The 1990’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The continued upgrading of the store’s facilities saw the introduction of central heating in 1990 and the final ‘crowning’ of the new extensions was the work on the roofline and ceilings of the store during the early 1990’s.

 

Once the major structural building improvements had been completed, the Board and management started looking to the future, particularly at business and property expansion. One property experiment was the Newlands Department Store and Mitre 10 in 1988. Although the hardware store was very successful, the department store battled against the ebb and flow of holidaymakers and it was decided not to renew the lease after the first three years and the venture was wound up in January 1992.

 

As strong supporters of the cultural and economic importance of the main street shopping precinct of Nuriootpa, the Community Store started purchasing Murray Street properties as they came onto the market. This included the Sobotta Bakery building in 1990, which was leased to lunchroom and bakery clients and restored with its traditional verandahs; as well as the old State Bank administration building in 1991 which was renovated and leased as a restaurant.