A shopper’s paradise awaits you here at Westfield Sydney. This upmarket shopping center sits in Sydney’s central business district. It is located underneath Sydney Tower. Westfield Sydney is located on Pitt Street Mall. It is adjacent to MidCity and Glasshouse near The Strand Arcade.
Westfield Sydney’s story begins long before its 2010 opening. The land it occupies was once home to several iconic establishments. These included the Imperial Arcade, Centrepoint Shopping Centre, Skygarden, and Sydney Central Plaza.
Let’s step back in time. The oldest of these was the Imperial Arcade. It opened in 1891. The prominent Sydney architect Thomas Rowe designed it. But the old Imperial Arcade was demolished in 1961. In 1965, a new Imperial Arcade rose on the site. Premier Robert Askin of New South Wales opened it. It featured four shopping levels and office space. The Sydney’s flagship Angus & Robertson bookstore also called it home. Westfield Group purchased it in 2004 for $90 million.
Centrepoint Shopping Centre joined the scene in 1972. It housed 52 stores. It was refurbished several times. Westfield Group acquired Centrepoint in 2001. It was later renamed Westfield Centrepoint. It grew to house over 140 stores. Skybridge connections linked it to Myer and David Jones.
Skygarden shopping centre opened in 1988. It was built behind two heritage-listed buildings. It featured seven levels of retail and restaurants. It also had a food court known as the Skydining zone. Westfield Group purchased Skygarden in 2004.
Sydney Central Plaza opened in 1998. It was part of a refurbishment of the Myer department store. It featured 87 stores on the lower levels of Myer. Westfield Group acquired it in 2003. Sydney Central Plaza occupied the old Farmer and Co department store building. This building dates back to 1874.
In 2009, Westfield Group invested $930 million to redevelop the area. Westfield Centrepoint, Skygarden, and Imperial Arcade were merged. They became Westfield Sydney. The Imperial Arcade was demolished. Skygarden and Westfield Centrepoint were refurbished. Sydney Central Plaza was rebranded as an extension of Westfield Sydney.
Stage 1 of Westfield Sydney opened in October 2010. It boasted approximately 130 specialty stores. The center fronts Pitt Street Mall. This is one of the world’s most expensive shopping streets by rent.
Stage 2 added another 120 stores between November 2010 and late 2011. A 25-storey commercial tower at 85 Castlereagh Street completed the project in early 2012.
Westfield Sydney boasts 91,699m² of floor space. Sydney Tower is a major attraction. It includes the Sydney Tower Eye observation deck. Major retailers include Myer, Zara, and JB Hi-Fi.
In 2020, David Jones closed its store on Market Street. Plans are underway for a curved 22-storey residential tower. The retail development will include five levels of luxury retail and food. The office space will connect to the shopping center with a central atrium.
The story of Westfield is also connected with Sir Frank Lowy. A penniless migrant, Sir Frank built the Westfield empire. His journey began after surviving the Holocaust. He arrived in Sydney in 1952 and built one of the biggest retail empires.
From its humble beginnings to its current status as a premier shopping destination, Westfield Sydney stands as a testament to innovation. It also shows the continuous evolution of retail and urban development in Sydney.