EVOLUTION OF WESTFIELD MIRANDA: More Expansion (1992)

The 1990's bought another expansion for Westfield Miranda which was its largest expansion to date. This was completed in 1992.

Westfield had spent around two decades purchasing sites in the block bounded by the Kingsway, Kiora Road, Urunga Parade and Jackson Avenue including shops, offices, Miranda Police Station and the Miranda Congregational Church. St Lukes Anglican Church refused offers to sell, though they did sell a small portion of the site.

For expansion to proceed (and gain support of locals and council), Westfield purchased sites within Miranda to relocate the police station (Cnr Wilcock Street and Kiora Road) and Miranda Congregational Church (Cnr Kariumbla and Kiora Street). Westfield also funded the construction of the new buildings for Miranda Congregational Church.

Source: Stark, N. 1991. "Huge Westfield complex set for Miranda". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, May 16: 2.

Expansion plans were officially unveiled in 1991. The expanded centre would contain 370 retailers, up from around 160 retailers..

New retailers included David Jones which meant that Miranda would once again have two major department stores on the one site. BigW was now forced to compete with Target and did an upgrade of their store.

Grace Bros did an upgrade of their existing store.

Greater Union would occupy an eight screen entertainment complex and was joined by a new food court and restaurants.

Above: Advertisement to promote the opening of Greater Union at Miranda in 1992.

The expansion was completed in stages with the full expansion officially opened to shoppers on October 1, 1992. The crowds flocked in their hundreds of thousands. Yours truely as a young child does remember going on that first weekend and yes it was full.

Source: Davis, G & Habermann, L. 1992. "Shopping crowds flock to Miranda". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, October 8: 2. 

Below are some advertisements to promote the Westfield Expansion as advertised in The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader on various dates in 1992.

Below is an advertisement for Country Road which promoted itself as a Department Store.

Westfield produced its own special advertisement for the opening of David Jones in August 1992.

Finally is an advertisement to promote Tilt, which was a video game and entertainment arcade complex. With the rise of video gaming during the 1990's, it would not see out the decade. It occupied the space now occupied by Aldi and The Reject Shop.