Westfield Kotara as seen from the corner of Northcott Drive and Park Avenue
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Location | Kotara, New South Wales, Australia |
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Coordinates | 32°56′33.6″S 151°42′39.1″E / 32.942667°S 151.710861°ECoordinates: 32°56′33.6″S 151°42′39.1″E / 32.942667°S 151.710861°E |
Address | Cnr Park Avenue and Northcott Drive |
Opening date | 6 October 1965 | (as Kotara Fair)
Developer | Woolworths Limited |
Management | Scentre Group |
Owner | Scentre Group |
No. of stores and services | 256 |
No. of anchor tenants | 6 |
Total retail floor area | 68,660 m2 (739,050 sq ft) |
No. of floors | 3 |
Parking | 2,973 |
Public transit access | |
Website | Westfield |
Westfield Kotara is a shopping centre located in the suburb of Kotara in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. It was opened in 1965 as Kotara Fair. In 2003 the shopping centre was purchased by the Westfield Group.
The centre's major tenants include Coles, Target, Kmart, Woolworths, David Jones and a Toys "R" Us. It is often locally referred to as Garden City, reflecting its former title.
The centre was developed by Woolworths and was called Kotara Fair when it first opened on 6 October 1965. It was anchored by a Woolworths supermarket and a Big W department store, and there were 27 speciality stores. Kotara Fair was purchased by David Jones in 1971 and was subsequently redeveloped. The expansion was completed in October 1974 and the centre was renamed Garden City. As part of the redevelopment, David Jones and Norman Ross department stores, as well a further 24 speciality stores, were added. Further redevelopment occurred in 1977 when Norman Ross closed, and another 13 speciality stores were added.
In 1980 Garden City was purchased by AMP and in 1988 another expansion created the largest shopping centre in the Hunter Region. The expansion added a Super Kmart and Best & Less as well as bringing the total number of retailers to 120.
On 28 December 1989, shortly after completion of another expansion program, the centre suffered significant damage during the Newcastle earthquake. Most affected were the upper levels of the car park adjacent to Northcott Drive and the Super Kmart. Despite the damage, repairs were effected quickly.