Toombul fate in balance as Mirvac mulls options for future of centre

Amid fears flood-damaged Toombul Shopping Centre may be razed to make way for high-rise housing, it’s understood owner Mirvac’s board is set to make a decision. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Northsiders have thrown their support behind Toombul Shopping Centre amid growing speculation the flood-damaged centre may be razed by owner Mirvac to make way for high-rise housing.

The Mirvac board is reported to be meeting in the next week to decide the fate of the 54-year-old centre and whether it is feasible to rebuild or redevelop it for other purposes, possibly build-to-rent residential.

With centre owner Mirvac yet to announce a reopening date, several key tenants have relocated to other shopping centres around the city. Others are waiting to see if the centre will be reopened or closed permanently.

The long-established Toombul Barber has opened in nearby Ascot, Ed’s Pcs has relocated to Taigum, and the Function Well gym has opened a hub at the Mercedes-Benz showroom in the Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct.

In a recent operational update Mirvac said: “Our retail asset Toombul in Brisbane experienced extensive flood damage and is currently closed as we assess the damage and determine the appropriate next steps.”

The clean up at Toombul Shopping Centre following the flood. Picture Lachie Millard

Darren Bain, founder of Function Well, says his intention is to work with Mirvac and return to the centre. QBD chief executive Nick Croydon said should Mirvac decide to rebuild the centre the book retailer would enter negotiations to reopen the store.

“I also understand if they think that they cannot protect their investment from future flooding to change the use,” said Mr Croydon.

A Flight Centre spokesperson said the company was “keen to reopen in Toombul as soon as we are able to - it’s always been a popular location”.

Flooding at Toombul Shopping Centre. Photo: Jamie Weston

A spokesman for Funlab, which operates Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq on the top floor of the shopping centre, said they were waiting for an update from Mirvac.

The entertainment venue, which opened a few years ago, has been closed since the floods. “We hope to hear something soon and hope to have a date to reopen,” he said.

“We have new things coming to Queensland this year which we will announce but that’s not to replace the venue, that is in the course of expanding our portfolio.”

Toombul has built up a loyal customer following in the inner-north because of its mix of major supermarket chains and specialist stores.

The centre opened as Westfield Shopping Town Toombul on October 11, 1967, anchored by a Barry and Roberts Department store, Coles supermarket, Bayards store and 60 specialty stores.

It was the first shopping centre in Brisbane built with air-conditioning.

“The best thing we can do is inundate the council and local members with calls saying this area needs a major shopping centre,” one local resident wrote on Facebook in response to a story by The Courier-Mail that the centre may be demolished.

“Parking at Chermside Shopping has been a nightmare since Toombul closed.”

Another resident wrote that Toombul had been a great long-term business and it “would be a shame to see it replaced with expensive units that push struggling families out.”

One resident saw the lighter side posting that “my proposal to the council didn’t get the go ahead but I envisioned the world’s first waterpark shopping centre. Grab your groceries and hit the slide at the same time.”

Originally published as Toombul fate in balance as Mirvac mulls options for future of centre