connection to Bonner House were added.
Aftermath
The redevelopment expanded the centre's retail footprint and diversified its offer across groceries, food, cinema and commercial space.
Recent events
- 2023
Woden Interchange closes for relocation and reconstruction[1]
Other
The bus interchange adjacent to Westfield Woden closed in January 2023 and was planned for reconstruction on a new site.
- 2015
Perron Group purchases GPT's shareholding[1]
M&A
Perron Group acquired GPT's 50 percent interest in the shopping centre, changing the centre's co-ownership structure.
- 2005
Westfield Group acquires a 50 percent interest and assumes centre management[1]
M&A · Leadership change
The Westfield Group purchased a half share in the centre and took over management from Lendlease, while GPT retained the remaining interest.
Sources1 sources
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