This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
Westfield has today reopened the first stage of its $200 million redevelopment at Westfield Chermside in Queensland.
The centre will have more than 350 stores and 6,200 car parking spaces, consolidating and will increase the gross lettable area from 78,000 sqm to 110,000 sqm.
The $200 million redevelopment’s first stage includes a new Woolworths, Big W, JB Hi-Fi and around 80 specialty stores while Borders, Dan Murphy and another 20 specialty stores will open later this year.
The new retail mix will have a distinct fashion focus supported by the arrival of several higher-end retailers including Witchery, Country Road and Seduce over the next two months, to be followed by David Jones next year.
Westfield’s Australian and New Zealand managing director Robert Jordan said Chermside is a key regional centre in Brisbane and is the hub of the city’s north.
“The redeveloped centre will complement the area’s mixed-use developments and serve the growing local residential community, as well as drawing shoppers from across Brisbane,” he added.
The redeveloped centre will include an open-space market square area surrounded by alfresco dining and a fresh food market overlooking the Chermside Parklands on the centre’s eastern side. The dining precinct will include such restauranteurs as Wagamama, Badabing and Cibo Coffee in their first suburban location.
The centre has been open since 1957 and is Brisbane’s oldest drive-in shopping centre. The original retail offer included one department store, a supermarket and 22 speciality stores.
Westfield Chermside was last refurbished in 2000.
The second stage of the redevelopment program will add a further 12,400 sqm with the arrival of David Jones in August 2007. Upon completion of stage 2 Westfield Chermside will be Queensland’s largest shopping centre.
The project is being delivered on schedule and the yield on cost will be in excess of 10% as originally forecast.
By Adam Parsons
