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 The old Myer Coorparoo Cafeteria in 1962. |
I feel a close personal link to the former Myer, then Megamart, and finally Harvey Norman store at Coorparoo in Brisbane. It opened in about 1960 and I still have some fond memories of the place as a young child. I clearly remember driving up the ramp to the rooftop carpark in the back seat of an FJ Holden, and to visit the cafeteria was an unbelievably landmark experience. |
Although originally an independant chain of up-market stores, Myer became part of the Coles Myer Group. After years of sluggish performance, a number of Myer stores, including Coorparoo were rebadged as Megamart and refocussed on mainly electrical and electronic lines. Alas, this failed to make a difference and the Myer division was sold off by Coles. Some of the Megamart stores, as was the case in Coorparoo, were purchased by retailer Harvey Norman in late 2005.
Although at the time of writing (June 2007) the Harvey Norman website still lists the Coorparoo branch as being active, it has in fact sadly closed. From what I can gather, it is slated for demolition to make way for a new underground bus station.
Vale, another Brisbane landmark. Here are a couple of relevant news stories I have found on the net:
Coles News Release 10 Nov 2005 All Megamart stores will cease trading on November 13. A conditional agreement has been reached with Harvey Norman to acquire stores at Alexandria in Sydney, Chadstone, Fountain Gate, Sunshine and Thomastown in Melbourne and Coorparoo in Brisbane on November 23. Stores at Auburn and Casula in Sydney and Perth City will remain closed and sub-letting will be pursued.
Aug 2006 News Release Translink is looking at opportunities to locate busway stations within existing shopping areas or next to community facilities to liven them up. A station in Coorparoo could, for example, be located beneath the Harvey Norman complex or in its carpark. (This is obviously now not going to happen!)
I visited the old store in May 2007 with members of the Abandoned Brisbane group (thanks Bec and Nat). Luckily Nat is acquainted with the new store owner and we were very kindly given access to everywhere in the building.
If you have any information or stories about this store and its history I would love to hear from you by email or in my Visitor's Book.
A Google Earth image of Myer Coorparoo, with the red roof. Quite a substantial building in its day. |
The front and main entrance of the Myer Coorparoo store. |
The south side of the Myer Coorparoo building. |
The rear of the Myer Coorparoo store with its landmark sign, loading bays etc. |
The northern or Cavendish Road side of the old Myer Coorparoo store. The side of the ramp up to the carpark is clearly visible, as is another loading bay entrance. |
The access ramp to the rooftop carpark of the old Myer Coorparoo store. |
The exit from the rooftop carpark to the access ramp at the old Myer Coorparoo store. |
The Myer Coorparoo rooftop carpark. The access escalator and stairs are straight ahead, while the lifts are off to the right. |
The main entrance to Myer Coorparoo. |
The main large open retail area inside the main entrance of Myer Coorparoo. |
More of the open retail area in Myer Coorparoo. |
The Myer Coorparoo compoenents sound room area. |
The appliances sales area at Myer Coorparoo. |
The computer sales and service area at Myer Coorparoo. |
The main checkouts at Myer Coorparoo. |
No way out from Myer Coorparoo without going through the checkouts. |
The old escalator at Myer Coorparoo. |
The stairs connecting between levels at Myer Coorparoo. |
Some of the air-conditioning plant at Myer Coorparoo. |
The control panel for the backup generators at Myer Coorparoo. |
The Myer Coorparoo backup generators. |
One of the loading bays at Myer Coorparoo. |
The some of the service area office space at Myer Coorparoo. |
A passageway with connecting work areas and offices at rear of Myer Coorparoo. |
Part of the old telephone and communications equipment in the computer room at Myer Coorparoo. |
The high capacity UPS (uninterruptable power supply) is still operating outside the computer room at Myer Coorparoo. |
Some of the maze of pipework all through the service area of Myer Coorparoo. |
The scullery freezer at Myer Coorparoo. |
Some of the garfitti in the large service areas at Myer Coorparoo. |
We found this unusual area in the utility area of Myer Coorparoo. It look for all the world like a creche or childrens play area but its stuck way up in a remote corner with no natural light at all. Strange.... |
A store document lying on the floor in the utility and storage area at Myer Coorparoo. |
A 2006 year planner on the wall in one of the sales offices at Myer Coorparoo. |
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