Roller skaters booted as Stafford Skate Centre loses lease to huge gym

Roller skaters are gutted after learning Brisbane’s last standing rink has lost its lease to a major franchise expected to create one of the biggest gyms in southeast Queensland.

Meredith Dixon, Caitlin Barclay, 7, Amanda Barclay, and Brittany O’Neill pictured outside Stafford Skate Centre. Picture: Josh Woning

Roller skaters are gutted after learning Brisbane’s last standing rink has lost its lease to a major franchise expected to create one of the biggest gyms in southeast Queensland.

Stafford Skate Centre owner Rob Carter said he would be entering retirement a few years earlier than expected after an agreement was finalised on Friday to end his lease in September when World Gym will roll in.

The 69-year-old will next month celebrate 40 years of owning the rink which has been operating for almost half a century.

He said no one was more disappointed than he was to see one of the last skating rinks in southeast Queensland disappear.

“We’ve had kids grow up here,” Mr Carter said.

“I’ve had people say to me it’s a church without a religion, a home away from home.”

Mr Carter said it was too late for him to “start again” at a new location and he had plans to retire in his early 70s anyway.

He said it would be difficult to find another affordable venue to lease with the same facilities but he had no ill feelings towards the site’s new owner or World Gym.

“It’s just business,” he said.

Cairah Cox, 11, Helen Brown, Brittany ONeill, Meredith Dixon, Amanda Barclay and Caitlin Barclay, 7, pictured outside Stafford Skate Centre. Picture: Josh Woning

Stafford Skate Centre regular Sam Neil said the loss of the last roller skating rink in the Brisbane City Council area would devastate the community.

The closest rinks are at Albany Creek and Browns Plains which Mr Neil said was too far for most of the Stafford skaters.

“This is going to kill inline hockey in Brisbane and negatively impact speed skating, roller hockey and artistic skating as members from Stafford try to squeeze into the space and timetables of other rinks,” Mr Neil said.

“It’s ridiculous given the multitude of gyms already in the area.

“I’m gutted.”

World Gym Australia director Jon Davie said the franchise would transform the site into a gym as soon as its lease began in mid-September

The Stafford site is expected to house one of the biggest gyms in southeast Queensland.

Mr Davie said he understood that the centre meant a great deal to the community and while the rink wouldn’t remain, World Gym aimed to retain some of the centre’s character.

“The whole idea is to have a community-based gym and create an atmosphere where people feel they belong,” Mr Davie said.

The gym is set to include yoga and group training rooms, cycling and children’s classes, a creche and a cafe.