Whilst Wollongong Central today is one complete shopping centre, it was originally two separate and distinct shopping centres. Crown Central shopping centre was constructed and opened in 1975 by the Abbey Capital Property Group on the northern side of Crown Street, taking the majority of the Crown Street frontage between Keira Street and Church Street. In 1986, a joint venture between Wollongong City Council and Kern Corporation developed the Crown Gateway shopping centre on the site of the former Coles Building on the southern side of Crown Street, extending through to Burelli Street. In the late 1990s, Crown Central was purchased by the GPT Group, and a short period later, GPT acquired Crown Gateway from Wollongong City Council. GPT then developed a pedestrian bridge to join the two centres, and re-branded the combined complex as Wollongong Central. The centre currently features a David Jones department store and approximately 140 stores in the centre itself. In addition, there are also around 300 other retail outlets in the adjacent Crown Street Mall, which Wollongong Central is part of. Wollongong Central underwent a $200 million redevelopment. The redevelopment expanded the centre's GLA from to, making it the largest shopping centre in the Illawarra region. On 9 October 2014, a new three-storey building named West Keira was opened.
Buildings
West Keira is situated on the corner of Keira Street and Crown Street and has three main floors. It joins to North Building via an underground pathway and pedestrian bridge. Lower ground floor contains Coles and the first floor contains Target and JB Hi-Fi. The building also contains cafes and restaurants outside along Keira Street. North Building has two main floors, and unlike South Building is at street level to Crown Street Mall. The ground floor features H&M clothing store, and the first floor features mini-major Rebel Sport. South Building has three main floors. Rivers and TK Maxx occupies part of the bottom level, which opens to Burelli Street to the south at ground level. The upper two levels are primarily accessed from Crown Street Mall and predominantly contain specialty stores, fashion outlets, and cafes. Myer previously occupied all three levels, which has been renovated in 2017 to now instead occupy David Jones and Holey MoleyGolf Club - a bar and mini golf venue. A pedestrian bridge links South Building to North Building. There is also a pedestrian bridge linking South Building to Club Lime and a carpark. On top of the south-western corner of the North Building is a five-level office tower, previously known as Crown Tower. At Christmas, Easter and other festivities the mall is decorated, and flagpoles show banners in the mall below.
In 2009, the North building underwent extensive $20 million interior renovations which completely revamped the interior of the building, giving it a much more modern and classier look. The renovations were met with positive feedback. The North building was extensively modified on its western side to accommodate a pedestrian bridge linking it to the new West Keira building. The exterior of the shopping centre was also be modified to match the West Keira building.
South Building Renovations
The South building has little plans announced, although the GPT Group has confirmed that it will undergo delayed $30 million interior renovations similar to that of the North building.
Future Development Plans
GPT has concept approval for two towers to be built on top of the new West Keira building - a 10-level commercial office tower on the north-east corner, and an 18-level residential tower on the south-west corner, along with an additional two parking levels on top of the West Keira podium. There is no timetable for the construction of these towers.
