Pitt Street Mall

Pitt Street Mall is the pedestrianised section of Pitt Street in the Sydney central business district, in the Australian state of New South Wales. Running for approximately 200 metres between Market Street and King Street, it is one block long and one of Australia's busiest and most cosmopolitan shopping precincts.[1] Floorspace rents are the highest in Australia, in part due to other cities' shopping precincts being longer.[1] In 2015, its rents were the fifth-highest in the world in terms of city streets.[2][3]

Pitt Street Mall in February 2016

Despite its small size, Pitt Street Mall hosts many flagship chain stores and more than 400 specialty stores.[4] It is one of the flagship venues of Sydney Fashion Week held in the month of May. [5]

History

Pitt Street, looking south across the King Street intersection, ca.1900

Formerly a vehicular street, the mall was closed off to traffic in the 1990s and became a pedestrian mall. This was commonplace in various Australian cities at the time, in an effort to encourage "walk-in" business.[6] Many prominent Australian businesses had flagship stores along Pitt Street, namely Sportsgirl and Angus & Robertson. In the mid 2000s, there were attempts to make the mall a completely pedestrian thoroughfare, diverting all vans and trucks to the underground corridor from King Street to Market Street, at the southern end of the mall.[7]

2010–2011: redevelopment

Along with extensive upgrades to retail areas, the Pitt Street Mall's pedestrian area saw a A$10 million refurbishment during 2010-11. This included the provision of new seating as well as new pavers and a catenary lighting system.[8]

Shopping centres and arcades

Footbridge that runs across the mall

Four shopping centres and arcades are located on Pitt Street Mall:

• Westfield Sydney - Opened in stages from late 2010 to early 2011, Westfield Sydney is one of the largest shopping centres in Australia. Visited by 43.8 million people annually, Westfield Sydney is home to 353 retailers.[9]
• The Strand Arcade - Opened in 1891, The Strand Arcade is the last remaining Victorian era arcade in the Sydney CBD. Visited by approximately 5.4 million people annually, The Strand Arcade is home to 76 retailers including designer boutiques.[10]
• MidCity Centre - Opened in 2010, MidCity Centre is a four storey shopping centre with 23 retailers.[11]
• Sydney Arcade - A small arcade located at the northern end of Pitt Street Mall.
• Stockland Glasshouse - Located on the end of Pitt Street Mall and King Street. Opened and refurbished in 2015.

Gallery

• 
  Sydney Pitt Street Mall 2011 after the Westfield redevelopment
• 
  Pitt Street Mall towards Westfield
• 
  Zara flagship Sydney store
• 
  Westfield Sydney
• 
  Strand Arcade
• 
  Stockland Glasshouse
• 
  The facade of Westfield Sydney located on Pitt Street Mall

See also

• List of shopping streets and districts by city

References

1. "A whole new mall game". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 5 May 2011.
2. Jacob, Phil (18 November 2012). "Pitt Street mall is the world's fifth most expensive shopping retail venue". The Daily Telegraph.
3. Silva-Jelly (22 November 2012). "Natasha". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media.
4. "Pitt Street Mall - Unofficial website (About Us)" Archived 2010-01-12 at the Wayback Machine
5. http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/2145660/sydney-fashion-week-eight-stylish-shopping-neighbourhoods
6. "Sydney in the 1980s: A look at the past and a glimpse of the future". Commercial Real Estate.com.au. 1 March 2017.
7. Goodsir, Darren (28 February 2005). "Pitt Street mega-mall lives on burrowed time". The Sydney Morning Herald.
8. "Lights to enliven Pitt Street Mall". The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 April 2009.
9. "Westfield Sydney | Scentre Group". www.scentregroup.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
10. "The Strand Arcade". www.ipoh.com.au. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
11. "Lendlease- MidCity". www.lendlease.com. Retrieved 6 April 2016.