CBD Walton Stores ‘like a food festival every day’

A NEW development in the heart of the CBD is set to bring the urban culture associated with Melbourne to Toowoomba.

A NEW development in the heart of the CBD is set to bring the urban culture associated with Melbourne to Toowoomba.

Described as a daily food and wine festival, it will extend on the laneway culture already present in places like Searle's Walk.

The Walton Stores urban renewal project will blend heritage with innovation to create a unique space in Toowoomba's CBD.

Aspect Architects' director of project management Graham Secombe said said the company's vision for Walton Stores would be a laneway project with eclectic cafes, boutique retail and convenience shopping and office space.

"We want to combine dining, retail and commerce in the one space," he said. The group plans to replicate laneway shopping which is taking hold in a number of cities around the world.

"We're trying to bring a bit of the Melbourne culture to the Toowoomba CBD," Mr Secombe said. Retaining the heritage look of the area will be a major part of the development.

"We'll be embracing heritage as much as we possibly can," he said.

The project will be located between Ruthven, Union and Annand Sts.

CLASSY SHOPS: Walton Stores will bring a touch of Melbourne to Toowoomba.

Mr Secombe said the group envisioned linking a laneway culture from QIC to the Australia Arcade, Searle's Walk, the Kwong Sang Walk, along to the Empire Theatres precinct.

He said the group had secured a "major national tenant" but would not give further details.

Mr Secombe said they were trying to replicate the James St Market model from Brisbane.

The group has been able to secure "a relatively large slice of the historical centre of the CBD".

Mr Secombe said the project would begin soon.

"We've had our hands forced by some of the tenants who are looking to secure a site so the timing has been brought forward."

Mr Secombe said Wayne's World and Rivers would not be affected by the development.

"In the fullness of time, we may look to move into those particular areas, but at this point in time we are focused on 469 Ruthven St and the tenants there have all been notified."

The cost of the project was not disclosed, but was described by Mr Secombe as "substantial".

He said the project was a "different approach to development".

CBD PROJECT: An artist’s impression of the new Walton Stores development with Annand St on the left and a laneway on the right. Picture: Contributed

"It's not your traditional big box standard development where they just look at bulldozing and building anew."

He said it was a more difficult and costlier project than others, but that would set it apart from them.

"It will stand the longevity of time because it's different."

He said the old budget furniture building in Annand St would be the jewel in the crown of the development.

"It has a long past with the city and is an absolutely magnificent stand-alone building."

The heart of the development will include a food market that will support different food offerings along with boutique shops.

"They will be a little bit eclectic and different," Mr Secombe said.

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"If we could replicate the (Food and Wine Festival) on a daily basis we would feel that we have hit our mark."

There will be at least 12 different stores in stage one of the project and eventually up to 30.

The project will start by Christmas.

It is an initiative of prominent Toowoomba companies Aspect Architects and Newlands Civil Construction.

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio applauded the project."The Aspect team has shown in the past that they are very capable of using creative design to enhance the potential of an existing space," he said.

The Toowoomba Local History Library has been forced to relocate due to the project and will close on Monday.

It will be moved to the temporary Toowoomba City Library and eventually to the new library currently under construction.

NEW PROJECT: Mayor Paul Antonio (left) and Aspect Architects’ director of project management Graham Secombe inspect plans for the Walton Stores project. Picture: Andrew Backhouse

Originally published as CBD Walton Stores ‘like a food festival every day’