Activity returns to Bowen Rd as impact of floods recede

A number of big name stores are helping bring activity back to a busy road dampened by the 2019 catastrophic floods. See what's setting up shop.

Used car dealer OzCar has set the wheels in motion for a permanent presence in Townsville, acquiring more than 3400sq m of commercial land for its sales offices and yards through Ray White Commercial Townsville.

The Sydney-based dealer entered the Townsville market last year as part of a Queensland expansion which was fast-tracked when NSW and Victoria were locked down during the Covid-19 pandemic.

OzCar initially leased two properties in Bowen Rd, Hermit Park, to test the market and had an option to buy if all went well.

OzCar managing director Brett Dale said Townsville had proven to be for very successful for them and the purchase of the sites was cost effective.

“We plan to be there long term. We’ve locked ourselves in. We love Townsville and are very happy to be there,” Mr Dale said.

He said the sites were perfect for car dealing and they had received plenty of inquiry to justify the move.

“In the next 12 months we’ll do a renovation of the sites. We also plan to open an OzCar Off Road camping and 4WD store,” Mr Dale said.

OzCar has acquired this site in 28 Bowen Rd as part of its used car dealership in Townsville.

OzCar has paid $1.75m for two sites in Bowen Rd which had been vacant for some time and like many properties in the area were impacted by the big 2019 floods.

Ray White director Troy Townsend said it was good to see the activity coming back to Bowen Rd.

He said the OzCar deals were one of a number of sales of key properties in the area.

“The floods put a bit of a dampener on Bowen Rd. It took time for people to get their heads around that and for activity to return,” he said.

“It’s good to see a lot of activity coming back to Bowen Rd with the sales of a number of key properties along there.”

Other recent deals include the sale of more than 4000sq m of land previously used for a 4WD centre which is set to be used for a childcare centre and for storage, while work has begun on converting a car dealer’s workshop into a 7-Eleven service station and store.

The agency has also transacted the sale of 103 Bowen Rd as the base for an air conditioning business.

Originally published as Activity returns to Bowen Rd as impact of floods recede