Westfield Sydney
An upscale, multi-level shopping centre in Sydney's central business district.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Westfield Sydney is a large upscale shopping centre in the centre of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The complex occupies a prominent position beneath and around Sydney Tower, with entrances and retail frontages connected to Pitt Street Mall, Castlereagh Street and Market Street. Its central location places it within Sydney's principal luxury, department-store and high-street retail precinct, close to the Strand Arcade, MidCity and the Queen Victoria Building. The present centre is the result of the consolidation and redevelopment of several earlier retail properties. The site history includes Imperial Arcade, Centrepoint Shopping Centre, Skygarden and Sydney Central Plaza. These properties were developed at different times and had separate ownership and architectural identities before being brought together through a series of Westfield acquisitions and redevelopment decisions. Imperial Arcade had roots in a nineteenth-century shopping arcade, while the later Centrepoint and Skygarden developments helped establish the precinct as a major central-city retail destination. Westfield Group acquired Centrepoint in 2001 and progressively assembled the surrounding assets, including Sydney Central Plaza in 2003 and Imperial Arcade and Skygarden in 2004. On 4 July 2009, the group began a major redevelopment intended to integrate the separate properties into a more coherent shopping and hospitality destination. The project involved the refurbishment of some existing structures, demolition of Imperial Arcade, the creation of new retail connections and the incorporation of Sydney Central Plaza as an extension of the centre. The reported investment was approximately A$930 million. The first stage opened in October 2010 with about 130 specialty stores. A second stage added approximately 120 further stores between November 2010 and late 2011. Completion of the broader development was associated with the opening of a 25-storey commercial tower at 85 Castlereagh Street in early 2012. The completed complex provided a contemporary, vertically integrated retail environment with department stores, fashion, electronics, food and restaurants, together with direct access to Sydney Tower attractions. Westfield Sydney is primarily a destination for fashion, luxury goods, department-store shopping, electronics, dining and tourism-related experiences. Major retailers identified in reference material include Myer, Zara and JB Hi-Fi. Sydney Tower adds an important experiential component through attractions and hospitality venues including the Sydney Tower Eye observation deck, SKYWALK, Infinity at Sydney Tower, Bar 83 and SkyFeast. The centre's later development has also been linked to the adjacent former David Jones Market Street building. In 2016, Scentre Group and Cbus Property acquired the building, with plans to redevelop its retail, office and residential components while maintaining a connection to Westfield Sydney. David Jones closed its Market Street store in February 2020. Construction of the planned mixed-use redevelopment began in December 2020. Westfield Sydney therefore functions not only as a shopping centre but as part of a broader central-Sydney retail, commercial, tourism and mixed-use precinct.
History
Westfield Sydney occupies a site with a long and layered history of central-Sydney retail development. One of the earliest properties associated with the precinct was Imperial Arcade. An earlier Imperial Arcade had opened in 1891, but it closed and was demolished in 1961. A replacement arcade was developed by Stocks and Holdings Ltd, now associated with Stockland, as part of the company's first Sydney city-centre redevelopment project. It opened on 18 October 1965 after being formally opened by New South Wales Premier Robert Askin. The building contained four shopping levels and offices above, and included a flagship Angus & Robertson bookstore. Centrepoint Shopping Centre opened in 1972 with 52 stores. It underwent refurbishments and upgrades in 1984, 1996 and 2000. Westfield Group acquired the property in December 2001 and subsequently renamed it Westfield Centrepoint. The centre eventually contained more than 140 stores and was connected by skybridges to Myer and David Jones, as well as to Imperial Arcade. Skygarden opened in 1988 beneath the Skygarden Tower office building. Its design incorporated retail and restaurant levels behind two heritage-listed buildings, with a glazed roof over a food-and-dining area known as Skydining. Westfield acquired Skygarden in 2004. Sydney Central Plaza opened in 1998 following the refurbishment of the flagship Myer store. It contained 87 stores on the lower levels of the department-store building and was connected to Westfield Centrepoint, MidCity and the Queen Victoria Building. The structure had earlier housed Farmer & Company, a department store building dating from 1874. Farmer & Company was acquired by Myer in 1961; the store later passed through the Grace Bros branding before returning to the Myer name in 2004. Westfield progressively assembled the separate properties. In 2003 it acquired Sydney Central Plaza, and in 2004 it acquired Imperial Arcade and Skygarden. On 4 July 2009, Westfield Group commenced a major redevelopment with an announced investment of approximately A$930 million. The project sought to combine Westfield Centrepoint, Skygarden, Imperial Arcade and Sydney Central Plaza into a more unified shopping destination. Imperial Arcade was demolished, while Skygarden and Westfield Centrepoint were refurbished. Sydney Central Plaza was rebranded as an extension of Westfield Sydney across Pitt Street Mall. Stage one opened in October 2010 with approximately 130 specialty stores. Stage two opened progressively between November 2010 and late 2011, adding about 120 stores. The overall project was completed in early 2012 in conjunction with the opening of a 25-storey commercial tower at 85 Castlereagh Street. The resulting centre fronted Pitt Street Mall, Castlereagh Street and Market Street, giving it access to some of Sydney's most prominent retail streets. The precinct later expanded its development ambitions through the former David Jones Market Street property. In August 2016, South African Woolworths sold the building to Scentre Group and Cbus Property for A$360 million. The proposal envisaged retail floors adjoining Westfield Sydney, while Cbus Property would develop residential air rights. David Jones continued operating under a lease until it closed the store on 12 February 2020. Plans described a curved 22-storey residential tower with 101 apartments, serviced offices of approximately 11,500 square metres and five levels of luxury and food-oriented retail. Construction on the retail, office and residential components began in December 2020. Westfield Sydney consequently developed from a collection of historically separate arcades and department-store properties into a major integrated retail and mixed-use destination in Sydney's central business district.
- 2020
David Jones Market Street store closes
[1]The David Jones store closes ahead of the planned redevelopment.
- 2020
Mixed-use redevelopment construction begins
[1]Construction begins on planned retail, office and residential components connected with the Westfield Sydney precinct.
- 2016
Adjacent David Jones building acquired
[1]Scentre Group and Cbus Property acquire the connected Market Street property for a planned mixed-use redevelopment.
- 2012
Integrated redevelopment completes
[1]The broader project reaches completion alongside the opening of the 85 Castlereagh Street commercial tower.
- 2011
Stage two adds further stores
[1]The second stage opens progressively and adds approximately 120 stores.
- 2010
Stage one opens
[1]The first stage opens with approximately 130 specialty stores.
- 2009
Major Westfield Sydney redevelopment begins
[1]Construction begins on the approximately A$930 million redevelopment and integration project.
- 2004
Westfield acquires Imperial Arcade and Skygarden
[1]The acquisitions give Westfield control of the principal properties later combined into Westfield Sydney.
- 2003
Westfield acquires Sydney Central Plaza
[1]Sydney Central Plaza becomes part of Westfield's growing central-Sydney retail portfolio.
- 2001
Westfield acquires Centrepoint
[1]Westfield Group acquires Centrepoint Shopping Centre and later renames it Westfield Centrepoint.
Products and positioning
A premium, centrally located Sydney shopping and lifestyle destination combining high-street and luxury retail, department stores, dining, tourism attractions and direct access to Sydney Tower.
Retail
Fashion and luxury retail
Westfield Sydney's central positioning supports a broad fashion offer ranging from mainstream apparel to premium and luxury brands. Retail frontage on Pitt Street Mall and Castlereagh Street is central to the centre's role as an upscale shopping destination.
Retail
Department-store retail
Department-store shopping is a major part of the precinct's heritage and tenant mix. Myer is identified as a major retailer, and the centre's structure incorporates the former Sydney Central Plaza department-store development.
Retail
Consumer electronics
Consumer electronics and related technology products form part of the specialist retail offer, with JB Hi-Fi identified among the centre's major retailers.
Hospitality
Dining and food retail
Restaurants, cafes and food-oriented retail complement the shopping offer. The broader precinct also includes dining experiences associated with Sydney Tower, including SkyFeast and Bar 83.
Tourism
Sydney Tower visitor experiences
The centre is located beneath Sydney Tower and provides access to tourism and hospitality attractions including the Sydney Tower Eye observation deck, SKYWALK, Infinity at Sydney Tower, Bar 83 and SkyFeast. These experiences distinguish the site from a conventional retail-only centre.
Brand decisions
2020
Mixed-use redevelopment of the Market Street propertyStrategyBackground
Following the closure of the David Jones Market Street store, the connected property was repositioned for a broader retail, office and residential scheme.
Action taken
Construction began on a planned development comprising five levels of retail focused on luxury and food, serviced offices and a curved residential tower with 101 apartments.
Aftermath
The project was intended to extend the Westfield Sydney retail environment while adding commercial and residential uses to the precinct.
2016
Acquisition of the David Jones Market Street buildingM&ABackground
The building was adjacent and connected to Westfield Sydney, creating an opportunity to expand the centre's retail footprint and add mixed-use development.
Action taken
Scentre Group and Cbus Property acquired the property from South African Woolworths for A$360 million. The plan allocated retail redevelopment to Scentre Group and residential air-rights development to Cbus Property.
Aftermath
David Jones remained under lease until closing its Market Street store in February 2020. Subsequent plans included luxury and food retail, serviced offices and a residential tower.
Property acquisition price. A$360 million (2016 acquisition)
2009
Consolidation and redevelopment of the central-Sydney retail propertiesStrategyBackground
Westfield controlled several adjoining or connected retail properties, including Westfield Centrepoint, Skygarden, Imperial Arcade and Sydney Central Plaza. Their separate layouts and identities limited the coherence of the precinct.
Action taken
Westfield Group began a major redevelopment, demolishing Imperial Arcade, refurbishing Skygarden and Westfield Centrepoint, and incorporating Sydney Central Plaza as an extension of Westfield Sydney.
Aftermath
The staged project opened from 2010 through 2012 and created a large integrated shopping centre connected to several major Sydney retail streets.
Reported redevelopment investment. A$930 million (2009 redevelopment announcement)
Sources2 sources
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