Crown Central was a $15 million project. Photo: From the collections of the Wollongong City Libraries and the Illawarra Historical Society, P05358.
In 1975, Wollongong’s retail scene hit a new era with the launch of Crown Central — now the Crown Building — a landmark multi-level shopping and office precinct at Crown and Keira streets.
With its iconic emblem nodding to the city’s proud steelmaking roots and a diverse mix of tenants all under one roof, the $15 million project by Abbey Capital Property Group set a new benchmark for convenience and style.
Back then, a trip to the shops was no humdrum everyday affair, according to Michael Barrett, who has owned a string of jewellery shops in the centre since the mid-80s, starting with Barrett’s Jewellers and leading to his current shop, Pandora.
“There was a lot of excitement around a shopping trip, especially on Fridays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It was a bigger deal to go ‘into town’ back then. Online shopping wasn’t a thing, and Crown Building was humming. Folks loved having a retail hub they didn’t need to travel to Sydney for,” he says.
“The centre itself had a lot of high-end fashion stores, and women would dress up quite nicely for a trip to the shops.
“They used to have fashion parades on the top level of the gateway, which was a prestige level. Its floors were carpeted while others were tiled. They’d get celebrities to MC the parades. I once met Frank Ifield — you know, he had that one very famous song I Remember You. He was a gentleman.”
David Jones was the first retailer to trade in the centre, followed quickly by a range of fashion boutiques, discount stores, food retailers, jewellery stores, hairdressers, home and auto part stores and pharmacies. Photo: From the collections of the Wollongong City Libraries and the Illawarra Historical Society, P18513.
It was a different time, Michael says — a time of less reliance on technology, and extraordinary loyalty between customers and retailers.
“You got to know clients and shoppers, and would even form long-term friendships,” he says. “They’d come in and say hello, even if they weren’t buying. It wasn’t just transactional.”
Five decades on Crown Central is now owned by Haben and JY Group. The building has had a facelift or two, and become part of the much larger centre of architecturally distinct buildings known as Wollongong Central.
David Jones, Prouds and Strandbags were tenants when Crown Central opened. Photo: Mark Newsome.
Today the centre is home to more than 200 retailers, including major brands David Jones, Target, Coles, and mini-majors Anaconda, Best & Less, H&M, JB Hi-Fi Home, JD Sports, Mecca and Rebel. Retail is complemented with an entertainment offering, including Holey Moley, Strike Bowling and Archie Brothers.
Three of these current Wollongong Central tenants – David Jones, Prouds and Strandbags – were part of the original cohort of tenants in the Crown Building. David Jones was the first retailer to trade in the centre, followed quickly by a range of fashion boutiques, discount stores, food retailers, jewellery stores, hairdressers, home and auto part stores and pharmacies.
Wollongong Central Centre Manager Nathan Copsey says the Crown Building was a game-changer for Wollongong when it opened and remains a key anchor point for retail in the city today.
“Generations of shoppers have ridden those escalators, witnessing the evolution of Wollongong Central first-hand.
Over the past 50 years the retail industry has undergone an extraordinary transformation. From the way we shop, to the technology we use and the habits of our community, so much has changed and yet the Crown Building has stood strong through it all, adapting, evolving and continuing to serve as a vibrant part of Wollongong’s identity.
“It’s great to be able to celebrate such a milestone as 50 years for the Crown Building in such a changing industry … We look forward to continuing to evolve and serve the community for many, many years to come.”
After 50 years, the building retains its mark as the grand old dame of city shopping, and Michael says one thing hasn’t changed.
“People may shop elsewhere — Sydney or Shellharbour — but this remains Wollongong’s retail heart.”
