[1][3] Westfield Albany provides over 2,000 carparks for around 150 specialty stores, as well as a large-format 2 floor 10,000 m2 Farmers, a Kmart and a New World.

[6] When first mooted in 2003, it was conceived as a much smaller centre, with 20,000 m2 planned initially, and with an expansion of 15,000 m2 proposed for a decade later if population increase in the vicinity justified it.

[8] At that time, some experts saw demand for about twice the size of the centre in retail and associated office space in the wider Albany area.

Spurred by criticism and council plans to develop a 'town centre' instead of simply providing retail areas, Westfield changed its standard greenfields-type plans for the new site, and developed a more open centre with 'main street' elements and some public areas.

[16] In 2008, the centre received the highest award of the New Zealand Property Council, with the judges calling the centre being one of "a new generation of its type" and having a good mix of leisure and entertainment with an emphasis on public spaces, which had been "designed to provide a focal point for the whole Albany community and beyond".