Pressure builds for CBD building owner to begin long-overdue refurbishment

A veteran Townsville CBD businessman has called on the owners of the crumbling former-Dimmeys Arcade to get moving on a fix. See how it looks now.

By Gone Barber owner France Linzmoyer stands outside the former-Dimmeys Arcade, where he once worked. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Covered in mould, graffiti, and excrement, with birds nesting in the ceiling, damaged floor tiles, and a smashed window revealing a crumbling interior, the former-Dimmeys Arcade desperately needs remedial work.

That was the belief of France Linzmoyer, owner of CBD business By Gone Barber, who was a former-tenant in the building between 2001 and 2006.

Shuttered for the past 15 years, the former-Dimmeys Arcade fronts Flinders and Sturt St, where a Chemist Warehouse trades in part of the 5500sqm site.

With 64 years experience working as a barber, Mr Linzmoyer has plenty of fond memories of being in the arcade when it was a bustling place, home to numerous businesses including a coffee shop, jeweller, and pet shop.

“It’s really deteriorated. People sleep here, it’s not very nice for tourism … especially with all the cruise ships arriving into the city,”

By Gone Barber owner France Linzmoyer stands in front of graffiti covered the wall at the former-Dimmeys Arcade. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“It has to be reopened and turned into a business, to turn back the hands of time.

“Somebody was going to do something here, but they stopped and I don’t know why.”

Seeing the good work done by Brodie Jankovic and Kayle Wright to transform the infamous “greasy” Queens Building on Flinders St, Mr Linzmoyer called on the Dimmeys Arcade owner to “get stuck into it, to help the city”.

A broken window revealed the crumbling interior inside the former Dimmeys Arcade. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Using a carrot and stick approach, Townsville City Council has supported CBD building improvements, like the Queens Building, with grants through its City Activation and Jobs Growth Policy.

It also passed Local Law 8, which stipulates that an owner of a building in a designated area must ensure the building was maintained so that the appearance of the building does not detract from the appearances of other buildings or the public realm in the designated area.

Birds were seen nesting in the ceiling of the former Dimmeys Arcade. Picture: Leighton Smith.

During the December 2022 meeting of Townsville City Council, CEO Prins Ralston was called on to enforce Local Law 8, which carried a maximum penalty of $26,690.

Deputy Mayor Mark Molachino said the council wrote to the building’s owners and the building subsequently underwent the “minimal work necessary” to comply.

“It’s embarrassing when investors come to town and you’ve got to walk them past that mess. It’s a disgrace,” Cr Molachino said.

“The fact that these property owners are happy to leave it like that speaks volumes about what they think of Townsville.”

Peering through a window revealed the crumbling interior inside the former Dimmeys Arcade. Picture: Leighton Smith.

He called for the owners to completely wall off the Flinder St side of the building, offering council’s sticker pictures to make it look presentable.

A Townsville City Council spokesman said the council was committed to rejuvenating the city and had previously approved incentives to this property but they weren’t acted upon within the required time frame.

Mould and peeling paint were visible on the ceiling at the entrance of the former Dimmeys Arcade. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Graffiti was visible at the entrance of the former Dimmeys Arcade. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“Council endeavours to work with the landowner to understand the site’s challenges. Ideally, Council would like to see the site be remediated,” the spokesman said.

“If development cannot occur in the short term, an open space and public realm area would be highly anticipated.”

A sign is still up in the window of the former Dimmeys Arcade promising to open in September 2021. Picture: Leighton Smith.

A wrecked roof, graffitied walls, and damaged tiles at the former Dimmeys Arcade greets visitors to the Townsville CBD. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Records show the property is owned by a company whose shareholders include Jack Gance and Mario Verrocchi, rich listers worth around $1.8bn each and founders of the Chemist Warehouse group.

Managing the building on behalf of its owners, National Retail Group director Michael Spektor previously announced a multimillion-dollar refurbishment of the site but ran into problems getting building permits for a new fire protection sprinkler system, estimated to cost $2 million.

“We understand the community wants to see it redeveloped and we continue to work with various stakeholders including government and the QFES to find an appropriate pathway forward,” Mr Spektor said.

Originally published as Pressure builds for CBD building owner to begin long-overdue refurbishment