Mister Brisbane: Tears for Toombul
Farewells for a shopping centre and a radio star who helped define our city
As I write this, Google is lagging behind the news. A search for Toombul reveals the shopping centre to be temporarily closed, as a result of extensive flooding in February. Yesterday, its owner, Mirvac, made that permanent.
All the leases were terminated, with businesses advised “it is impractical and undesirable to reinstate the centre to how it was prior to the flooding damage”.
There have been outpourings of nostalgia on social media — including comments about the baffling decision to replace the big T outside the centre — to which I’ll add just a little.
Along with Indooroopilly, it was one of our original Westfield Shoppingtowns. Not just a centre but a whole town! The marketing focussed on how family friendly it was, and it was one of the first “destinations” for suburban shoppers who had previously bought their provisions from corner stores and their clothes and larger items in the City.
As a northsider, I remember similar excitement about Chermside (which I believe was still partly outdoors when I first visited), Brookside and even the tiny-by-comparison Lutwyche shopping centre (no kidding, it was officially opened by Gina Lollobrigida).
Back at Toombul, it wasn’t long before we learned not to park our cars in low-lying areas because Schulz Canal was known to spillover at the merest hint of rain.
My last visit there was about 15 months ago. I had a wander around while I was waiting for my car to be serviced in nearby Nundah, and enjoyed a scone and a cup of tea at one of the fancy new restaurants upstairs.
Apart from that addition, it was pretty much as I remembered it — a little less exciting than it was when I was a kid.
What’s next for Toombul? I guess the smart money is on a residential development with a few shops thrown in. After, one would expect, some serious flood-mitigation work.
30, NOT OUT!
On the subject of Brisbane institutions, the 4KQ Breakfast Show marked a significant anniversary yesterday — host Laurel Edwards’ 30th year on air.
It was a happy occasion tinged with the great sadness that Laurel, along with Mark Hine and Gary Clare, and the entire 4KQ team are facing unemployment within weeks.
As I’ve already noted, 4KQ has been sold to SEN, which will convert it into a 24-7 sport station.
Social media (again) has been alive with speculation about what comes next — and the good news is that there probably will be some good news.
On Seven News, Laurel hinted quite strongly that the band would be getting back together.
Might it be on a DAB+ and online-only version of 4KQ? Or, perhaps, will they move over to, say, 4BH? I understand that Laurel has had approaches from at least one other station, too.
The brekkie show, and the entire 4KQ format (which appeals to a cashed-up 55+ audience who like their old-time rock’n’roll) is too good to lose.
Stay tuned.
May 20 Update: 4BH has announced that it will be changing to a Classic Hits format to fill the void left by 4KQ. Whether that includes employing 4KQ staff remains to be heard — it would be expensive but it would add great value to the enterprise. Remember, radio is still essentially a local medium. Also, is the signal on 1116AM as good as that at 693? Or does that not really matter, with more and more people listening on DAB+ or the app?
©2022 Brett Debritz. If I’ve inadvertently used copyrighted material, failed to give credit where it’s due, written or said something you disagree with, or otherwise upset or unexpectedly delighted you, please leave a comment, email me or connect with me at @debritz or @misterbrisbane on Twitter or on the Mister Brisbane Facebook page.