Imbil General Store becomes focus of heated debate on town’s future
More than 100 years after it was built, the Imbil General Store has found itself as the centre of intense debate over the future of a town and a region on the cusp of huge growth.
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The idyllic atmosphere of Imbil has been tense with growing pains as two developers and businesses opposite each other plan to transform their blocks of land into a supermarket much needed for the growing region.
At the western end of the 4km stretch of heritage-listed buildings of Yabba Rd overlooking Yabba Creek is a cleared block of land with ready approved council plans for a new commercial development that includes a supermarket.
The design also includes a shopfront that fits in with the historic time and character of the rest of the strip.
Directly opposite this block is the original General Store, a heritage listed building that is home to the Imbil Friendly Grocer, a much-loved store iconic to the Imbil community with the owners also having development plans.
In November 2022, plans for an IGA were submitted to Gympie Regional Council, including the demolition of the General Store. They were knocked back in early 2023, as they did not “represent a compelling basis to support the proposed demolition of a Local Heritage Place”.
Controversy erupted online when Imbil Friendly Grocer posted a Facebook photo showing some of their plans to develop the block on March 29, 2023.
The post tore the town apart, some defending the demolition with the need of a grocery store, while others were shocked and worried over the disregard for heritage preservation. The block also included the demolition of the old bank house next door, which is not heritage listed.
While the Imbil Friendly Grocer owner did not respond to an interview, Allan and Maree Rainbow, the couple behind the brand new supermarket opposite it were excited to share their vision for Imbil.
The Rainbows are no strangers to the area and were the original investors and designers behind the Honeybee Farm in Kandanga. For Mr Rainbow, Imbil poses an affordable future option for young families priced out of the Sunshine Coast real estate.
The stretch of heritage stores along the main street is a major drawcard for the town.
“That’s why people come here. You’ve got to remember this place is going forward. This place is on the way. So we want to preserve and protect it,” Mr Rainbow said.
One visible change they brought to the town is the Wild Vine Cafe, which has become an enviable venue and destination in the Mary Valley after it was transformed from a run-down heritage building that sorely need some attention.
“This place was derelict, the back corner was kicked out and one side was supported by a tree stump, we had to lop the bits off that were holding the corner up,” Mr Rainbow explained as he pointed to the old bakery, out the back of the storefront.
It is now on its way to being a pop-up store for local artists and craftspeople attached to the dining area of the cafe.
An 1851 gold rush brought the train station to Imbil and by 1920 it had a school, public hall and general store. To maintain the more than 170 years of heritage in its buildings is requiring generous and passionate investment.
The Rainbows, who live between Imbil and Brisbane, have a commitment to restoring heritage structures, a charitable and creative streak, and a passion and enthusiasm for finding ways for heritage buildings to meet modern design standards.
They’ve also been buying up properties around Imbil, planning developments of both residential and commercial purposes.
The town is burgeoning and it is fast becoming the next frontier of Queensland tourism as city and interstate visitors begin to explore its surroundings state forests and national parks.
But that’s not without the town being alight with speculation on Facebook over what its future direction will be. The demolition of the Imbil General Store has sparked further questions.
This isn’t the first time development or change has turned into an online feud. Mr Rainbow said he almost gave up a number of times on rebuilding what is now Wild Vine Cafe, but with a bit of determination, resilience and not listening to the naysayers, he managed to turn it into the destination it is now.
“I nearly pulled out and walked away. It was just so vitriolic. It was when I went to Charlie who runs the hardware shop, and he got stuck into me. He said, ‘Allan, don’t you bloody well pull out, you keep going, we want you to do what you’re doing,’” Mr Rainbow said.
“It was the confidence I needed to finish up and build it.”
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