Bankstown Central

Bankstown Central

Centro Bankstown rooftop entrance
Location	Template:Mapit-AUS-suburbscale
Opening date	1966
Developer	Centro Properties Group
Management	Centro Properties Group
Owner	Centro Properties Group
No. of stores and services	310+
No. of anchor tenants	8
No. of floors	3
Parking	~3,500
Website	centro.com.au/bankstown

Centro Bankstown at night

Centro Bankstown, formerly known as Bankstown Square, is a major regional shopping centre situated in the central business district of the City of Bankstown. It has over 310 specialty stores including a number of major retail stores. Opened in 1966, the shopping centre has undergone several refurbishments and additions. The most recent work involved extension of the shopping complex to a block of land opposite Lady Cutler Avenue. Centro Bankstown is the largest Centro-managed and owned shopping centre in Australia.

In October 2002 General Property Trust (GPT) divested its 50% interest in Centro Bankstown to Centro Properties Group. GPT received $176 million for sale of its interest in the shopping centre which it jointly owned with the Government Superannuation Office (GSO).

History

• 1966 - Centre Opened
• 2002 - Managed by Centro Properties Group, 50% Interest Acquired by Centro Australia Wholesale Fund
• 2003 - 50% Interest Acquired by Centro MCS 28
• 2006 - Stage 1 Redevelopment Started
• 2007 - Stage 1 Redevelopment Completed, Stage 2 Redevelopment Started
• 2008 - Stage 2 Redevelopment Completed

Redevelopment

The shopping centre is currently undergoing a major "redevelopment program" in two stages which will not be completed until mid-2008.

Stage I (2006-2007): Extensions, Relocations, New Malls

Expansion of Centro Bankstown as of 2008

Centro Bankstown 2008

In July 2006, the extension to the complex was completed adding 26,000 m² of retail space and bringing the total gross leasable area to 66,500 m². It features a new Woolworths, the largest Big W in NSW, as well as 28 additional specialty stores. Franklins moved to the old Woolworths premises in December, 2006, and a new mall featuring twenty new stores opened in November 2007 where it was once located. The new mall connects the Grand Market fresh food area with the food court. New stores were opened (eg. Game, Bankwest), some stores closed down (eg. JB Hi-Fi, Tandy), while others relocated (eg. Best and Less) or underwent major renovations (eg. Dick Smith Electronics).

Stage II (2007-2008): Myer Bankstown

Myer opened on May 17, 2008, on the site of the old David Jones store. David Jones pulled out of the Bankstown site after the 40-year lease of the store was up because the area did not fit their demographics, making the store unprofitable. This is similar to the swap that happened at Westfield Eastgardens and Westfield Burwood, the latter in a reverse direction which David Jones replaced a Myer store. The Bankstown Myer store stocks more than the old David Jones store and is the largest store at Bankstown at 10,150m². An extended fashion mall connects to the new Myer entrance. Plus a new NAB branch will be located next to the RTA. In a later stage Centro will be planning to add another level (4) to its main centre.

Public transport

At Centro Bankstown a bus interchange is located at the Jacobs Street entry. A taxi stand is located at the Jacobs Street entry and Bankstown Railway Station is only a short distance from Centro Bankstown situated off the North Terrace.

Retailers

Major stores in the centre include:

• Myer (Formerly David Jones)
• Kmart
• Big W
• Target
• Woolworths
• Franklins
• Homeart
• Lincraft (Formerly Spotlight)
• Best and Less
• The Reject Shop (Formerly Go-Lo)
• Dick Smith Electronics
• RTA motor registry with all driver test facilities.

The centre also features two stores each of McDonalds, Gloria Jeans and Wendy's.

See also

• Centro Properties Group

External links

• Centro Website
• Legislative Parliamentary Speech by Tony Stewart