The original Westfield Burwood first opened on 11 October 1966 by Premier of New South Wales Robert Askin, and was one of the first shopping centres in Australia.

Shoppingtown was the idea that the centre would contain more than just shops, but professional services like cinemas, petrol stations, doctors and dentists.

[2] Westfield Burwood was built on a slope which meant that it was the first centre that facilitated an incline mall design.

This meant that the centre was a gently-ascending grade and that the levels were connected via a system of ramps, stairs and escalators.

[4] In 1972 the centre expanded by acquiring land south on Victoria Street and a Fosseys store opened on that site which operated until its closure in 1993 and was taken over by Target.

Westfield Burwood featured Grace Bros (rebranded to Myer in 2004), Kmart, Target, Coles and Woolworths.