Westfield Whitford City

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Westfield Whitford City
Westfield Whitford City sign in front of the northern end of the centre
LocationHillarys, Perth, Western Australia
Coordinates31°47′47″S 115°44′58″E / 31.796516°S 115.749401°E / -31.796516; 115.749401 (Westfield Whitford City)
Opened21 March 1978 (1978-03-21)
Previous names
Whitford City Shopping Centre
ManagementScentre Group
OwnerScentre Group (50%)
JY Group (50%)
Stores280
6
Floor area84,759 m2 (912,340 sq ft)
Floors2
Parking4107
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

Westfield Whitford City, formerly Whitford City Shopping Centre, is a major shopping centre in Hillarys, east of St Mark's Anglican Community School in Perth, Western Australia. Built in 1977 on the former Red Cattle Ridge site at Marmion Avenue approximately 18 kilometres (11 miles) north of the Perth central business district, the centre is owned by the Scentre Group.

In 2023, the shopping centre had a turnover of $513 million,[1] up from $395 million in 2006, with approximately 7.2 million customer visits yearly. The trade-area population surrounding the shopping location is about 224,410 and the total retail spending in that area is $2.3 billion.[2][3]

History

Whitford City opened on 21 March 1978 and had an Aherns department store until 1985, one of Western Australia's first Big W discount department stores, a Woolworths supermarket, and 50 specialty stores. The centre cost $16 million and had a floor area of 22,307 square metres (240,110 sq ft). The centre also had outdoor facilities and a library, and a petrol station was built near the centre shortly after the opening.

Whitford City 2005 - View of Entry Pylon

In August 2004, Dexus sold a 50% shareholding to Westfield Corporation.[4] In December 2009, Dexus sold its remaining 50% to GIC.[5][6] In September 2024, GIC sold its stake to JY Group.[1]

Whitford City is currently Perth's largest shopping centre without a flagship department store such as Myer or David Jones. The shopping centre has officially been part of the Westfield Group since 2004 and is currently home to over 240 speciality stores. In July 2014, the Westfield Group became two companies (Scentre Group and Westfield Corporation), with ownership and management transferring to Scentre Group.[7]

In 2024, minority owner GIC sold their stake in the centre to JY Group for $195 million, with Scentre Group passing up the opportunity to take full control of the centre.[8]

1989–1990

In 1985, works were approved for a new redevelopment to the centre to increase the size to 39,447 square metres (424,600 sq ft). This new redevelopment was set to include a relocated Woolworths supermarket, and a new Food Court featuring a McDonald's. The addition of the new food court however, would cause the Aherns department store to be demolished. Since then, Westfield Whitford City has not had a department store such as Myer or David Jones. The redevelopment was completed by 1990.

1991–1993

Shortly after completion of the previous redevelopment, another redevelopment was approved that increased the floor area of the complex to 52,517 square metres (565,290 sq ft). The new redevelopment included a new Target discount department store, expanded the west side of the mall featuring over 40 specialty stores, and the existing mall was renovated including Big W.

Whitford City Target Mall

In 1993, two new fast food restaurants, a Hungry Jack's and a KFC, were built outside the centre, completing the redevelopment.

1992–1996

Greater Union Complex overlooking McDonalds Drive Thru

In 1992, construction of a six screen cinema complex was approved. The redevelopment was completed in 1996 which included a Greater Union Cinemas, an Intencity arcade and a Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon. The Greater Union occupied the second floor beside the Food Court.

2001–2004

In 2001, redevelopment was approved that increased the floor area of the centre to 76,463 square metres (823,040 sq ft). The $80 million redevelopment included the following.

  • A new mall to the upper-west side of the centre.
  • A relocated Woolworths supermarket.
  • A new Fresh Food Market.
  • A new A Mart All Sports (later Rebel) and Best & Less mini-major store.
  • Expanded parking, and fast food restaurants.
  • Renovations to much of the existing mall.
  • A new outdoor dining area named the "Piazza" that featured a view onto Whitfords Avenue.

Upon completion of the redevelopment, Greater Union sub-let their cinema[9] in the centre to Grand Cinemas in 2004, and Whitford City was sold to Westfield which rebranded the centre to Westfield Whitford City and overhauled signage and entrances.

The Piazza was never fully leased and subsequently redeveloped.

2005-2015

In 2006 the centre’s adjoining business centre was refurbished.

During 2006 and 2007 the centre ran the Westfield Shop for your School promotion.

Woolworths Mall view from Piazza entry in 2005.

Westfield refurbished the Food Forum with new furnishings and rebranded it as the Food Court.

2016–2017

On 8 July 2016 Scentre Group announced an $80 million redevelopment that focused on the outdoor Piazza and included the following.

  • A complete demolishing of the existing Piazza and cinema complex.
  • A new 8-screen Event Cinemas complex featuring two "V-Max" and "Gold Class" screens.
  • 12 new dining restaurants including the first micro-brewery in Western Australia, The Whitfords Brewing Company.
  • A new iPlay located in the basement floor featuring an arcade and bowling alley.
  • A relocated Rebel near the Food Court.
  • An overhauled Fresh Food Market with a renovated Woolworths supermarket.

The redevelopment opened on 20 September 2017, increasing the floor area of the complex to 84,759 square metres (912,340 sq ft), making it the third largest shopping centre in the northern side of Perth, behind Lakeside Joondalup and Karrinyup Shopping Centre.

Transport

The centre is bounded by the major roads of Marmion Avenue and Whitfords Avenue in Hillarys. Multiple Transperth bus routes service the centre. 441, 460, 461 and 462 run along Whitfords Ave, while 442 runs along Marmion Ave on the eastern side of the precinct. All routes connect to Whitfords railway station and Joondalup railway station.[10][11]

Future

The centre has development approval for about 90 apartments and an office block, however no development has begun yet.

Provisions for an expanded centre, including a David Jones Major, has been in development for multiple years, with no set construction date.[12]

References

  1. "GIC divests 50% of Westfield Whitford City to JY Group for A$195m". Hong Kong Business. 23 September 2024. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024.
  2. "City of Joondalup - Westfield Whitford City". Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  3. "Property Compendium 2023". Scentre Group. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  4. "DDF to own 50% of a $1.45 billion national retail portfolio" (PDF). Deutsche Bank. 4 August 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2023.
  5. "Dexus Property Group sells 50% interest in Westfield Whitford shopping centre" (PDF). Dexus. 30 December 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 October 2023.
  6. "Sell-offs and buy-ins top $1bn". Australian Financial Review. 3 January 2010. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023.
  7. Condon, Turi (20 June 2014). "Westfield restructure a success: Lowy". The Australian Business Review. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  8. "channelnews : JY Acquires Half Stake In Westfield Whitford City For $195 Million". Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  9. https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/business/grand-cinemas-family-owned-grand-cinemas-in-administration-after-pandemic-restrictions-kill-off-crowds-c-8931195 Grand Cinemas In Administration
  10. "Bus Route 460 Timetable". www.transperth.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  11. "Bus Route 442 Timetable". www.transperth.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  12. "Scentre Group – Perth". Shopping Centre News. 20 March 2017. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2025.

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