Opened in 1965 as Kotara Fair, today Westfield Kotara remains one of the top shopping centres in the Newcastle area. Over 250 stores are located in this corner of the Kotara suburb.
Anchor stores at Westfield Kotara include the major chains Woolworths, Kmart, Coles, David Jones, Target and Toys R Us. Event Cinemas also runs a movie theatre onsite. There are several dining options throughout the shopping centre, and frequent events held from photos with Santa in December to regular live music performances each weekend. Music gigs take place at the most recent addition to the complex, The Rooftop. The eight-screen cinema complex and outdoor food court opened in 2015.
There is ample parking available near the Westfield Kotara shopping centre. Entrances can be found at Northcott Drive, Park Avenue and Lexington Parade. Newcastle Buses serve the area, and both the Adamstown and Kotara railway stations are within two kilometres of the centre.
Woolworths isn’t just an anchor of the shopping centre. The supermarket and department store was responsible for the founding of Kotara Fair in the 60s. The Westfield Group purchased Kotara Fair in 2003 to make the shopping centre Westfield Kotara. Many locals still call it Garden City.