Loganholme antiques building demolished to make way for Coomera Connector

Wreckers have moved in on a landmark abandoned building visible for decades to millions of motorists on the Pacific Motorway south of Brisbane, drawing a strong community reaction. SEE THE PHOTOS, VIDEO

A landmark abandoned building near the Pacific Motorway south of Brisbane is being reduced to rubble, the demolition drawing a strong reaction from the local community.

Demolition works on the Logan City Council’s former Antiques Style Building, located on the Pacific Motorway Service Rd at Loganholme, commenced last week to the surprise of local residents and people who regularly drove past on the Pacific Motorway.

On Monday morning, two excavators were on site and could be seen pulling down parts of the building and sorting through the rubble.

The demolition work is being carried out by Queensland-based contractors Abyss Demolition, for Logan City Council.

Logan City Council resolved earlier in the year to demolish the building, with Mayor Jon Raven declaring “as it is no longer suitable, or safe for use”.

Demolition works started this week to knock down the derelict building on the Pacific Motorway service road south of Brisbane. Picture: John Gass

Among the southeast’s most iconic vacant buildings, the two-storey red brick building had been touted as the site of a wave pool, zoo, and even a haunted house attraction.

The once grand building, which featured a spiral marble staircase, floor-to-ceiling marble bathrooms and toilets, ballrooms, a “cowboy” western-style saloon bar; convention rooms, an indoor wood-fired bakers oven and its own bakery, has been left to fall into ruins.

Its imminent destruction prompted a significant reaction from local residents.
Laurena Idec was saddened by the destruction of the building that her husband built.

Demolition works at the Loganholme landmark. Picture: John Gass

“My husband John Idec built this building, we sold furniture out of there, then came council and put up that great wall on the highway and ruined our business, so we sold it to Logan City Council, what for I do not know, then nothing, it breaks my heart to see it coming down so many memories there,” she said.
Other residents were despondent over the building’s demise, while others pondered what could have been.

“Disgraceful. Again. No consultation. Why is there no accountability?” Donna Maddigan commented.
“I grew up not far from here. I can’t understand why this building wasn’t put to good use as a restaurant/motel, or part of the promised Alma Park Zoo precinct. I can think of multiple uses,” Georgina Gill said.

“Sad to see such an iconic building turn to rubble,” Mari Haynes said, while Sam Hopa said it was sad to see the once beautiful building taken down.

The abandoned building has fallen in to a state of disrepair.

The building is covered in graffiti, with several windows smashed and many boarded up.

The 26ha site was acquired by the state government in 2019 for the Coomera Connector, after plans for the $10m wave pool and building complex housing an indoor skate park, gym, restaurant and surfboard factory were shelved in November, 2018.

Originally published as Loganholme antiques building demolished to make way for Coomera Connector