Wollongong Central

Wollongong Central

West Kiera building of Wollongong Central
Location	Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	34°25′29″S150°53′38″E / 34.42466°S 150.89388°E / -34.42466; 150.89388
Address	200 Crown Street
Opening date	1975 (Crown Central) 1986 (Gateway Shopping Centre) 1999 (Wollongong Central)
Management	Haben Property Fund
Owner	Haben Property Fund and JY Group
No. of stores and services	212
No. of anchor tenants	3
Total retail floor area	59,000 m2 (635,071 sq ft)
No. of floors	3
Parking	2,100 spaces
Website	wollongongcentral.com.au

Wollongong Central is a large shopping centre in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. ^[1]

History

Whilst Wollongong Central today is one complete shopping centre, it was originally two separate and distinct shopping centres. Crown Central shopping centre was constructed and opened in 1975 by the Abbey Capital Property Group on the northern side of Crown Street, taking the majority of the Crown Street frontage between Keira Street and Church Street. Crown Central featured the Venture department store, Franklins supermarket, Best & Less and 30 stores.

In 1986, a joint venture between Wollongong City Council and Kern Corporation developed the Crown Gateway shopping centre on the site of the former Coles Building on the southern side of Crown Street, extending through to Burelli Street. Crown Gateway featured Grace Bros department store, Rebel Sport and 52 speciality stores. ^[2]

In 1996, GPT purchased Crown Central from the council and redeveloped the food court. In 1998 GPT acquired Crown Gateway from the council. The pink arch entrance to Crown Street Mall was demolished and GPT then developed a pedestrian bridge to join the two centres, and re-branded the combined complex as Wollongong Central. The pedestrian bridge was completed in 2000. ^{[3] [4]}

In 2009, the North building underwent extensive $20 million interior renovations which completely revamped the interior of the building, giving it a much more modern and classier look. The renovations were met with positive feedback. ^{[5] [6]}

The North building was extensively modified on its western side to accommodate a pedestrian bridge linking it to the new West Keira building. ^[7] The exterior of the shopping centre was also modified to match the West Keira building. ^[7]

Wollongong Central was to commence construction on the $300 million expansion of the centre after successfully purchasing properties including shops and offices on Kiera Street and Crown Street in August 2008. However plans were changed and construction started in November 2011. ^[8] The expansion was to include an eight screen cinema, food court, supermarket, underground parking and speciality stores. ^[9] This development was completed on 7 October 2017. The grand opening of the centre was on 9 October 2014 with crowds and confetti on Kiera Street. ^[10] The West Keira building (Building 1) is situated on the corner of Keira Street and Crown Street and has three main floors. It joins to North Building via an underground pathway and pedestrian bridge. Lower ground floor contains Coles and the first floor contains Target and JB Hi-Fi. The building also contains cafes and restaurants outside along Keira Street. Greater Union was to open an eight screen cinema in the complex, however GPT dropped plans for the cinema and instead the cinema commenced it $500,000 upgrade. ^[11]

The South building has little plans announced, although the GPT Group has confirmed that it will undergo delayed $30 million interior renovations similar to that of the North building. However this development never eventuated. ^{[12] [13]}

On 2 October 2016 Myer closed down its store after deciding not to renew its lease. ^[14] David Jones moved into the 3 level space vacated by Myer and opened on 4 October 2017. ^[15] Swedish retailer H&M opened in the former space of David Jones in the North Building. The store opened on 1 September 2016. ^[16] Also in September 2016 Anaconda opened its first Illawarra store and Rebel relocated from South Building and opened in the North Building. ^[17] On 10 July 2018 Holey Moley opened its bar and mini golf venue. ^[18] On 12 April 2019 B Lucky & Sons arcade and bar opened. ^[19] Both these venues are located on the basement level of the South Building. Rivers and TK Maxx occupies part of the bottom level, which opens to Burelli Street to the south at ground level. The upper two levels are primarily accessed from Crown Street Mall and predominantly contain specialty stores, fashion outlets, and cafes. There is also a pedestrian bridge linking South Building to Club Lime and a carpark.

On top of the south-western corner of the North Building is a five-level office tower, previously known as Crown Tower.

In October 2021, Haben Property Fund and JY Group acquired 100% interest in the shopping centre from GPT for $402 million. ^{[20] [21]}

Future

GPT has concept approval for two towers to be built on top of the new West Keira building - a 10-level commercial office tower on the north-east corner, and an 18-level residential tower on the south-west corner, along with an additional two parking levels on top of the West Keira podium. There is no timetable for the construction of these towers. ^[22]

Tenants

Wollongong Central has 59,000m² of floor space. The major retailers include David Jones Target, Coles, Cotton On, H&M, TK Maxx, JB Hi-Fi Home, Rebel, Best & Less, Chemist Warehouse, Anaconda, and Holey Moley.

Transport

Wollongong railway station is a five minute walk from the centre.

Wollongong Central has bus connections to Austinmer, Bellambi, Campbelltown, Dapto, Figtree, Keiraville, Port Kembla, Stanwell Park, University of Wollongong and Warrawong, as well as the local surrounding area. The majority of bus services depart from stops on Kiera and Crown Streets.

Wollongong Central has multi level car parks with 2,100 spaces.

References

1. "Wollongong Central". GPT . Retrieved 23 March 2021.
2. "Gateway Shopping Centre - Wollongong". www.thegong.com.au. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
3. "Wollongong City Library - Suburb profiles: Wollongong" Retrieved on 29 June 2013.
4. Crown Street Mall - 25 Years of History Illawarra Mercury , Wollongong, 19 September 2011. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.
5. $30m facelift for Central shopping centre
6. New face for Wollongong Central Illawarra Mercury
7. Wollongong Central Redevelopment
8. "Excitement and anticipation as Wollongong Central prepares to open". ABC News . Retrieved 23 March 2021.
9. Cox, Brett (22 April 2008). "Doubts on Central expansion". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
10. "Thousands turn out for Wollongong Central opening". ABC News. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
11. Hoctor, Michelle (29 July 2011). "Wollongong cinema spruce-up". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
12. Sparkling new plan for mall's Myer half Illawarra Mercury
13. GPT poised to move on mall plan? Illawarra Mercury
14. "Myer to close Wollongong, Orange department stores". ABC News. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
15. Wachsmuth, Lisa (4 October 2017). "History repeats with opening of new David Jones store". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
16. "H&M sets Wollongong opening date". Inside Retail . 2 August 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
17. McIlwain, Kate (19 September 2016). "Anaconda, Rebel to open new stores". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
18. McIlwain, Kate (22 April 2018). "Opening date for Wollongong's mini-golf cocktail bar nears". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
19. Savage, Desiree (11 April 2019). "Take a sneak peek in Wollongong's new arcade bar B. Lucky & Sons". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
20. "Haben Property Fund and JY Group in $402m landmark shopping centre sale". Colliers International .
21. Haben hops into GPT mall in $402m deal Australian Financial Review 27 October 2021
22. NSW Dept of Planning - Concept Plan Approval

External links

• Official website

Media related to Wollongong Central at Wikimedia Commons