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Passing Time Valley Metro
A look back at the Valley Metro Centre
Today we are in Fortitude valley looking at what was known as the Fortitude Valley Plaza.
Before I begin on telling how this shopping centre was constructed in 1972 on top of the Brunswick Street Railway Station, I should tell you the beginnings of the railway.
In October 1885 the large public meeting was held where they discussed two possible options for the proposed railway line, both of which connected with Fortitude Valley.
Some felt that a railway line running through Fortitude valley would ruin the area and that a loop line should be constructed, connecting from the end of the Bulimba Railway Line (Teneriffe) and looping around New Farm to Petrie Bight.
In July 1886 there was still a debate on how to connect the railway terminus at Bulimba with the Southern and Western terminuses.
It was decided that the first section, to be called the City Railway, was to extend the line from Roma Street to Petrie Bight. This would be a straight line from Roma Street to the Normal School with cutting at Albert Street and another at Edward and Ann Streets.
They felt that these cuttings were important as citizens would never consent to having three streets blocked with railway crossings.
A goods station would then be erected at Petrie Bight, then beyond it would travel though convent hill as a tunnel and surfacing a Gotha Street.
It would then travel through Leichhardt Street to Alfred and Constance Street and continue until connecting to the Sandgate Line with a double fork, where it would connect with Bulimba (Teneriffe).
They weren’t too sure what the principal station would be and felt that they wouldn’t build such a commodious station for Central Station, but would for Petrie Bight.
They felt that the Petrie Bight station would end up being the busier stop.
Beyond Petire Bight the first station would be in the vicinity of James Street and that provisions would be made for sidings, especially for wood and coal.
The line would then connect to the Sandgate Railway Line and include a total of four level crossings.
By August 1886 the Minister for Works had given consideration to this scheme and revealed the cost of carrying it out would be £470,000.
In November 1886 the scheme was approved and submitted to Parliament. It would travel 2 miles and 20 chains, starting at Roma Street Railway Station and ending at Mayne Railway Station.
The contract was let to McArdle and Thomson in August 1887 and by August 1889 they had completed the first section between Roma Street railway Station and Central Railway Station.
Then on Wednesday August 28th 1889 authority was given to continue the line the remaining 77 chains.
On the afternoon of Saturday November 1st 1890 the Fortitude Valley extension of the Southern and Western Railway took place.
A long train with 10 carriages drawn by two engines left Roma Street Railway Station at 1:15pm. The front engine was a Baldwin Company locomotive No. 96, while the second was a new engine made by Evens, Anderson and Phelan of Brisbane and was No. 251.
This station opened as Brunswick Street Railway Station and remained until the early 1970s when it was redeveloped into an underground railway station with a shopping complex on top.
This retail centre, initially known as Valley Centre, was constructed with an 840 bay parking structure and 9 storey commercial tower was over the Fortitude Valley Railway Station for $8.9 million in 1972.
The developer behind this project was the State Government Insurance Office (SGIO).
The freehold of the site is still owned by the Queensland Government and Commissioner for Railways, while a 99 year lease on the site appears to have been handled by SGIO.
A Wallace Bishop store appears to have occupied the right side location at the Brunswick Street entrance from 1972 to at least 1985.
In April 1989 Remm Group LTD., who were the owners of the McWhirters building and were in the process of redeveloping it into a market style shopping centre, had confirmed negotiations were taking place in regards to Suncorp’s Valley Centre Plaza.
Remm Group appear to have been offering $10 million for the lease on the site, which they wanted to integrate into the McWhirters development.
The two sites were already linked over Wickham Street with a covered walkway at the time.
The option to purchase this lease expired in May 1990 and in July 1993 Suncorp began a $1 million refurbishment of the complex.
Then in March 1996 Suncorp appears to have been looking for a buyer willing to pay $11 million for the Valley Centre Plaza.
It was eventually sold in November 1996 to property developer Mr. Kevin Seymour for $8.7 million.
In March 2006 developer Mr. Kevin Seymour sold the Valley Metro site to Lend Lease for $54 million.
In the 18 months leading up to this sale $12 million was spent refurbishing the retail centre, which at the time of the sale was anchored by a Fitness First and a Foodworks supermarket. The Transport House office tower was also fully leased to the Department of Transport for the next decade.
This refurbishment is likely when the centre was renamed Valley Metro.
In July 2007 the Queensland Government commenced with an upgrade of Brunswick Street Railway Station and upon completion in October 2008 it was renamed Fortitude Valley Railway Station.
Around August 2014 Lend Lease appear to have sold this property to LaSalle Investment Management, who in 2016 released plans for a $500 redevelopment of the site.
In June 2017 LaSalle Investment Management announced that their plans for their $500 million redevelopment of the Valley Metro Centre had been approved by Brisbane City Council.
Now that they had Council approval, they planned on erecting a new 30 storey residential tower, with 207 apartments on the corner of Alfred Street and Constance Street.
Now that they had Council approval, they planned on erecting a new 30 storey residential tower, with 207 apartments on the corner of Alfred Street and Constance Street.
A second building to be constructed would be a commercial tower with a height of 23 storeys.
The retail centre would also undergo a refurbishment to breath new light into the almost 50 year old building, as would the 9 storey Transport House commercial tower.
This project was designed by architectural firm Architectus.
Once complete the retail centre will consist of a new Woolworths Supermarket supporting by a number of specialty retailers including food & beverage and services offerings.
In December 2019 LaSalle announced that they would begin the second phase of their Valley Metro revamp, with the first stage completed, involving renovating the 9 storey Transport House. This took 9 months to complete, which included removing the entire old facade and replacing it with floor to ceiling glass windows.
In November 2020 it was announced that the proposed Hoyts Cinema which was to be constructed over Brisbane’s second busiest railway station was no longer proceeding.
It was also announced that the Woolworths Supermarket was scheduled to open in March 2021, taking the place of the former Foodworks Supermarket.
**The time and effort put towards compiling these articles are unpaid. Any brands or business depicted in my postings are purely coincidental and are done without remuneration. The information supplied in my articles are sourced from a variety of locations, such as newspaper archives, State Heritage Register, Council Heritage Registers, current newspaper articles, QImagery, word of mouth and many more locations.
(Taken: 1985/2021)
(Source: NAA/John Prpic)
The Yiros Shop is now open at Valley Metro. Indulge in timeless and satisfying Greek cuisine. Discover their delicious menu ranging from the customers favourite, Traditional Yiros, mouthwatering Plates, Salads, Snackboxes, Sides and Desserts. Enjoy unforgettable Mediterranean cuisine, now at Valley Metro. Open until 10pm every day.
Welcome the Lunar New Year and enjoy the traditional Dragon Dance. Immerse yourself in the rich culture and traditions of the holiday at Valley Metro. Receive a FREE Lunar New Year Calendar from Sunlit. Head into the store to collect yours. (Only valid for the first 200 customers) Location: Valley Metro Date: 24th & 25th January 2023 Time: From 1 2pm
American style burgers, ribs, shakes and sides to knock your socks off!
March has been a busy month of openings at Valley Metro - the lifestyle, dining, convenience, services, medical and health destination of Fortitude Valley. Check out the store openings below including some special opening offers!
Experience the magic and excitement of this Lunar New Year in Fortitude Valley, the perfect destination to celebrate the Year of the Tiger! Celebrating is hard work, so make sure to break up the festivities with a quick stop at Valley Metro to enjoy Asian-inspired dishes right in the heart of the Valley. Here’s what you can enjoy at Valley Metro to bring in the Year of the Tiger. Looking for something refreshing to fend off the Brisbane heat? Check out Roll’d for authentic Việtnamese cuisine. One bite of their delicious Rice Paper Rolls and you’ll be transported to the streets of Hanoi! If you’re craving Chinese cuisine, Jackpot Express has gourmet dishes that you can order totally hands-free! Just scan the QR code and you’ll be feasting in minutes. For a fast-casual Japanese meal check out Sushi Paradise, with so much freshly made sushi and sashimi as well as rice bowls and slurp-worthy udon and ramen, you might never leave! Celebrating is thirsty work, so make sure you head over to Gong Cha where you’ll find a huge range of Bubble Tea to enjoy. Sip your way through some seriously heavenly drinks and don’t forget to raise your cups for a boba toast to the Year of the Tiger! If you’re keen to celebrate this Lunar New Year at home, then check out Sunlit Asian Supermarket. With over 10,000 types of specialised Asian grocery items, you’ll find everything you need to bring in this Year of Tiger in style. Whatever the craving, check out Valley Metro to celebrate Lunar New Year with some insanely delicious food that’ll start the Year of the Tiger perfectly!
So that you can ring in the Year of the Tiger with wealth, prosperity, and luck!
What's on in Fortitude Valley for Lunar New Year
There are but a few undeniable truths when it comes to Australians. Firstly, we love our Summers (Could you really blame us?). Secondly, slurping on a Boost Juice is a Summer right of passage ere, no questions asked. Whilst Summer in Australia is undoubtedly something to be revered, think dazzling ocean day-trips and weekend strolls through the botanical gardens, everything we love about the season is made significantly better when accompanied by a Boost Juice in hand. You say Summer, we say Boost Juice! They’re a bit of an Aussie institution. Here in Brisbane, their juices and smoothies are the go-to when it comes to surviving the tremendously hot days here, particularly if you find yourself out and about - exploring all the fun our city has to offer. You’ll understand what we mean when you take that glorious first sip from the iconic green cup of your Boost Juice of choice (there really are no bad options!) amid 28 degree weather. It’s a survival tip to be honest, but also, it’s one of the most satisfying things in the world. If you can’t already tell, we’re big fans. That is why we are STOKED to announce that our good friends over at Boost Juice Bar will soon be opening their doors to serve up their Summer-saving juices for the first time ever in Fortitude Valley! You can find them slinging smoothies, juices and healthy bites inside the recently developed Valley Metro precinct come early October - just in time to keep you going on those balmy Brisbane days!
The Valley Metro shopping centre has a new lease on life. Situated above the Fortitude Valley train station on Brunswick Street, the retail thoroughfare has undergone a major development renovation and upgrade to accommodate more than 24,000 commuters and visitors daily. Housing more than 30 retailers and an inviting 280-seat food court, you can shop, eat and tick off your errands in the one convenient spot. Dining From a quick bite on the go to a full meal, there’s plenty of delicious eats to enjoy at Valley Metro. Coffee addicts will be able to get their fix at Laneway Espresso, offering pastries, ready-made sandwiches and coffee. Savour a taco or burrito from Guzman Y Gomez, or get into a bucket of chicken and seasoned chips from KFC. Roll’d Vietnamese offers rice paper rolls, bowls and salads for takeaway or dine-in, Subway has its popular subs and sandos, while Jackpot Express brings its gourmet-style Chinese dishes in a quick-service format. Visit Sushi Paradise for a freshly made range of sushi and sashimi dishes, and Brooklyn Slice for a piping-hot pizza, pasta or arancini ball. Bubble tea fans can get their fix at the Valley’s first Gong Cha with its extensive menu of hot and cold drinks. There’s also a 7-Eleven convenience store for all your on-the-go needs from coffee to Slurpees, ready-made sandwiches to pies and sausage rolls. Shopping Valley Metro has an array of supermarkets on hand so you can do the after-work dash before the commute home, select some fresh ingredients for a DIY lunch, or stock up on the essentials. Shop at Woolies for fresh fruit and veg and all your staples, including barista-made coffee – it’s open from 7am-9pm Monday to Saturday and until 6pm on Sundays, or hit up 7-Eleven for any after-hours items. For gourmet products and hard-to-find pantry ingredients, Sunlit Asian Supermarket is your go-to, plus you can pick up wine, beer and celebratory drinks at BWS. There’s also an onsite Valley Metro News for a small range of newspapers, magazines, gift cards and lotto requirements. Services From healthcare to haircuts, you can do it all at Valley Metro. Onsite medical and pharmacy services include Terry White Chemmart; Myhealth Fortitude Valley, a mixed billing medical centre, and QML Pathology. Do your banking at NAB, get your nails done at Nail Today and guys can visit Bou’s For Men Barbershop for a sharp cut. Visit the Valley Metro website for more retailers opening in the coming months.
The highly anticipated Gong Cha is set to open its doors in Valley Metro from 7:30am on Friday 9th July 2021. For the first three days, if you purchase one of the delicious Gong Cha drinks, you will receive one of their Top 10 teas for free! Sip on a Brown Sugar Milk Tea, quench your thirst with a Passionfruit Green Tea or satisfy your healthy cravings with a Matcha Tea Latte! Gong Cha will be open Monday - Thursday from 7:30 - 7pm; Friday from 7:30am - 10:30pm; Saturday 11am - 10:30pm and Sunday 11am - 5pm.