The Lakes Shopping Centre fulfilled the basic needs of local residents, however even larger shopping malls were soon being built across Sydney. When General Motors Holden closed its Pagewood factory in 1980, the Westfield Corporation purchased part of the land to build a mall.
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| Tree Planting Ceremony for Westfield Eastgardens c.1987. In the past shopkeepers were central to the shopping experience. Now developers were talking a leading role. City of Botany Bay Library and Museum |
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Westfield Eastgardens under construction c.1986. The building of
Eastgardens was considered one of the most exciting projects in the Botany
district. It was expected to attract shoppers from as far away as
Clovelly, Redfern and Rockdale.
City of Botany Bay Library and Museum |
Westfield Eastgardens opened in October 1987 at a cost of $200 million. It contained a number of drawcards including 150 speciality shops, David Jones, and a food court. Besides numerous car spaces, the centre was serviced by over 300 buses a day.
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Since opening, Westfield Eastgardens has undergone several renovations including the addition of a new shopping level.
Courtesy of Google Maps, downloaded 29/10/2013 |
The opening of Westfield has permanently changed shopping in the district, however a few of the area's shopping strips still exist. Though many are a shadow of what they once were, some have managed to re-invent themselves. Mascot shopping precinct is a good example. Today its shop fronts contain a number of food outlets that serve lunchtime workers from the airport and surrounding business parks.
