Please note: Images in this article were taken before current COVID-19 safety measures were in place.
[Vision: New head office external vision - people mingling and viewing the new building]
Georgina Jerums
Melbourne has long been known as the nation’s fashion and retail capital.
[Vision: View of staff at computers and working]
And that title has been given a further boost with the opening of the new corporate head office for Country Road and David Jones in Burnley, securing 1500 jobs.
Ian Moir - Chief Executive Officer, Woolworths Holdings Ltd
[Vision: Fashion models on catwalk - people viewing fashions]
We felt bringing our businesses together in one custom-built centre in the capital for fashion, and the capital for retail, made absolute sense.
[Vision: David Jones building Sydney - time lapse of pedestrians outside David Jones store]
The investment by Woolworths Holding Limited sees David Jones relocating its head office from Sydney and Country Road Group relocating from nearby Richmond.
[Vision: Ian Moir speaking]
Sydney is obviously a green city.
[Vision: Fashion models displaying styles to audience]
But Melbourne, when it comes to retail and fashion Melbourne’s it.
Everybody loves their fashion.
It’s talked about more.
[Vision: Ian Moir speaking]
It’s just more fashionable isn’t it?
[Vision: External view of new headquarters - Ian Moir talking with others - internal view of new headquarters - people mingling]
Spanning 16,000 square metres, the purpose-built site also houses the head offices of the Mimco, Trenery, Witchery and Politix businesses.
[Vision: Ian Moir speaking]
We saw a long-term future.
We’ve invested a lot of money at the most difficult time.
And we did so because we really saw a great future for retail.
[Vision: Internal view of new headquarters]
And we’ll continue to invest a lot of money into the future in retail.
[Vision: Handbags - online website - customers in physical store]
It doesn’t matter whether it’s online, whether it’s in physical stores, we really believe in a future for retail in Melbourne.
[Vision: Many people looking at internal of new headquarters listening to Ian Moir speak]
Good morning everyone.
I am so excited, so happy.
[Vision: View of amazing skylight - Ian and Philip Dalidakis cutting ribbon to open headquarters]
This has been a long time in the making, and we stand here in the most amazing light-filled building, all of it has been worthwhile.
Philip Dalidakis - Minister for Trade & Investment
[Vision: Entrance to new headquarters - people mingling and viewing new headquarters]
To have Woolworths Holdings Limited, one of the great retailers of the world, invest in Victoria, invest in Melbourne, to have confidence to be able to come here, to grow here, I think that says everything about the opportunity that’s provided, and of course the future that is so bright for everybody involved.
[THE VICTORIAN CONNECTION - For more news go to The Victorian Connection - connection.vic.gov.au]
[VICTORIA State Government]
[Speaker: Authorised by Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne]
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