Westfield Woden

Westfield Woden

Viewed from Callam Street multi-storey carpark opposite cinema. In 2009
Opening date	18 September 1972 (1972-09-18)
Developer	Lendlease
Management	Scentre Group
Owner	Scentre Group (50%) Perron Group (50%)
No. of stores and services	266
No. of anchor tenants	4
Total retail floor area	62,000 m²
No. of floors	4
Parking	~1,500
Website	www.westfield.com.au/woden

Westfield Woden, formerly Woden Plaza, is a large shopping centre in the Woden Town Centre of Phillip of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. The centre comprises four anchor tenants - David Jones, Big W, Coles and Woolworths - and more than 250 other retail, leisure, and dining outlets.

History

Woden Plaza was developed by Lendlease. ^[1] It was opened on 18 September 1972 by Prime Minister William McMahon. ^[2]

To begin with, the centre's only components were what now houses the Big W and David Jones areas, but, during the 1980s, expanded to include a medium-sized food court.

In 1996, the centre underwent a major redevelopment, adding on a new wing to the building called "The Fresh Food Market" (currently housing Coles and Woolworths) as well as a new Hoyts 8-screen cinema complex. GPT purchased the first, second, and third storeys of the Bonner House building, situated across from the back of the centre, and connect the areas together with a pedestrian bridge.

The Westfield Group purchased a 50% stake in the centre in July 2005, with the remaining 50% retained by GPT. ^{[3] [4] [5]} It took over management of the centre from Lendlease on the same date. ^[6] In December 2015 the Perron Group purchased GPT's shareholding. ^{[7] [8]}

Transport

In December 1972 the Woden Interchange, located adjacent to the shopping centre, opened. ^[9] It was used by ACTION and CDC Canberra bus services until being closed in January 2023 and will be rebuilt on a new site. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

References

1. New plaza Canberra Times 15 September 1971 page 1
2. Woden Plaza nears completion Canberra Times 31 August 1972 page 1
3. GPT severs ties with Lend Lease Sydney Morning Herald 3 June 2005
4. "Westfield takeover Woden." Asia Africa Intelligence Wire (22 Feb 2005): NA. General Reference Center Gold. Thomson Gale. (CELPLO). Retrieved 26 Nov. 2006 ^{[ dead link ]}
5. "Westfield in $262m Woden Plaza deal." Asia Africa Intelligence Wire (19 Feb 2005): NA. General Reference Center Gold. Thomson Gale. (CELPLO). Retrieved 26 Nov. 2006 ^{[ dead link ]}
6. GPT announces implementation of Penrith and Woden transactions GPT 1 July 2005
7. Billionaire Stan Perron buys $335m GPT stake in Woden Australian Financial Review 12 December 2016
8. Westfield Woden Perron Group
9. Bus interchange opened Truck & Bus Transportation January 1973 page 99
10. Woden bus interchange closure Transport Canberra
11. Temporary Woden Bus Interchange now open Transport Canberra
12. Infrastructure Australian Bus Panorama issue 38/4 January 2023 page 34

External links

Media related to Westfield Woden at Wikimedia Commons

35°20′47″S149°05′12″E / 35.3464°S 149.0868°E / -35.3464; 149.0868