This cache is a tribute to the former and much loved Toombul Shopping Centre, opened in October 11th 1967. This two-floor centre was home to more than 140 specialty stores, making it the largest shopping centre in Brisbane's northside until the re-development of Westfield Chermside around 1999. This centre was beloved by locals, despite some considering the site "dated" towards the end of it's run and multiple ownership changes. In Feburary 2022, the Brisbane Floods ravaged the centre and was swiftly shut - with no reopening date. An inspection of the site mid 2022 determined that the site was not safe to reopen due to lack of structual integrity. Demolition of the site commenced in Feburary 2024 and the remains of this once prolific shopping centre have been removed as of January 2025. The council and Mirvac have expressed being open to community opinion on the future of the site. Multiple proposals are in the early stages of planning, with the community citing a need for a bigger retail space that serves the inner-north of Brisbane as well as the need for flood mitigation strategies for whatever is built in this flood-prone area in the end.
Me and my partner thought of the idea of this cache after moving to the area from interstate January 2022. We were estatic to learn we live nearby a massive shopping centre, as we needed some supplies for our new house. Having no car, we walked to Toombul on a 40 degree day, hungry and needing the toilet, only to be disappointed by it's closure signs. Whatever happens to the site, hopefully we'll be able to come back to it and enjoy it's facilities. We had been watching the demolition from beginning to end and it was sad to see such a building be completely scrapped. But it cannot be ignored that the location was not ideal. As of January 31st 2025,, works are commencing to make the site look more appealing with planting of greenery along the Kedron Brook bike track. RIP Toombul.
Note: this cache is accessable via the beautiful Kalinga Park and Kedron Brook bike tracks *NOT on Sandgate road*
Huge congrats to nikid1 on first find!