Final days for Brisbane’s iconic Myer Centre store

Nostalgic shoppers have remembered one iconic feature of The Myer Centre after the department store prematurely closed its doors.

It’s the final countdown for a central part of Brisbane’s CBD, as The Myer Centre department store closed over the weekend.

Myer’s Queen St location, which has been a symbol of the city for more than three decades, has been closed after talks between the store and landlord broke down.

“Whilst we remain committed to the Brisbane market, we have been unable to negotiate a reasonable commercial outcome with the landlord and as such will continue to look for an alternative CBD location,” Myer chief executive John King said in a statement in March.

It's not known what the building will be renamed.

The centre in 2003. Picture: State Library of Queensland

Construction on The Myer Centre began in 1986. Picture: State Library of Queensland

“We thank our team members for their service and will be providing redeployment opportunities at nearby stores.”

First opened in 1988 in time for World Expo ’88, the centre was Myer’s flagship store in Queensland and Australia’s second-largest department store.

In the wake of the decision to close the store, Brisbane locals have taken to social media to share their favourite memories.

Particularly nostalgic was the children’s amusement park Tops that sat at the top of the centre, and no feature was more loved than the dragon rollercoaster that shot through the air inside the building.

Tops is one of the most nostalgic parts of the centre according to locals. Picture: Gino Moschino

Tops famously had a rollercoaster that ran through the centre. Photo: Facebook

“Spent many a fun weekend at Tops, tragedy they closed that down, kids these days don’t know what they missed out on!!” one person said.

“Tops was the crowning jewel to the Myer Centre shopping mall,” another poster said.

The department store is not expected to stray far from its original home, with Myer exploring options for an alternative site.

The company says it is also trying to find redeployment options for its staff in other Brisbane stores such as Indooroopilly, Chermside, Carindale and Upper Mount Gravatt.

A shot of the exterior from the 1990s. Picture: Cherie Randell

What it looks like today.

As for the Myer-shaped hole in the Brisbane building, it was rumoured that Griffith University would step forward to take over the space.

The CBD campus is expected to focus on teaching business, law, and IT to 7500 students.

However, a statement from Griffith University put an end to the rumours surrounding the location of its new campus.

“The Myer Centre is not one of the short-listed options,” the university clarified.

Originally published as Final days for Brisbane’s iconic Myer Centre store