Mall History
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Warringah Mall is a leading regional shopping centre located in Sydney's northern beaches, approximately 15 kilometres from the CBD. The centre opened for business on 4 April 1963 and has undergone a natural evolution over its 45-year history, keeping pace with a changing market place and innovations within the shopping centre industry. The centre is a mix of casual open courts, covered walkways and some fully enclosed mall areas.
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In the BeginningBeneath Warringah Mall lies the heart of old Brookvale; 64 hectares of farmland first granted to William Frederick Parker in 1836. At various times during this period William Parker sold parts of the Brookvale farm to members of the Malcolm, Burns and Miles families, including the site which is now Warringah Mall. In 1883, Sydney Alexander Malcolm and his wife built a home on the land he purchased from Parker, naming it first Coolibah then Brookvale House. Brookvale House became a centre of social activity and this tradition was continued by the Malcolm’s daughter Jane, who enjoyed growing up in the house so much that she came to live in the house with her new husband George Augustine Try.
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Construction BeginsIn 1961, Jane Try sold her property to the Hooker Investment Corporation and they set about excavating the 30 acres of land to create Warringah Mall. Building one of the first major regional shopping centres in Sydney was seen as an exciting project, but many thought the project would be impossible to complete. The British based Hammerson Group were impressed by the idea of building a regional shopping complex in the main artery of the Warringah Peninsula, so they added the project to the drawing board and purchased the site from the Hooker Investment Corporation. The Hammerson Group knew that the American trend of decentralising shopping away from the city centres was seen as being extremely successful, and believed this could also work in Australia.
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Open for BusinessIt took hundreds of men 6 months and 2,500 poles to lay down a solid foundation to construct the centre, and on the 4th April 1963, Warringah Mall opened its doors for the first time. The huge car park was filled to capacity by local residents, curious about this new shopping centre. While the Royal Australian Navy Band played its celebration music, NSW Premier Robert Heffron delivered his official speech. The locals noted the wide walkways, lush foliage and native trees, and the variety of small and large department stores all gathered together so conveniently. A local Northern Beaches icon was born.
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