WESTFIELD SYDNEY STAGE ONE TO OPEN IN OCTOBER

The Westfield Group will open the first stage of the $1.2 billion Westfield Sydney development in late October, 2010.

More than 100 fashion and food specialty stores will open for trade by Christmas, at what will be a world class retail and commercial precinct. A second stage opening is scheduled for the second quarter of 2011, with the centre due for completion in 2012 with the construction of a 27-storey office tower that will be home to J.P. Morgan’s Australian headquarters.

Westfield Sydney will represent the next generation in Australian retail, delivering an unrivalled shopping experience in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. The development is in Sydney’s best retail site at Pitt St Mall, Castlereagh and Market streets, and connects to the highest grossing department stores in Australia - David Jones and Myer. On completion in 2012 the new development will comprise more than 250 fashion, food and lifestyle stores across 40,000 squ are metres (sqm) and seven levels. This will be complemented by Sydney Central Plaza’s 80 stores over 53,000sqm.

Westfield Group Managing Director Australia & New Zealand Robert Jordan said, “Westfield Sydney will become the benchmark for downtown shopping malls in Australia. We’re developing a global centre that will offer the very best in retail, design, and services and we believe the centre will position Sydney as an international shopping destination.”

Stores to open in Stage One in October include Gucci, Hugo Boss, Stuart Weitzman, new-to-market brands GAP, Mulberry, and DKNY Jeans, together with a host of Australian retailers including Cue, Sportsgirl, Wanted Shoes and designers including Zimmerman and Carla Zampatti. Westfield Sydney will also launch 100 Squared, a fashion incubator concept allowing clusters of young designers to have a pop-up retail space on level one.

Openings in 2011 will see the unveiling of furthe r high street and designer stores including Prada, Miu Miu and the recently announced Zara, opening its first store in Australia. The full food offering includes fine dining restaurants on level six, a high-end restaurant-style food precinct, and due for completion in 2012, an outdoor bar.