Woolooware Bay residents and local shoppers are embracing Australian developer Novm’s new Bay Central shopping centre in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, which is now open to the public.

The new centre is part of the fourth and final stage of the Novm and Capital Corporation’s billion-dollar project, Woolooware Bay Town Centre.

The celebrations began on Wednesday 7 February with the opening of Woolworths, ALDI, Dan Murphy’s and specialty stores, and continued throughout the week. The opening ceremony on Saturday 10 February featured speeches from the Mayor of Sutherland Shire Carmelo Pesce and Novm’s CEO and Executive Director Adrian Liaw, with the ribbon cut by special guest, 91-year-old Woolooware Bay resident Elaine Garner, who had been watching the centre’s progress from her apartment window.

Liaw said thousands of shoppers had visited the newly opened Woolworths, ALDI and Dan Murphy’s, outlets in the dining precinct and several specialty stores in the 18,000m2 retail centre.

“We’ve been planning Bay Central Woolooware for many years and I’m proud to be celebrating the opening with Parkview, Savills Australia and all of our tenants. I appreciate how we worked together to get through the challenges we faced bringing Novm’s stunning vision to life,” said Liaw.

Bay Central Woolooware’s Centre Manager Heather Baard from Savills Australia said she can already see how the vibrant centre will quickly become an integral part of the community.

“Feedback from shoppers has been very positive, with many already coming back to visit our anchor tenants, food outlets, health and beauty shops and local artisans,” said Baard.

“The centre will offer something for everyone, whether it’s a quick meal, the weekly shop, a present, pamper or a chance to recharge while overlooking the foreshore with views to the city.”

Shan Williams, 70, moved to Stage 1 in Woolooware Bay seven years ago and said that she loves the community that has grown with the development and that she feels right at home. She’s excited that Bay Central Woolooware has opened and is already planning to take advantage of its proximity and convenience.

“When I’m cooking and need some ingredients, it’s going to be so easy to walk down and get what I need rather than having to drive somewhere else. Having doctors and all the medical services so close to home is going to make my life easier,” said Williams.

For Bay Central Woolooware, architects TURNER designed two levels of inviting retail and dining and used warm, textural materials to create a sophisticated yet relaxed series of places where Woolooware Bay residents and visitors alike can shop, eat, connect and linger.

Taking full advantage of the location, the podium-level dining enjoys sweeping views over the foreshore park to the water. A generous public park and inclusive playground at street level welcome all and merge with the waterfront nature reserve.

“From the outset, our intent was to honour Woolooware Bay’s beautiful setting and its significance to the local community. The precinct was conceived as a place with a familiar, welcoming character, a connection to nature and a distinctly coastal identity,” said TURNER’s principal architect Nick Turner.

TURNER’s experiential design team also designed the wayfinding and public art throughout Woolooware Bay. In Bay Central’s retail precinct, a shimmering ceiling draws inspiration from the Georges River and includes a ‘waterdrop’ feature at the arrival point.

Stage Four of the billion-dollar Woolooware Bay Town Centre development comprises the Quest serviced apartment hotel, four residential towers comprising 245 apartments and 12 commercial suites.

Upon completion, Woolooware Bay Town Centre will include 898 apartments and 23 commercial suites across 13 buildings and be home to more than 2,500 residents.