Global mindset, local soul: Westfield Bondi’s next evolution

d dining destination. For over 20 years, Westfield Bondi has been regarded as an iconic retail destination that brings first-to-market brands, flagship stores, and innovative retail experiences from across the world to Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Our latest investment is shaping the centre’s next chapter. It is reinforcing Westfield Bondi’s position as Sydney’s premier destination, while further aligning it to our customers’ needs and how they are choosing to spend their time. Now under construction, the 13,300sqm precinct, set against panoramic views of the iconic Sydney Harbour, will be anchored by an upgraded Event Cinemas, featuring an upgraded Gold Class lounge and Boutique auditorium, and a new Kingpin experience. We’re also introducing several new premium dining experiences, as well as modern cafes and restaurants, to create a true dining destination for Sydney. The precinct will bring together diverse cuisines and experiences for different occasions, tastes and interests. It will also feature an activation space designed to host cinema premiers, live music, and family entertainment. We anticipate more retailer announcements over the coming months. This transformation builds on the success of our redevelopment of Level 1, where we repurposed former department store space to introduce a health, wellness and fitness precinct at the centre. This included the introduction of a global-first Virgin Active social wellness club and rebel rCX store. The new precinct contributed to an 8.5 per cent increase in customer visitation at Westfield Bondi in 2025. What this demonstrates is that by continuing to evolve our destinations to remain relevant to how people want to spend their time, we are able to drive growth in customer engagement, visitation and operating performance. This same thinking is now guiding the repurposing of space on Level 6. Market opportunity Westfield Bondi is one of the most visited and productive shopping centres in the country. In 2025, Westfield Bondi welcomed 18.6 million customer visitations. It achieved total annual retail sales in excess of $1.2 billion. We consider our community at Westfield Bondi as having a global mindset, with a strong local connection. They are digitally connected, highly engaged with community and global trends, and use their local Westfield as a place to connect, access and experience these. They value diversity of offer, from international luxury to department stores, local boutiques and emerging brands. This demand is what continues to attract leading local and international businesses. Westfield Bondi remains a key destination for businesses seeking to introduce first-to-market brands and flagship concepts. Over the last 12 months, we’ve introduced a series of new brands and retail experiences to our centre, including Celine, Princess Polly, Luxury Escapes and Pop Mart, to name a few. We are also excited to welcome Alo and On in the coming months. Experience and design We curate our Westfield destinations to reflect the needs and interests of the communities they serve. This is what makes every centre unique. At Westfield Bondi, we know our customers value premium experiences across fashion, beauty, youth, sport, fitness, and lifestyle and, increasingly, they are choosing to spend more of their time on dining and entertainment. This is an exciting opportunity for Westfield Bondi, as we continue repurposing existing spaces to deliver more of the brands and experiences our customers want both now and into the future. The transformation of Level 6 has been designed to bring people together, creating an elevated day-to-evening experience with a distinctly Bondi feel. The precinct’s innovative architectural design will feature curved ceilings, a new glazed facade to capture the harbour views and a grand skylight bringing an abundance of natural light through the precinct. Connectivity has also been a key focus, with new lifts and an elevated valet experience directly connected to the precinct, providing seamless access and improving flow across the centre. Customers will also see continued enhancements throughout Westfield Bondi, including upgrades to retail, ambience and amenities on level 5. Our vision is to reinforce Westfield Bondi as a leading destination and a true community destination. This article by Josh Itzkowic, General Manager Asset Management at Scentre Group is featured in the latest issue of SCN magazine.