Former Toombul Shopping Centre

Opened in 1967, the Former Toombul Shopping Centre wasn’t just any shopping centre. It was a landmark. It was a community hub. It was the first air-conditioned shopping centre in Queensland. Imagine strolling through its halls in the 1960s, a cool haven from the Queensland heat. The Former Toombul Shopping Centre buzzed with over 60 specialty stores, each a unique piece of the retail puzzle. One could get a haircut at Toombul Barber for a mere 80 cents. This barbershop, owned by John Scavarelli, became a cornerstone of the centre. It stood the test of time, surviving multiple renovations and expansions. The Former Toombul Shopping Centre wasn’t static. It evolved. It grew. It saw the rise and fall of retail giants like David Jones, which closed its doors in 2011, replaced by Target. The centre even weathered rebranding storms, shifting from Centro Toombul to simply “Toombul” in 2013. The centre boasted anchor stores like Target, Kmart, Coles, Aldi, and an eight-screen Event Cinema. Over 140 specialty stores filled its corridors, offering everything from everyday essentials to unique treasures. This included stores like Daiso, offering a taste of Japanese variety goods. In 2016, Mirvac took the reins, injecting new life with plans for improved parking, enhanced retail offerings, and even a new entertainment and dining precinct. But nature had other plans. The devastating 2022 Brisbane floods submerged the Former Toombul Shopping Centre. The damage was catastrophic. The once bustling hub fell silent. Mirvac, after careful consideration, made the heartbreaking decision to permanently close the centre. The loss reverberated through the community, a void left where a retail giant once stood. Although the physical structure of the Former Toombul Shopping Centre is no more, its legacy lives on in the memories of those who walked its halls and in the stories of the businesses that called it home. Some, like Toombul Barber, relocated, carrying a piece of Toombul’s spirit to new locations.