In March 1977, Townsville-based
builder and developer Kern Bros. Ltd completed its first shopping centre development
in the city amid a flurry of building projects that demonstrated its faith in
the economic future of the north Queensland region.
Westside
Plaza, Bamford Lane, Kirwan, circa 1977.
Photo: Townsville City Libraries.
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Westside Plaza,
which was built by Kern Construction (Townsville) Pty Ltd at a cost of $2
million for the AMP Society, was bounded by Bamford Lane, Mill Drive, Joyce and
Frank Streets in Kirwan, and had on-site parking for more than 900 cars.
Work began on
Westside Plaza in August 1976 and all leases for available shops were taken up
within a few days of the announcement of the job.
Mr Joe Griffin, who
was letting agent for Westside Plaza, said the number of lease applications far
exceeded the available space, which reflected the rapid development of the
Mountview residential area, and retailers’ faith in its continuing growth
potential.
The plaza’s anchor
tenant was Denham’s Supa-Value supermarket, a retailer with a long history
dating back to 1896. With a total area of 1,320 square metres, this was the
largest of Denham’s seven Queensland stores.
The new Denham’s Supa-Value
incorporated the latest designs in supermarket layout with special sections for
frozen food, fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy produce, delicatessen, kitchen
goods and manchester.
Specialty stores
included Tancred Meats, Chandlers Appliances, Westside Plaza Pharmacy, Walker’s
Hot Bread Shop, Handyman’s Discount Paints and Hardware, Joy’s Fabrics, The
Gift Gallery, Nancy Gower Hair Salon, Wildhorses Coffee Bar, and Westside Fruit
Mart.
Mr Fred Campbell,
the Minister for Industrial Development, who officially opened the centre on
March 7, said that ventures such as Westside Plaza were strengthening
Townsville’s commercial base and bringing skills and employment.
“But, perhaps more
than anything else they (Kern Bros.) are demonstrating faith and confidence at
a time when they are badly needed,” Mr Campbell said.
“Few cities in
Australia are progressing so rapidly as Townsville on so many fronts – few will
be able to match its continuing growth in the future,” he said.
At that time, Kern
Bros. Ltd had been operating for 21 years and had become one of Queensland’s
most successful public companies, with group assets of $11.2 million.
By August 1977,
Kern Bros. had a number of large projects under way, including the $27 million,
481 hectare Willows residential estate and the $8.4 million Sugarland
Shoppingtown in Bundaberg. Construction on Caneland Shoppingtown, in Mackay,
which was estimated to cost $12 million, was expected to begin later in the
year, along with Stage 1 of Willows Shoppingtown in Townsville.
Regarding Westside
Plaza, Mr Barry Paul, the Chairman and Managing Director of Kern Bros. believed
that great credit was due to the AMP Society for “taking a good look at the
investment potential around Townsville”.
“Few of the
companies who claim to have the future of Australia at heart bother to look
much further north than Brisbane,” Mr Paul said.
“We are naturally
very proud that they decided upon the Westside Plaza at Mountview, Kirwan, as
their first investment in shopping centres beyond the metropolitan area,” he
said.
A little bit of history
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