New businesses open, construction underway in East Street, Rockhampton

From a boardroom and function hire space to a photography studio, new businesses have opened in the top end of East Street. There are also construction projects underway.

The upper end of Rockhampton’s East Street can sometimes be forgotten about but it’s a hive of activity with new businesses opening and multiple construction projects underway.

The block between Fitzroy and Archer Streets is home to accountants, lawyers, a secondhand store, mining services, finance, cafes, architects and there’s more on the way.

Ray White Rural Rockhampton recently moved into 19 East Street, the former home of Christine’s Beauty for many years.

Richard and Cheryl Brosnan inside The Cobbler's Rooms.

Upstairs, the owners, Cheryl and Richard Brosnan, have created The Cobbler’s Rooms, a boardroom, meeting and function hire space in what used to be the bridal store.

Ms Brosnan said the location right to the main entrance of The Empire Apartment Hotel was perfect.

Renovations were carried out by Bartlem Construction Services over 12 months.

The foyer area is perfect to hire for a baby shower or informal intimate gathering.

During the work, tradies came across a few interesting items including a penny and an old exercise book with cricket scores from Bradman times that a bookie used.

In doing some research about the property, Ms Brosnan found out the site was a hospital back in the 1950s and a cobbler used to have a store there, which they decided to use as the namesake.

“We kept all of the original floors and left it as a bit of a blank space so whoever comes in can do whatever they like with it,” Ms Brosnan said.

The main boardroom for hire has arch windows overlooking East Street.

The boardroom sits 14 to 16 people around the table made from timber from Ms Brosnan’s father’s farm.

There are two smaller private rooms, which could be used as meeting rooms, and the main foyer open space.

Adding to the variety of businesses in the street, just a few doors down, Bianca Purdie Photography and CMZ Photography are opening a photography studio in the former Stansure building.

Construction has been full steam ahead next to Renny’s Cafe by DR Moore.

The building is owned by Ian Weigh Toyota and a restaurant is said to be opening there some time this year.

Down the road on Archer Street is a scene of scaffolding with the work on former radio studios on the corner of Victoria Parade and the build of the new 10-storey, 31 unit residential development, Loft on the Lane.

Developed and under construction by Griffin Builders, the residential project was council approved in 2016 and broke ground in April 2021.

There are a handful of units left available for sale, priced from $265,000.

The former television and radio studios complex at 110 Victoria Parade is also under renovations by Griffin Builders, to be converted to private and open plan office spaces.

The site has been occupied by media for the last 30 plus years and sold in 2019 for $921,000 by Jonathon Offord of Knight Frank Rockhampton.

The property is expected to be completed for handover in March, with leasing also through Mr Offord.

Margaret Pitman of Rubies N Rust.

Owner of Rubies N Rust across the road, Margaret Pitman, said it was great to see new businesses coming to the area.

Ms Pitman has owned the secondhand and antiques store for four years.

She expanded earlier last year with the store next door which she uses as a plant nursery area.

The business also does coffee and cold drinks and she hopes to add a food venture this year.

“We just keep plugging away, I always say we may move glacially but we still move, any step forward is better than nothing… that’s what I’ve been hanging onto with this whole Covid situation,” she said.

Ms Pitman has created a warm and welcoming feel to her shop and it is quite often frequented by customers who just come in for a chat.

“I’m a bit of a hub for people to connect, it’s becoming more of a chill out space, they feel welcome and not rushed,” she said.

“I’ve met a lot of amazing people here, a lot of culture diversity, they meet and mingle.

“That’s what I wanted it to be.

“The guys from the gym come in and do their training plans, I’ve got book clubs and writing clubs that come in now.”

Stefan Viljoen, Shreya Khanna and Colin Strydom in their office space in the upper end of East Street.

From upstairs at his office at 29 East Street, Colin Strydom of Design+Architecture said he was seeing a revival in the CBD.

“I feel like three to five years, even 10 years ago, there was this gloom about the CBD shutting down and not getting used, now there is a revival,” he said.

“Life is changing, it was all about retail but it’s online now, professional or corporate entities are enhancing the space, buying from the cafes and the shops that are still left and making them viable.”

What would be the cherry on top is a small grocery store or bakery in the main street, Mr Strydom said.

“If we have enough feet on the ground we can change that.”

Mr Strydom has been at his office for seven years now, having grown from a one-man team to three staff.

“It’s a great location, a great part of town, you are well connected back into the CBD, good presence from the highway, you can walk to Empire and Coffee Club and then Coffee Society down the other end,” he said.

“A little edge out of the CBD, it’s a great spot.

“You spend so many hours here a day, you need to be happy.”