Westfield Warrawong
Encyclopedia
Westfield Warrawong is a major shopping centre located in Warrawong
, a suburb of Wollongong
. With a retail floor area of 57582 m² (619,807 sq ft), it is currently the largest shopping centre in the Illawarra region.
The centre has a current catchment area of 246,680 persons, and retail spending in the catchment area estimated at 2.3 billion (2005). Annual turnover at the centre for 2005 was $190.4 million with 5.4 million visitors per year. In a 2004 survey conducted by the local city council, it found that the majority of visitors to the centre were attracted by its discount department stores.
to the centre.
Previously, A Big W department store had been an occupant of the centre from 1965, however due to a change in retailling strategy by parent company Woolworths Limited
, the then two level store was sold to David Jones Limited
on April 19, 1971 and converted to a David Jones store which in turn was closed sometime in the mid 80's By 2011, the centre had grown to 57582 m² (619,807 sq ft) with 140 retailers.
1938 song My Heart is Taking Lessons.
On 21 September 2004, a man sitting beside a tree outside the centre was the victim of a vehicle accident. The man died after being hit by an out of control hatchback as he stood next to a tree outside the centre.
In March 2005, local bus company Premier Illawarra gave serious consideration to suspending one of its Thursday evening services from the centre due to months of increased vandalism and anti-social behaivour. Despite the efforts of bus inspectors and transit police, very little had been achieved to curb the problems.
Warrawong, New South Wales
Warrawong is a suburb of Wollongong, in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It is situated on the northeast corner of Lake Illawarra.Warrawong is home to Westfield Warrawong, one of three major regional shopping centres...
, a suburb of Wollongong
Wollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney...
. With a retail floor area of 57582 m² (619,807 sq ft), it is currently the largest shopping centre in the Illawarra region.
History and Development
Westfield Warrawong was not always part of the Westfield Portfolio. Originally opened in 1960 as Lake Market Shopping Centre, it was acquired by the Westfield Group in 1985.The centre has a current catchment area of 246,680 persons, and retail spending in the catchment area estimated at 2.3 billion (2005). Annual turnover at the centre for 2005 was $190.4 million with 5.4 million visitors per year. In a 2004 survey conducted by the local city council, it found that the majority of visitors to the centre were attracted by its discount department stores.
Redevelopments
Upon acquisition by The Westfield Group, the centre was extensively redeveloped and relaunched as Westfield Warrawong in 1988. Further extensions were conducted in 1996, adding a 6000 m² (64,583 sq ft) Big WBig W
Big W is one of the largest chain of discount department stores in Australia, with over 150 stores. It is a division of Woolworths Limited, the second largest retailer in Australia. Its main competitors are Kmart and Target, both owned by Wesfarmers....
to the centre.
Previously, A Big W department store had been an occupant of the centre from 1965, however due to a change in retailling strategy by parent company Woolworths Limited
Woolworths Limited
Woolworths Limited is a major Australian company with extensive retail interest throughout Australia and New Zealand. It is the:* largest retail company in Australia and New Zealand by market capitalisation and sales...
, the then two level store was sold to David Jones Limited
David Jones Limited
David Jones Limited , colloquially known as DJs, is a high-end Australian department store chain.David Jones was founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. It...
on April 19, 1971 and converted to a David Jones store which in turn was closed sometime in the mid 80's By 2011, the centre had grown to 57582 m² (619,807 sq ft) with 140 retailers.
Events
In 1999, the centre received significant global coverage of its efforts to deal with shoplifting and anti-social behaivour. In an effort to discourage local youth using the centre as a gathering place, the management used the centre's public address system to play older style music, including songs including Bing Crosby'sBing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
1938 song My Heart is Taking Lessons.
On 21 September 2004, a man sitting beside a tree outside the centre was the victim of a vehicle accident. The man died after being hit by an out of control hatchback as he stood next to a tree outside the centre.
In March 2005, local bus company Premier Illawarra gave serious consideration to suspending one of its Thursday evening services from the centre due to months of increased vandalism and anti-social behaivour. Despite the efforts of bus inspectors and transit police, very little had been achieved to curb the problems.
Major Retailers
Major retailers operating within the shopping centre include;- ColesColes SupermarketsColes Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741...
- KmartKmart AustraliaKmart Australia Limited is a discount department store chain owned by Wesfarmers. It operates 172 stores in Australia and 15 in New Zealand, with its head office located in Mulgrave, Victoria. Wesfarmers uses the Kmart name under licence from Sears Holdings Corporation.-History:Kmart Australia...
- Big WBig WBig W is one of the largest chain of discount department stores in Australia, with over 150 stores. It is a division of Woolworths Limited, the second largest retailer in Australia. Its main competitors are Kmart and Target, both owned by Wesfarmers....
- WoolworthsWoolworths (supermarkets)Woolworths is the largest supermarket chain in Australia, owned by Woolworths Limited.-History:Woolworths Limited was founded in 1924, with the first store opening up in Sydney's Imperial Arcade.-2008 rebranding:...
- Homeart
- Best & Less
- HoytsHoytsThe Hoyts Group is an Australian company consisting of Hoyts Exhibition, Hoyts Distribution and Val Morgan.Hoyts Exhibition manages 450 screens across 40 Australian and 10 New Zealand cinema complexes; making it Australia's second largest cinema chain. Val Morgan, the cinema advertising arm of the...
- EB Games
- Lowes MenswearLowes MenswearLowes Menswear is an Australian menswear chain established in 1898. They primarily sell workwear, suits, clothes for larger men, and schoolwear. Lowes has recently added ladieswear, surfwear, and boyswear....
Major food restaurants
Major food retailers within the centre include;- Gloria Jean's CoffeesGloria Jean'sGloria Jean's Coffees is an Australian owned global specialty coffee company that has opened more than 1,000 coffee houses across 39 markets worldwide, including over 460 in Australia.-History:...
- KFCKFCKFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
- McDonalds
- SubwaySubway (restaurant)Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...