Westfield Parramatta

Westfield Parramatta is a large shopping centre in the commercial core of Parramatta, western Sydney. It is one of Australia's major suburban retail complexes and occupies a substantial multi-block site around Argyle, Church, Marsden, Aird, Campbell and O'Connell Streets, close to Parramatta railway station and the Parramatta transport interchange. The centre combines department stores, supermarkets, fashion retailers, electronics, leisure, food and beverage, entertainment and services. Its integration with rail, bus and pedestrian infrastructure gives it a role extending beyond conventional retail: it functions as a major destination within Parramatta's central business district and as a daily interchange point for commuters and local residents. The site's retail history predates the Westfield centre. Grace Bros opened a suburban Sydney department store on the corner of Church and Argyle Streets in 1933, helping establish the block as a commercial extension of Parramatta's town centre south of the railway line. Planning for a larger development began in 1971. The first stage of Westfield Parramatta opened in May 1975 with Target, Coles, Woolworths and 44 specialty stores. A second stage opened in September 1975 with Grace Bros, Waltons and 60 specialty stores, and a third stage later that year added Village Cinemas, the Westower Tavern and another 14 specialty stores. The second stage was described at the time as the largest shopping centre in Australia. The centre underwent repeated expansion and redevelopment. A 1986 project refurbished the cinema complex and added hundreds of stores, while the closure of Waltons in 1987 led to its replacement by Venture. In the early 1990s, Westfield acquired and incorporated additional properties north and east of the original centre. Archaeological work associated with this expansion uncovered remains and artifacts connected with Parramatta's early colonial development. A major 1996 redevelopment expanded the centre to approximately 127,000 square metres, added separate retail blocks connected by air bridges, brought David Jones into the complex from its former standalone Church Street location, expanded the cinema operation from four to eight screens and introduced new food-market and food-court facilities. A further major redevelopment was completed in 2006. It added a cinema and lifestyle precinct on the corner of Church and Argyle Streets, an 11-screen Greater Union cinema complex, restaurant and café space, an underground retail arcade and improved links to the railway station and transport interchange. The cinema later operated under the Event Cinemas name. The expansion added about 70 specialty stores and nearly 200 car spaces, taking the centre to roughly 137,000 square metres of gross retail area and close to 500 stores. The complex has subsequently hosted international retail arrivals including Uniqlo, Zara and H&M. Ownership and corporate control have changed over time. AMP sold a 50 percent interest in 1993. GIC Real Estate acquired a 50 percent stake in 2007 in a transaction reported at A$717.5 million for that interest. In 2014, the property became part of Scentre Group's Westfield portfolio following the restructuring of the former Westfield Group. Scentre Group and GIC have also considered substantial commercial redevelopment above and around the existing retail podium, including a proposed office tower and rooftop retail and dining areas. Westfield Parramatta remains an operating shopping centre with extensive rail, bus and road access, major department stores, supermarkets, cinemas, restaurants and specialty retail.

The land occupied by Westfield Parramatta has been associated with organised retail since 1933, when Grace Bros opened its first suburban Sydney department store on the corner of Church and Argyle Streets. The store helped extend Parramatta's commercial centre south of the Main Western railway line. By 1971, planning was under way to incorporate the existing Grace Bros operation into a much larger shopping-centre development. Parramatta City Council approved expanded retail space and a tavern, and the redeveloped department store included a food hall, supermarket and hardware department, supported by a multilevel car park with more than 2,000 spaces. Westfield Parramatta opened in three stages during 1975. Stage one opened in May with Target, Coles, Woolworths and 44 specialty stores. Stage two opened in September with Grace Bros, Waltons and 60 specialty stores and was reported as the largest shopping centre in Australia at the time. The final stage opened later in the year and added a four-screen Village Cinemas complex, the Westower Tavern and 14 more specialty stores. A 1986 redevelopment refurbished the cinema and substantially increased the number of stores. Waltons closed in 1987 and was replaced by Venture. In 1989, plans for an underground pedestrian connection to Parramatta railway station were submitted and approved, reflecting the centre's growing importance to commuters. The complex expanded further in the early 1990s after Westfield purchased properties on the north side of Aird Street and parts of the blocks bounded by Aird, Marsden, Campbell and O'Connell Streets. Archaeological excavations undertaken during this work found artifacts and building foundations associated with Parramatta's early colonial settlement. The 1996 redevelopment increased retail space from roughly 80,000 square metres to approximately 127,000 square metres. It created additional retail blocks west of the original centre, linked by multilevel pedestrian air bridges, relocated David Jones from a standalone Church Street store into the complex, expanded Village Cinemas from four to eight screens and introduced a fresh-food marketplace, new food-court areas and JB Hi-Fi. Another major redevelopment was completed in 2006. A block at Church and Argyle Streets was transformed into a cinema and lifestyle precinct connected to the main centre by an air bridge and an underground arcade. Greater Union opened an 11-screen complex with Gold Class, GMAX and standard cinemas; the cinema business was later renamed Event Cinemas. The redevelopment also created restaurants and cafés beside the Parramatta transport interchange, an underground retail arcade linking the centre with the railway station, additional food facilities, a mini IGA Express and a second Woolworths Metro. About 70 specialty stores and nearly 200 car spaces were added, bringing the complex to approximately 137,000 square metres and almost 500 stores. Ownership evolved alongside the physical expansion. AMP sold a 50 percent interest in 1993. GIC Real Estate acquired a 50 percent stake in 2007 for a reported A$717.5 million. Following the 2014 division of the former Westfield Group, Scentre Group assumed control of the Australian and New Zealand Westfield shopping-centre portfolio, including Westfield Parramatta, while GIC remained a co-owner. The centre continued to add international fashion tenants, including Uniqlo in 2015, Zara in 2016 and H&M in 2019. Scentre Group and GIC have considered further mixed-use development above the centre. Plans initially contemplated a 25-storey office building with up to 35,000 square metres of commercial space. Revised proposals discussed in 2018 increased the concept to a 42-storey tower with approximately 112,000 square metres of commercial space and an estimated cost of A$425 million. The proposal involved relocating the principal office entrance, reconfiguring the Myer area and adding rooftop retail, cafés and an open-air terrace. Westfield Parramatta's current retail role is supported by suburban and intercity bus routes, frequent Sydney rail services and multilevel parking with more than 4,600 spaces.

• 2014

  Scentre Group assumes portfolio control

  [1]Westfield Parramattaen.wikipedia.org

  The centre moved into Scentre Group's Australian and New Zealand Westfield portfolio after the former Westfield Group restructuring.

• 2007

  GIC acquires a 50 percent stake

  [1]Westfield Parramattaen.wikipedia.org

  GIC Real Estate acquired half of the centre in a reported A$717.5 million transaction.

• 2006

  Cinema and transport-linked redevelopment opens

  [1]Westfield Parramattaen.wikipedia.org

  A new cinema and lifestyle precinct, underground retail arcade, food facilities and transport connections were completed.

• 1996

  Major expansion completed

  [1]Westfield Parramattaen.wikipedia.org

  The centre expanded to about 127,000 square metres, added connected retail blocks and relocated David Jones into the complex.

• 1992

  Additional city blocks acquired

  [1]Westfield Parramattaen.wikipedia.org

  Westfield acquired properties north and east of the original centre for further expansion.

• 1986

  First major redevelopment

  [1]Westfield Parramattaen.wikipedia.org

  Village Cinemas was refurbished and approximately 300 stores were added.

• 1975

  Westfield Parramatta opens in three stages

  [1]Westfield Parramattaen.wikipedia.org

  The centre opened progressively during the year, adding supermarkets, department stores, specialty retail, a tavern and a four-screen cinema.

• 1971

  Planning begins for the expanded centre

  [1]Westfield Parramattaen.wikipedia.org

  Planning commenced to incorporate the existing Grace Bros store into a larger Westfield development.

• 1933

  Grace Bros opens on the site

  [1]Westfield Parramattaen.wikipedia.org

  Grace Bros opened a suburban department store at Church and Argyle Streets, establishing the site's modern retail history.

A large, centrally located metropolitan shopping and entertainment destination serving Parramatta, western Sydney and rail and bus commuters.

• Department-store retail · 1975

  Department stores

  Westfield Parramatta has historically and currently supported large department-store operations, including Grace Bros, David Jones and Myer. These stores provide broad ranges of apparel, cosmetics, homewares, accessories and general merchandise and have served as important anchors through successive redevelopments.

• Grocery retail · 1975

  Supermarkets and fresh food

  The centre's grocery offer includes Coles, Woolworths, Woolworths Metro and Aldi, together with fresh-food areas and convenience-oriented formats. Grocery retail has been part of the centre since its original 1975 opening and helps generate frequent local visits in addition to destination shopping.

• Fashion and lifestyle · 1975

  Fashion and specialty retail

  The specialty-retail mix spans international and Australian apparel, footwear, beauty, accessories, electronics and lifestyle brands. Notable arrivals documented for the centre include Uniqlo in 2015, Zara in 2016 and H&M in 2019, alongside retailers such as Cotton On, JB Hi-Fi, Rebel and Best & Less.

• Entertainment · 1975

  Event Cinemas

  The centre's cinema operation began as a four-screen Village Cinemas complex in 1975, expanded to eight screens in the 1996 redevelopment and was replaced by an 11-screen Greater Union complex in 2006. Greater Union adopted the Event Cinemas name in 2010, with regular, Gold Class and GMAX theatres.

• Food service · 1975

  Food and dining precincts

  Food courts, cafés, restaurants, takeaway outlets and fresh-food marketplaces are distributed through the centre. The 2006 redevelopment added a restaurant and café concourse beside the transport interchange and extended food facilities into the underground arcade linked with the station.

• 201933-hour Christmas trade promotion

  Australia

  A Christmas promotion released balloons containing small prizes and promotional benefits such as coffee vouchers, free parking and gift or discount cards. The activity attracted a large crowd and resulted in a reported surge.

  Outcome. Twelve people received treatment at the scene and five were taken to hospital after the crowd incident.

  Source

• 2018

  Revised mixed-use tower proposalStrategy

  Background

  Scentre Group and GIC considered adding substantial commercial space above and around the existing retail podium.

  Action taken

  The revised concept contemplated a 42-storey office tower, approximately 112,000 square metres of commercial space, a relocated lobby and rooftop cafés and retail.

  Aftermath

  The proposal was described as a future development concept; the supplied material does not establish that construction was completed.

  Estimated development cost. A$425 million (2018 proposal)

  Source

• 2014

  Portfolio transition to Scentre GroupStrategy

  Background

  The former Westfield Group separated its Australian and New Zealand shopping-centre interests from its international business.

  Action taken

  Westfield Parramatta became part of Scentre Group's Australian and New Zealand portfolio, while GIC remained a co-owner.

  Aftermath

  The centre continued operating under the Westfield brand within Scentre Group's property portfolio.

  Source

• 2006

  Redevelopment adds a new cinema and transport arcadeGeneration change

  Background

  The existing centre required additional retail, leisure and public-transport capacity as Parramatta's commercial role grew.

  Action taken

  A new cinema and lifestyle block, underground retail arcade, food areas, pedestrian air bridge and transport links were delivered.

  Aftermath

  The complex reached approximately 137,000 square metres, added around 70 specialty stores and nearly 200 car spaces, and strengthened its connection with Parramatta station.

  Source

1. 1Westfield Parramattaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Westfield Parramatta official websitewestfield.com