Sixty years ago, Brookvale was forever changed with the opening of a shopping center. Today we are standing in front of Westfield Warringah Mall. It is more than just a mall. It is a landmark. Westfield Warringah Mall has a rich history. It started as Warringah Mall in 1963. The Hammerson Group developed it. Back then, it was the second-largest Australian shopping center. Chadstone Shopping Centre was the biggest.
Warringah Mall had about 50 stores when it opened. Big names like David Jones, Nock & Kirby, Franklins, and Woolworths were there. In 1973, Grace Bros upgraded from a homemakers store. Tragedy struck the same year. A fire in Woolworths killed two workers. Despite this, the mall continued to grow. Fifty more specialty stores opened. The Hoyts Twin Cinema Complex arrived in the early 1980s.
Did you know Westfield Warringah Mall was in a movie? It was featured in BMX Bandits. Two young BMX experts met Nicole Kidman there. She played a trolley collector. The mid-1980s brought more changes. A Target store opened with 20 new specialty stores. The Warringah Shire Council commissioned a fountain to celebrate Australia’s Bicentenary. Victor Cusack created it. The fountain was called Pacific Family.
In 1994, AMP Capital bought Warringah Mall. A big redevelopment happened in 1998. It officially opened in December 1999. A new food court and entertainment areas were added. Hoyts and Galaxy World opened. Rebel Sport and Surf Dive ‘n’ Ski joined the mall. The Warringah Mall Library also opened near Hoyts. The older sections got a makeover. This introduced a homewares area with stores like Wheel & Barrow.
The early 2000s saw some changes. Franklins closed. Priceline Pharmacy took its place. Aldi opened outside the mall on Cross and Green Street. They wanted to be inside. Disputes between Coles and Woolworths stopped it. Westfield Group bought a share in 2003. By 2012, they owned 50 percent. AMP Capital and Westfield swapped interests in several centers. Warringah Mall became a joint venture. Westfield took over management. It was rebranded Westfield Warringah Mall. In 2014, the Scentre Group took control.
Another major redevelopment began in 2015. It cost 310 million dollars. Ten stores closed or moved. Two carparks were demolished. Myer reduced its size from three levels to two. In June 2016, the first stage was complete. Westfield Warringah Mall had a new five-level car park. It added 1200 spaces. A new fresh food court opened.
The second stage finished in November 2016. The two-level Myer reopened. H&M and Cotton On Mega opened. There was also a new Anaconda store. A new mall area linked Myer to the existing center. The center court was renovated. The Pacific Family fountain got a new look. A surfboard sculpture called Whitewash was added outside Myer. Seventy new stores joined the mall.
Future plans include a new Hoyts Cinema and more food outlets. There will also be more parking spaces. Westfield Warringah Mall continues to evolve. Today, Westfield Warringah Mall has 381 stores and services. Major retailers include David Jones, Myer, Big W, and Kmart. You will also find Coles, Woolworths, Bunnings, and H&M. The mall also offers bus connections to Sydney CBD and other areas. There are 4,650 parking spaces.
With its mix of retail, dining, and entertainment, Westfield Warringah Mall is a significant shopping destination. It remains a vital part of the community.