Toowoomba Squash members farewell James Street courts as 1950s-era building to be demolished ahead of Officeworks

In a blow to what was once one of the city’s most popular sports, Toowoomba squash players have said goodbye to their home as it makes way for a $30m retail precinct.

John White has been outsmarting opponents at the squash courts along James Street in Harristown since 1981 — an outlet that is no longer possible.

“My favourite part is working out how your opponent plays and finding weaknesses – it’s a mind game,” the now 87-year-old Toowoomba player said.

“If I can slow them down, even now, I’ve still got a chance.”

Veteran squash player John White reflects on the closure of Toowoomba's longest-running squash courts on James Street in Harristown, a centre he had been attending since 1981.

Mr White is among the hundreds of competitive and casual players left “devastated” after the home of Toowoomba Squash was forced to close at the weekend.

The club celebrated on Saturday with a farewell set of games and a barbecue, just weeks before the centre — first built in 1958 — is demolished to make way for a new Officeworks and two drive-through eateries.

It brings to a close more than 60 years of squash history and leaves the sport without a home and at risk of falling into obscurity in the Garden City.

Toowoomba Squash Incorporated president Rod Davies said the organisation had known its future was tenuous at the site, but the news last year of developer Rob Weymouth’s proposal was still confronting.

Toowoomba Squash president Rod Davies reflects on the closure of the city's longest-running squash courts on James Street in Harristown, while also planning the organisation's next move.

“We’d been talks with people about getting a new home, but it really hits home when there’s a date and this site was sold to a developer six months ago,” he said.

“It’s such a shame, especially with the hospital staff like nurses and doctors (recently) coming over here to start playing — they’re all cut that it’s all finished here.”

It marks a disappointing chapter in a sport that was once considered one of the most popular participation activities in Toowoomba.

Mr Davies said the model of this popularity over the decades, a set of private businesses rather than a central organisation, left the sport vulnerable as real estate prices increased.

“The history of squash is just people who were running their own businesses, similar to gyms,” he said.

“There were at least 10 squash centres in Toowoomba back in the 80s, probably even more.

“Everyone you talk to is an ex-squash player – squash centres were everywhere.

“The real estate has got too much, because you can only use the courts so often in a day.”

REVEALED: Officeworks will be the anchor tenant of a $30m project replacing the infamous Snap Fitness eyesore on the corner of James and West Streets in Harristown.

With James Street now no longer a home, Mr Davies is currently assessing three options for the future of squash — potential new courts at St Mary’s College, a new centre as part of the upcoming Lockyer Valley Foods facility in Withcott and an association with FitLab as part of a new gym.

But whatever the outcome, he said time was of the essence.

“(Some options) are probably 12-24 months away, and squash is a funny game in that the longer you’re out of the game, you really feel it and it gets harder to get back into it,” he said.

“Even six months off, a lot of people aren’t coming back, especially those in their 60s and 70s.”

Originally published as Toowoomba Squash members farewell James Street courts as 1950s-era building to be demolished ahead of Officeworks