Pitt Street Mall

Pitt Street Mall is the pedestrianised section of Pitt Street in the Sydney CBD. Running for approximately 200 metres between Market Street and King Street, it is one block long and one of Australia’s busiest and most cosmopolitan shopping precincts. The retail hub comprises several flagship stores, more than 500 retail spaces, plus an arcade and separate shopping centers—which range from couture and classic fashion to electronics and the latest in athletic wear.

Formerly a vehicular street, the mall was closed off to traffic in the 1990s and became a pedestrian mall. This was commonplace in various Australian cities at the time, in an effort to encourage “walk-in” business. Many prominent Australian businesses had flagship stores along Pitt Street. In the mid 2000s, there were attempts to make the mall a completely pedestrian thoroughfare, diverting all vans and trucks to the underground corridor from King Street to Market Street, at the southern end of the mall. Between 2010 – 2011, redevelopment started with extensive upgrades to retail areas, the Pitt Street Mall’s pedestrian area saw a A$10 million refurbishment during this time. It included the provision of new seating as well as new pavers and a catenary lighting system.