Articles - Ashgrove History

VIEWS AND VIEWPOINTS OF ASHGROVE

PRESENTED TO THE ASHGROVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY BY JOHN O’HARE

ON SATURDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2016, AT THE ASHGROVE LIBRARY

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1. Thanks Lindy for that nice introduction and thank you for the Ashgrove Historical Society’s kind invitation to speak about the O’Hare family’s Ashgrove association, our Ashgrove West Dental Practice and the Ashgrove West Shopping Centre (aka “The Terminus”).

Photos. 

2. Glenlyon Gardens Estate.

My paternal grandparents, Cecil and Helena (or Noni) O’Hare, were married in 1925 and bought land in Glenlyon Drive, about No 21.  Family circumstances caused them to forgo the opportunity to live there, so my father, Frank was brought up at Gordon Park and when he finished school, they then moved to Enoggera.  After my grandfather’s death in 1960, my grandmother would return to Ashgrove in the early 60s, staying for a short stint in Woonga Drive and then settling at 12 Glenlyon Drive, till she deceased in 2004, aged 104.  Noni always had this lifelong desire to live in Glenlyon Drive and it was close to Frank’s work and nearly opposite where they first bought land.

My maternal grandparents lived in Innisfail, where my mother Margaret and her sister Jan’s father, Eric Trower was the Dentist at Innisfail.  My maternal grandmother’s grandfather, Michael Cecil Coffey, was officially a Chemist, who also practised some Dentistry in Maryborough in 1870 and then Bundaberg in 1875.  He was referred to in the Bundaberg Newspaper as a clever and practical chemist, but also extracted teeth for those in need.

Frank’s uncle (i.e. his mother Noni’s brother) was Jack Twomey and he was the Dentist at Alderley-Enoggera from the 30s to the 80s.  Uncle Jack influenced Frank to study Dentistry.  I think that makes me 5^th generation and I’m thrilled that my niece (my older brother Peter’s daughter) is studying Dentistry also.

Our other family connections with Ashgrove include Frank’s uncle Dermot O’Hare who married Mercie Truscott in 1935.  Mercie was Meta Truscott’s husband Alan’s sister.  Dermot and Mercie bought 18 Glory St in 1935.  It is directly behind our dental practice at 463 Waterworks Road.  They owned Glory St. till 1990.  Mrs Mercie O’Hare taught at Ashgrove State School through the 50s to the late 70s.  My cousin Neil O’Hare and family live in Girraween Grove and my cousin Michelle Lawson and her family live in Canberra Drive.  My sister Stephanie and her family, after a short time in St John’s Avenue, St John’s Wood, have now been residents in Moola Road for the past 10 years, not far from where we grew up at 72 Acacia Drive, Ashgrove.

My parents, Frank and Margaret, were married in 1953, eight months after starting the Ashgrove West Dental Practice in January 1953.  They rented for a short time in 22 Beth Eden Terrace, opposite the side entry at St Finbarr’s Church, but were able to purchase 72 Acacia Drive in early 1954 and that’s where we celebrated our family life.

3. Growing up at 72 Acacia Drive Ashgrove.  72 Acacia Drive – 1954.  Had been built by Mr Levitt.
4. 72 Acacia Drive – circa 1960-61.  3 children so far.  (74 flood came to letter box).
5. 72 Acacia Drive – 1963 colour photo.  Carpenter Jack  Rice of Woonga Drive built the high jump sticks when the extension was performed.  His granddaughter was the swimmer Stephanie Rice.  Shepherd’s Lane goes through to Mareeba Rd.  Shepherd’s lane named after our long-time neighbour who we are very fond of, i.e. Margaret Shepherd (who is 91 years,  going well and still living at No 80.)
6. 72 Acacia Drive – 1968  In the backyard – Shepherds Lane – No 80 Acacia Drive.   Rest of family minus my older brother Peter who was still practising high jump and missed the photo.  Lost the open high jump at Marist on a countback so it all paid off.
7. Family photo – 1976
8. 72 Acacia Drive – 1974 flood.  Sister Stephanie and brother Tim.  At 1am it was 1-2 metres higher.  Mirrabooka Bridge survived.
9. Landscape artist, Marjorie Martin back then (now Marjorie Summerville, aged 96 ½ yrs), painted from our front lawn not far from the same position where Frank took the flood photo in 1974.  Road was sealed in 1957 – took 12 months, similar timespan to current Mirrabooka Bridge improvements.  Sewerage came in 1963.
10. 72 Acacia Drive – cul-de-sac – present
11. 72 Acacia Drive from road – flood came to where red Land Rover Discovery is now.
12. 72 Acacia Drive – Shepherds Lane obscured
13. 80 Acacia Drive, where Margaret Shepherd has lived since 1958

86 Acacia Drive, which has made max. use of the block!

14. Dorrington Park – Norths Hockey Clubhouse.  Sports and activities I’ve witnessed here:  hockey, cricket, baseball, athletics (Rangers Athletics Club formed here about 1968), touch football, kite flying and I’m told there is polo annually now.  Also Carols by Candlelight and Music in the Moonlight. 
15. When it was still partly a dump in early 50s, it had an ash surface placed.  Olympic Athletes Hec Hogan, Doug Winston and other Queenslanders would train here often in 1954/55 so the surface they used as fill or whatever most resembled the cinder surface they would run on at Melbourne in 1956 Olympics.
16. Woke up one Saturday morning in May 1966 and we couldn’t believe our eyes as there was a stolen Cessna sitting in the middle of the park.  The authorities wouldn’t allow for it to be flown and it was dismantled and taken away in a truck.
17. Johnny Farnham concert around 1967 or 68, when he sang his hit “Sadie the Cleaning Lady”.
18. Dorrington Park – looking to Acacia Drive.  Unable to see through these days with the need for planting on the creek bank.
19. Dorrington Park – looking to Frasers Bridge and the off-leash area.
20. View from Oleander Drive to the Marist Flats, (where we’ve had a lot of fun over the years).  It separates the two Acacia Drives and confuses many visitors over the years.
21. Next stop on the way to the Ashgrove West Shopping Centre is Glenlyon House.  Here was the venue for the 1963 Mater Dei Sports Carnival;  running races on Flannery oval;  Father Flannery announcing to the crowd; prize winners in front of Glenlyon House.

Glenlyon House was built in 1876-77 by Alexander Stewart.  He died in 1918 and his children entered into an agreement with TM Burke to subdivide an area of his Glenlyon Estate of approximately 250 acres.

The Catholic Church acquired Glenlyon House from 1925-2000.  The Marist Fathers bought it in 1929.  From 2000, it has been a private residence and a lot of work is happening there now.

19. Glenlyon House – present.  Change of colour, fenced, new carpark building and Flannery oval greatly reduced.
20. Arriving at Ashgrove West Dental.  Previously 463 Waterworks Road Ashgrove was a residence and it was one of the first dwellings built, (1929-30) on the island bordered by Glory St and Waterworks Road.  It was referred to as Tanawita, which indicates some NZ connection.
21. Sign displaying our Business of Dentistry.
22. Waiting room, foyer, antique hat stand which is a family heirloom, and some of the 21 framed historical photos on display, and my beloved Reds poster of support!
23. Top photo which I have brought along shows early photos of 463 and across the road – Fry residence and Melrose Butcher shop and Post Office at 469, given to me by Dick and Del Paten.  This photo kicked off the whole display gallery.  Meta and Maria Truscott found the photo of the trams for me, which is underneath.
24. On another wall, Ashgrove Post Office history and the Tower Block at MCA, who we have a long association with.
25. Ashgrove West Shopping Centre 2015 and earlier photos, which I want to discuss in detail soon.
26. And another wall with some more.

But let’s leave the waiting room for a short time………

 Bizarre Incidents of Dental Practice

27-30.  I’d like to mention two:  the first was only a few months ago.

Recently a 33 year old male called Matt asked us to make him  Full Dentures as he had decided to have all his 32 teeth removed.  Normally patients ask us to save their teeth – well in this day and age they do.  Matt had already contacted an oral surgeon and had booked into hospital for a GA.  No amount of persuasion would convince Matt to retain any teeth at all.  Matt was a dental phobic who responded that he could only go through the procedure once.  Matt was also a Coca Cola addict and hadn’t been to the dentist for at least 25 years when a small filling was performed at age 8 yrs. and it wasn’t enjoyable for him.   Strangely, 3 generations of his family have come to us but we were never told of Matt’s situation.  We were given 10 days after the full clearance to fabricate dentures while he was off work.  Our dental technician Drew Kelly needs to be congratulated on this one.  Matt has happy to have his story told and relieved it’s over and to be able to smile, function and be comfortable again.  Thankfully his pathway of treatment is rare.

31-32.  Another bizarre incident occurred in 1994 and I get to pay tribute to Frank.   Frank was aiming to retire when the ADA and Qld Govt. beckoned him to perform a Samaritan act at St George in western Queensland.   A Gold Coast dentist had been contracted by the State Govt. to make new dentures for 30-35 people.  He took possession of their dentures and lab work and took off.  He went to the Courier Mail complaining of poor treatment by the locals, hospital employees and motel owner to justify his actions.  The Government had no other choice but to terminate his contract, via Health Minister Mike Horan, and get someone else quickly, if they could, so they could eat properly again.  Frank requested he use his own Dental Technician, which was Drew Kelly, then in Sugarcane Arcade.  Well done, Drew!

So Frank and Margaret went out and had a great time interacting and fitting dentures for all 35 of them.  The people of St George actually had a great sense of humour, telling Frank that his patient had been waiting a long time for a dentist to return!

33. The ADA, Qld Govt.  and St George community were so appreciative of Frank’s kindness and skills that the then ADA President inserted in the April 1994 ADA Newsletter his appreciation which I won’t embarrass Frank by reading.
34. Frank’s first patient already in chair – skeleton.  Insect repellent for outside waiting room as Balonne River in flood.
35. Caravan – ready to try in all the ‘false teeth’ (i.e. dentures).

Let’s go back to the waiting room. 

 Some of the Photos in the Waiting Room and what they represent.

36. History of 463 Waterworks Road.

Photo on left is Domremy (no. 453) and us at 463 in the top left, 3 houses still  to be constructed in between.  (Alan Mines collection, 1930s).  Question I’d like to ask is why does the house point easterly and not towards Waterworks Road?  Front verandah added 1945-46. 

From 1950 to 1980, residence owned by State School Inspector John Malachy Hefferan and his wife Ethel Mary.  Mr Hefferan actually taught at MCA between 1964-69, teaching my brothers and I in grade 7.  From 1985 it became Ashgrove West Dental Practice.  Trevor Long, our builder, performed the excellent transformation from house to surgery.

37. Early Ashgrove map of 1900 when Waterworks Rd was a bullock trail and the area that is Glory St now was a pleasant place for drovers and cattle to rest and was known as ‘Shady Rest’.  Note school position on our side of Glory St.
38. Ashgrove Post Office History.

Started 1^st Jan 1877 with James Brunton Stephens, Headmaster of Ashgrove State School, the first postmaster.

Returned to Ashgrove West in 1936 and photo shows centenary celebrations in 1977 while still at 469 Waterworks Rd.

39. Early Ashgrove Historical Photos.

Between 1877 and 1925 Ashgrove State School was situated where the shopping centre stands between Glory Street and Waterworks Rd.  The 2 acre area included, and finished at, our current dental practice and at 18 Glory Street.  In 1925 it went to its current site across Glory Street.

40. Elita Theatre -  Ralph and Jim Johnson, who I went to school with provided these photos to me.  Their father, the owner Wallace Johnson, climbed up on their balcony over the footpath to get the 1954 photos of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip.  Closed 1968.

 Recent photos acquired.

41. St John’s Wood History – thanks to Julie Moorhouse and AHS.
42. SJW – 1974 flood – Ambassador Theatre under water and Royal Parade houses in danger.  2 of 3 on creek bank were lost.
43. Thistle Dairy Farm at Fletcher Parade run by Todd family.
44. Trams at the Ashgrove West terminus in early 60s – inbound on left while outbound waits.
45. Melrose Butcher Shop opposite 465.  Fry residence opposite 463.  (Became main shopping centre in 1979.)
46. Early years of Ashgrove West Shopping Centre

                - Montvue Building

                - Shopping Centre

                - Uniting Church – wooden building first built in 1931 (i.e. timber  church).

47. Ashgrove West Shopping Centre 2015, shows current owners so don’t need to mention.  Earliest business appears to be Percival D Young from about 1930.  Post Office 1936.
48. Trams stopped – 5^th August 1968 at Ashgrove.  Earlier tram made a guest appearance.
49. Tram video.

 It’s now, if I have time, that I might detail the Shopping Centre History.

Ashgrove West Shopping Centre - 2015

As we mentioned at the start, the new Tram Terminus of 1935 provided the focus for a substantial Shopping Centre development that remains today.  Hope we stir a few memories with the following history.

On the left hand side (outbound) of Waterworks Road, Montvue Building was constructed.  An entry appeared for the first time in 1938 for the Victory Cash Store, which was  a mixed business.  This store operated from the corner shop in the Montvue Building on the corner of Waterworks and Coopers Camp Roads, opposite the tram terminus.  Its construction was heralded in the Courier Mail on 17^th November 1936 in an article titled “New Shops for Ashgrove”.  The Victory Cash Store persisted from 1938-51 (Creightons), 1951-57 (Bonnie Fulcher) and then to 1965 (LA Walker).  From 1966-70, it was O’Dwyers Nifty Thrifty, Trevor and Julie Longs Four Square Store was popular from 1970 through to early 80s.  Ross and Carly McDonald took over the 4 Square for a short time.  Then Adrian and Latu Caesar, until the Foodstore closed in the 1990s.

Fruiterer Sydney Ingham was next door from 1940-47.  Buckby’s then had a fish and chip shop in 50s, followed by Wrights Dairy Queen and fruit shop in the early 60s.  Paul’s fruit store run by Paul Paroscos, existed from 1966-83.  He then crossed the road to 485 Waterworks Road for the next 10 years or so.

Other prominent occupants of Montvue Building corner were McHoots Gift Shop (Rob & Noela Brow) in the late 90s, then Ashgrove Cycles shop in the early 2000s.  A butcher shop (Prime Meats of Ashgrove) was also there around this time.  Also a cake shop and Aaross Florist (Glenda Burke) was from the mid-1980s.  Previously, Aaross was at 486, 1983-84  - then 485 from 1993–96.

At the other end of Montvue Building, closest to the city, was the pharmacy and these chemists were here from 1949;  Robert Reynolds (1949-57), Miss EJ Ploetz (1957-60), NW Laidlaw (1957-71), Betty Collins (1971 to early 90s), Judy Austin (1992-2000).  Previously, Judy took over from Col Millar in the early 80s at 480 Waterworks Rd.  Chris Tam and Tina Wong in the 2000s.

The Ashgrove News and Casket Agency.  This shop was built on a vacant lot, next to the Chemist Shop in 1973.  Von Berky moved from Sugar Cane Arcade in 1973, an original tenant there in 1961.

Some of the other newsagents were; Cox family, Quinn, Naylor, and Ralph and Tony O’Shea, till it closed in 2000s.  Charlie’s Raw Squeeze Fruit Juice has sprung up next to this building in 2016.

Around the corner at 223 Coopers Camp Road, Dr Jim MacPherson’s medical general practice operated for 40 years from 1965.

Now, before Montvue, an entry for a store operated by Percival D Young, on the right hand side of Waterworks Road (outbound), appeared in the Post Office Directory for 1935 and persisted until 1938, when it was replaced by Anthony’s Cash & Carry, also a mixed business.   This persisted through the second world war.

Mr PD Young also served as Postmaster from July 9, 1936.  Mr PD Young was first given a permit to build a shop on 11th April 1930 and was granted a permit to add another shop from 8^th June 1936.  The area involved was 481-489 Waterworks, just past where Sugar Cane is now.

In the 1940s, John A King and Thomas George Martin ran the Butcher Shop here.  There was also a delicatessen and Mrs Elliot’s cake shop.  PT Overlack also ran a mixed business.

In the 1950s & 60s, this area contained Roy Block’s Butcher Shop.  As well Frank Boccalattes Fruit Shop, Marie O’Sullivan’s ladies hairdressing and cake shops were always prominent, and especially among the long-time proprietors was Tony McKusker .  We also had The Grove Beauty Salon (Marj Dean).

Different owners have continued these variety of businesses here while in the 70s, 80s, 90s – florists, travel, film and real estate prevailed.  Some of the real estate at this top end included Ashland, run by the Hantons, dad Kingsley, son Calvin and his wife Delvene and Mal Stirling.  Also others:  Rohan Ducker, Slim Summerville, Helen Schon and Fiorella Penfold and Raine & Horne for instance.

Ashlands was originally King Realty which was at the corner of Ajax Lane, opposite Coles in 1958.  Run by Kingsley Hanton.  It then became Ashlands, next to Clive Brain’s Pharmacy in 1971 and then into the building where the laundromat is now in 1978.  Stayed to mid-80s with Calvin & Delvene Hanton and Malcolm Stirling.  Alderman Brian Hallinan’s office was 489 Waterworks Rd throughout the 90s.

Now I will be brief about Sugar Cane Arcade as Jim and Julie Nichles devoted the June presentation to it.  But this is where our Dental Practice began in January 1953, so I should mention some of it again.   Sugar Cane Arcade  opened on 27^th September 1961 as told by Jim & Julie.  Prior to that, there was a building at the front owned and managed by Jim’s parents, Nick and Aphrodite as a mixed business from 1951.  It incorporated Frank O’Hare’s Dental Surgery as their tenant close to the city where Cr Toomey’s office is now, and a ladies hairdressing business on the other side, which became a men’s hairdressing business in the mid-50s with Andrew “Mac” MacRobert as the barber.  Prior to demolition of this building, Frank relocated three blocks down to 465 Waterworks Rd, which had more space and we were fortunate that we would continue our great relationship and friendship with the Nichles family as our landlords for over 30 years.  I think Reliance Electrical store followed Frank.

When Sugar Cane was built in ’61, a great directory of tenants included:  Manahans & Sons Ltd – grocers, Long Brothers Hardware, Lorimer Lowndes (white goods), George Thompson (shoe repairs), Fish and Chips shop and milk bar (Luke Morris, then Con & Helen Kolas), Commonwealth Bank, McRoberts, gents hairdresser-barber, Baron Von Berkey’s newsagency, ladies wear and dressmaker (Mrs Wooley) and West Brisbane Medical Clinic (Drs Rodney Lumer and David Gordon).  Dave Bleakley’s Cut Price Store would take over from Manahans in the 70s while other businesses also followed including Podiatrists (Patsy Ann Parfitt 92-93), ladies hairdressing and beauty salons, accountants, Sugar Cane Gifts, Harcourts Real Estate, Dental Technician Laboratories (Drew Kelly) and later orthodontist technician, Post Office, draftsmen, watchmaker, while Hardware Store in the late 80s preceded Cr Geraldine Knapp and Steve Toomey.  Bernie Watkins operated at the back of the arcade, underneath, as Qld Rural Agencies.  Peter Cassidy bought Sugar Cane Arcade from the Nichles in the 90’s, I think.

467 & 469 comprises the brick building (drapery or haberdashery).  It was built in 1935 by Mrs Mary Josephine Michaeli and Michaeli and Baird ran the drapery or haberdashery through to 1950.  From 1951-69, it was run by Mr & Mrs Ussher, then Mal and Beryl Horton from 1969-80.  Daughter Paula Horton took over from 1980-84.  Hortons lived at 480 Waterworks Road on the corner of Cavell Tce or Ennis Lane and it was here that all the terminus business owners were called to a meeting circa 1970 to discuss their views on a proposal to make Waterworks Road and Glory Street one-way to traffic.  In the early 70s, traffic changed from 2-way to one-way.

From 1984-92, Alan & Elsie Boscher ran the store then Wilks Drapery 1992-2000, then Mrs Coates through the 2000s.

469 Waterworks Rd – contained the Ashgrove West Post Office through to 1977.  For many years Mr Adams was the Postmaster here and then in 1977 Valma Bell  was Postmistress when it shifted from 469. , then into Sugar Cane Arcade in the 80s.

Subsequently that section has been occupied by Dorothy Jewel, Physiotherapist and then Ashgrove Physiotherapy from 2003-2008.  Currently returned to Ashgrove Brow & Skin Clinic which was similar to mid-80s & 90s when it was also a Beauty Salon.

Above the Drapery Building was the office of the State Member for Ashgrove, in the 70s & 80s, Mr John Greenwood who became Minister for Survey & Valuation in the Bjelke-Petersen Government.

465 Waterworks Rd  – the house at the back was built around 1935.  A one-legged cabinet maker called Mr Kay resided there in the 40s and 50s to produce his wares.  Frank O’Hare moved here from Sugar Cane area in 1957.  Mr Kay had cut a big hole in what was our waiting room through which he passed his cabinetry and other goods onto trucks which were parked underneath!  (Saved walking up & down stairs).

In 1960/61, two shops were built at the front .  Manuel Varitimos the builder suffered a horrendous workplace injury at the time, cutting his chin badly. He refused to go to a doctor and was brought up the front steps to Frank to ‘sew ‘ him up.

Colin K Millar, Chemist, occupied the first shop closer to the city while 2 sisters, B & M Bell (Cinderella’s Salon, children’s and baby wear) occupied next to the haberdashery.  They relocated from 487 where they had been since 1959.  After a couple of years, they moved out following the death of their mother and Trevor and John Long’s Hardware replaced them, relocating from Sugar Cane Arcade and staying till the end of the 60s.  Then Trevor moved across to the 4 Square on the corner of Coopers Camp Road/Waterworks Rd.

Col Millar’s Pharmacy moved into the hardware location and Con and Helen Kolas to where Col had been.  The Kolas’ relocated their Fish Shop & Milk Bar from Sugar Cane Arcade where they had been since 1961.  Old Saltys would take over from this same position in 1985 and continue to the present.

Col Millar Pharmacy would move across the road to 480 in 1977 where new shops were first opened on the corner of Ennis Lane.   Judy and Barry Austin  would take over from Col in the early 80s at 480.  Jan’s Hardware and Gifts replaced Col Miller at 465 in 1977 and then Peter’s Pool Supplies became the tenant in the 1980s.  In about 1982-3, Peter Boddington  (aka Peter’s Pools) purchased 465 Waterworks property from Jim & Julie Nichles.  Frank and John O’Hare Dental Practice moved next door  to 463 in late 1985 which they had owned since 1980 and Ashgrove Sports Injury (Terry Hitzke and Tony Thomson) became the new tenants at 465.  Mortgage Choice took over from Peter’s Pool Supplies in 2003 and were recently replaced by Mac & Lulu’s Ladies Hairdresser.

463 – The Ashgrove West Dental Practice continues to operate in this house since 1985.  In 1980 Mr Hefferan sold to Frank O’Hare so that the house could be used for our Ashgrove West Dental Practice.  We are thankful to him.

461 –  This is a large allotment where residents were previously the Handleys then Condons.

About 1990, Ashgrove West Group Practice (Drs Phil and Ann Leadbeater, and Cliff and Julie Fisher) relocated from the shopping centre across the road from where they started in 1980.  Further around at 451 was Leo McDonnell who managed McDonnell and East with his brother Des and Mr East.

480 – Mal & Beryl Horton, who ran the drapery, owned the house on the corner which was next to Ennis Lane which connected Cavell Tce. to Kinkade St.  Peter Puccini bought the property about 1973 and sold land and plans to Jack de Longa who had the shops on the corner operational by 1977.

Initially there was Adrian and Latu Caesar’s Cut Price Food Store, the Ashgrove West Commonwealth Bank, Pizza Food Outlet and Col Millars Pharmacy, which relocated from 465.  Till about  1993, the Food Store stayed and from 1990-93 was the Ashgrove Foodstore.

Then the Wine Room, Kokoda Coffee, PRD Realty, McGrath & Frisby Plumbing and Electrical replaced the originals.  Now Ashgrove West Physio and Stepz Fitness are at the end and next to Green Mango Restaurant and LJ Hooker Real Estate.

486 –  The remaining 3 blocks of lad consisted of Fry’s residence (opposite 463), Melrose Butcher Shop (opposite 465), David & Dell Pugh (who also ran a printing business) next to Montvue Building.  These were then bought and the site redeveloped by Peter Puccini & Jack de Longa.  The Ashgrove West Shopping Centre opened on 12^th December 1979.  It was owned by Jack de Longa till 1990 then sold to George Symons, the suit specialist, then Charlie Scuderi (2000) who was a nephew of Peter Puccini.

Some of the early shopping centre tenants included:

Wally Bennett – Solicitor (moved to 351 in mid-80s);  B Scattini – Solicitor; Doug Murray – butcher; Creative Interior Design;  Cycles and Sound;  Golden Pizza & Crepes , then Naples mid-80s;  Golden Venue – takeaway chicken, then Chicken World (mid 80s), then Red Rooster (1990-2000), then Big Rooster;  Greenwoods Nursery; Puccini & Assoc;  Solar Gear & Energy Savers;  Willmore & Randall, Real Estate (79-84), Willmore & Dodds (1985), Richardson & Wrench (1988-91);  Ashgrove West Group Practice;  Annie’s Florist Shop ( 82-83), then Aaross;  Fringes Hairdresser (1983-96); The Gumnut Café (1984-87); Buffys Gourmet Gift Baskets (1985); Bird and Animal Feed shop (1990);  Ashgrove West Post Office (1990s);  Snootys Boutique (1984-90);  Raine & Horne Ashgrove (1993) – Fiorella Penfold;  Ashgrove Wellbeing Centre, Terry Hitzke and Tony Thomson underneath (2001+) also a chiropractor underneath;  Conias Realty (1993-2004);  Ray White Real Estate (2001-10);  Frame of Mind (1990-2003);  Petit Four Bakery (Sylvain Garreau 1987-2007); Ashgrove West Convenience Store (1990s-2015), now Night Owl;   The Liquor Shop (2003+);  Exotic Thai (1994 +).

Many new places since include:  Chemmart, Japanese Restaurant, Miss India, Stella Rosa Espresso Bar, Charlie’s Raw Squeeze and the Ashgrove Post Office in its current position since November 2011.

So from 1935 our Shopping Centre has grown and prospered.  It’s great being part of it for nearly 65 years.

 Thanks to everyone.

 John O’Hare.  November 2016.