Westfield Warrawong

infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = Westfield Warrawong

---

image_width = 250
caption =
location = Warrawong, New South Wales, Australia
coordinates = coord|-34.4861|150.8894|display=inline|format=dms
opening_date = 1960
closing_date =
developer =
manager = The Westfield Group
owner = The Westfield Group
number_of_stores = 147 [ [http://www.westfield.com/warrawong/ourstores/ Westfield ] ]
number_of_anchors = 3
floor_area = convert|55067|m2|sqft|0|abbr=on
floors =
parking = 1,764 spaces
website = [http://www.westfield.com/warrawong/ westfield.com/warrawong]
footnotes = Information from Westfield and the City of Wollongongcite web |url=http://westfield.com/corporate/retailer/au/warrawong.html |title=Property Portfolio - Westfield Warrawong |accessdate=2007-07-17 |date= |year= |month= |publisher=The Westfield Group |pages= |language=en-au ] cite web |url=http://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/library/localinfo/warrawong/history.html |title=Warrawong - history |accessdate=2007-07-17 |date= |year= |month= |publisher=City of Wollongong |pages= |language=en-au ]

Westfield Warrawong is a major shopping centre located in Warrawong, a suburb of Wollongong.

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. [cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=Maxi Street Directory |origdate= |origyear=1988 |origmonth= |url= |format= |accessdate=2007-07-30 |accessyear= |accessmonth= |edition= |series= |date=2nd Edition |year= |month= |publisher=Gregory's Publishing Company/Universal Press |location= |language= |isbn=0-7319-0113-4 |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages= |chapter= |chapterurl= |quote= , Map 410]

The centre has a current catchment area of 246,680 persons, and retail spending in the catchment area estimated at $2.3 billion AUD (2005). Annual turnover at the centre for 2005 was $190.4 m AUD 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.cite web |url=http://www.wollongongcity.com.au/about/files/IRISResearch2004.pdf |title=Crown Street Mall - Rates Survey 2004 and 2002 with analysis |accessdate=2007-07-17 |date= |year=2004 |month=12 |publisher=Iris Research for City of Wollongong |pages= |language=en-au]

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 convert|6000|m2|sqft|0|abbr=on Big W department store to the centre.cite news |first=Eric |last=Craig |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Retales |url= |format= |work= |publisher= [http://www.insideretailing.com.au/ Inside Retailing] |id= |pages= |page= |date=2 September 1996 |accessdate= |language= |quote= ]

Previously, Big W had been an occupant of the centre in the late 1960s, however due to a change in retailling strategy by parent company Woolworths Limited, the then two level store was consolidated into a Woolworths Supermarket which was known as Woolworths Family Centres.

By 2003, the centre had grown to convert|39800|m2|sqft|0|abbr=on with 131 retailers. [cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=Jobson's Year Book |origdate=2003-10-06 |origyear= |origmonth= |url= |format= |accessdate=2007-07-30 |accessyear= |accessmonth= |edition= |series= |date= |year= |month= |publisher=Dun & Bradstreet Marketing Pty Ltd |location= |language= |isbn= |oclc=37164161 |doi= |id= |pages= |chapter= |chapterurl= |quote= ]

Events

In 1999, the centre received significant global coverage of its efforts to deal with shoplifting and anti-social behaivour.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Bing keeps troublemakers at bay |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/389461.stm |format= |work= |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |id= |pages= |page= |date=8 July 1999 |accessdate= |language= |quote= ] cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Crosby drives teens from Aussie mall |url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/News/9907/08/showbuzz/#story4 |format= |work= |publisher=CNN |id= |pages= |page= |date=8 July 1999 |accessdate= |language= |quote= ] 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's 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.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Tragic end to rest by wrong tree at wrong time |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2004/09/21/1203816.htm |format= |work= |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |id= |pages= |page= |date=21 September 2004 |accessdate= |language= |quote= ] 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.cite news |first= |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2005/03/29/1333244.htm |format= |work= |publisher=last= |authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=Vandalism may end night bus service Corporation |id= |pages= |page= |date=29 March 2005 |accessdate= |language= |quote= ] Despite the efforts of bus inspectors and transit police, very little had been achieved to curb the problems.

Transport

The centre is serviced by a public bus service operated by Premier Illawarra.

Facilities

Amongst the centre's major facilities is a Public Library operated by the City of Wollongong. The library opened in 1988, and consolidated branch libraries previously located at Warrawong, Berkeley and Port Kembla.

Major Retailers

Major retailers operating within the shopping centre include;
*Coles
*Kmart
*Big W
*Woolworths
*Best & Less
*Hoyts
*EB Games

Major food restaurants

Major food retailers within the centre include;cite web | url=http://westfield.com/warrawong/dining/index.html |title=Dining - Westfield Warrawong |accessdate=2007-07-17 |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=The Westfield Group |pages= |language=en-au |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]
*Gloria Jean's Coffees
*KFC
*McDonalds
*Subway

Further reading

* (43 pages)
*
* (includes maps and plans)
*

References

External links

* [http://westfield.com/warrawong/ Westfield Warrawong]