Lutwyche Shopping Centre looks to commemorate the simpler 1970s as part of $40m revamp

WHEN this Brisbane shopping centre was built, a young lady could get a haircut for $9.99 and a cup of coffee with scones for under a buck. A home nearby cost $28,000. After almost 45 years, it’s getting a $40m revamp, and there’ll be a bit of history in the new design.

Lutwyche City shopping Centre when it opened.

IT was a time when a fashionable young lady could get her hair styled for $9.99 and a cup of coffee with scones for under a buck. A two-bedroom home at Lutwyche cost $28,000.

Lutwyche Shopping Centre manager David Smith is looking to commemorate the simpler, and cheaper times, of living in the 1970s as part of the centre’s $40 million revamp.

Smith is keen to get his hands on photos, advertising material and newspaper articles from the period to feature on a planned history wall in the renovated centre. “Everyone seems to have a a story about Lutwyche,” Smith tells City Beat.

Built by Federation Centres and constructed by Ferro Constructions the centre was completed in a couple months in 1974 with a price tag of $9 million.

It was opened by then Premier Joh Bjelke Petersen on 11 October 1974 and replaced about 50 strip shops in the area, some of which dated back to horse and buggy days.

Initial tenants included Rothwells, Mathers, Vic Jensens, Sportsgirl, Barneys and Britches West along with a hot bread shop, delicatessen and fish shop. Bjelke-Petersen, then at the height of his authoritarian powers and battling the Whitlam Labor Government in Canberra, could not help scoring a few political points in his opening speech.

Lutwyche City shopping Centre plaque when it opened in 1974.

“All around the country we have these closing ceremonies with Leyland in Sydney and smaller businesses and factories in all States” he said. “I am pleased to be opening a business, not watching it close because of the economic circumstances of the day.”

At the time, the centre was considered the last word in retail therapy. Escalators and marble staircases led from the central foyer to a richly-carpeted promotions area used for art exhibitions and other community activities.

Lutwyche Shopping Centre on Lutwyche Road.

In a classic 70s touch, the concrete columns were not painted but covered in orange carpet. In an age when few homes had airconditioning centre management in their Christmas advertising brochure of 1979 even boasted of the “cool welcome” awaiting shoppers.

In that year the Stefan outlet in the centre offered $9.99 style cuts. Meanwhile at Linda’s Coffee House, a cup of coffee or tea with freshly baked scones with jam and cream cost a mere 90 cents. At Bruce Friend’s Real Estate, a three bedroom home at Wilston was on offer for $35,000 while a two bedroom one at Lutwyche was on the market for $28,000. Good times!

LUCKY STRIKE

SYDNEY mining services firm AJ Lucas has been forced to cough up who is pursuing its drilling division - one Brisbane-based Mitchell Services.

On Tuesday, AJ said it had received an offer from a bidder, which it mysteriously would not name - although Mitchell’s name soon leaked out in the market. Even Mitchell Services chief executive Andrew Elf was tight-lipped on Tuesday about whether his mob was behind the potential bid.

That was not good enough for the ASX, which requested that AJ Lucas “confirms or denies” that Mitchell was behind the offer. And yep, AJ Lucas yesterday told investors that it “confirms” that is correct. In the meantime, AJ Lucas investors are being told to keep their powder dry.

OFFICE HOURS

IT’S a rare win for our kids over the increasing pressure to develop our inner city. City Beat has been told the land and buildings currently occupied by Officeworks Windsor has been returned to the Education Department to serve the growing needs of the adjacent Windsor State School.

Officeworks, which has held the lease over the site for many years, is relocating to a new building in Newmarket Rd. A department spokesman said yesterday that it is in process of planning for the future development of the site “to ensure it aligns with the Windsor State School master plan.” Good to see the common good was victorious over the all mighty dollar.