By Tanya Faulkner
Boronia mall is celebrating its 50th birthday next month, and is inviting the community to get amongst their big day.
Memories of the shopping centre in the heart of Boronia have been flooding through on Facebook, with many sharing memories of the “best Chinese food” from Tongs, buying school uniforms from Waldron’s, or buying the latest music from the vinyl store.
The shopping centre is gearing up for a big day of celebration and entertainment, all in its birth-year theme of the 70s.
Kristy Harris, who works at the Aussie Vets Op Shop, is a driving force behind the day’s events, and says it’s going to be a great day for everyone.
“We’ll have roaming dance performances, bands and singers on the stage, and entertainment all in the 70s theme around the mall,” she said.
Boronia Library will also be doing story time for kids aged 0-6, and Tempo Dances will be doing free classes for kids in the community.
Ms Harris said the day is set to be a carnival-style celebration, with a wide variety of stalls coming to participate in the celebrations, and bring more opportunities to Boronia locals.
“There will be around 40 stalls scattered around the mall, and we’ll be doing spotlights on the businesses in the mall throughout the day,” she said.
Bunnings will also be in attendance with kids crafts, and there will be an inflatable dome for kids caricature artists doing sketches, and Boronia’s K12 buskers will also be providing entertainment.
The Aussie Vets Op Shop will also be hosting a fashion show with their spring choices from the store, which was a hit last time they put on the show.
Ms Harris said she hoped the birthday celebrations will entice more locals and visitors to come to the mall, and see that they are still there and running.
“We want people to see that there are still possibilities in the mall.
“Things can happen here, it just needs to be pushed as a community minded hub,” she said.
Ms Harris said the mall is not closed off to having community events, but suggests the site may be in need of an events coordinator to come on board and make things happen.
“There are still traders here, the mall is not dead yet, it needs more of a community presence.
“There are empty shops and that’s obvious, and it’s quiet at times, but the community can apply to use the space for any events or functions they like,” she said.
Those who attend the birthday celebrations will have the opportunity to reconnect with the mall, and even take a step back in time with the day’s 70’s themed best-dressed competition, and be up for some fun prizes.
While the mall is described as having its own ‘character’ by members of the community, Ms Harris said there could be things done to help revitalise the space.
“It wouldn’t be far-fetched to have a refresh in the mall, not quite to the point of Westfield, but a ‘spruce up’ would do it a world of good,” she said.
Mall Manager Lawerence Peresso, who was previously the security guard for the site, said it’s an exciting thing for the mall, and will be good to have something special to mark the birthday.
He said the mall has its own charm, with the feature wall at the back being deemed ‘heritage’ and is home to Australia’s only remaining rotating stage.
“The event should open a lot of eyes to the mall.
“We spoke to ABC months ago about the heritage feature wall, which was created by a lady from a company in Reservoir back in the day,” he said.
Mr Peresso said lots of locals have been enquiring about the event and have given good feedback on the idea.
“It’s exciting to see new faces in the mall.
“Covid really kicked a few things up the butt, but it’s a centre that will just keep going,” he said.
Mr Peresso it’s’ something to be said that after all of these years the mall is still standing strong.
Bayswater MP Jackson Taylor said everyone in our part of the world knows the Boronia Mall, and many have fond memories of it over the course of the journey.
“It’s a local institution.
“Despite each of the shops within the mall being privately and individually owned, meaning wholesale renovation would be tricky, I’m confident that the best days of the Mall are ahead of it,” he said.
Mr Jackson said the State Government has invested nearly $5 million for funding improvements to the CBD of Boronia, including everything from laneway and arcade renewal to business facade grants and pop up events.
The birthday celebrations will be held on September 9th from 11am to 2pm across the Boronia Mall site for the public to come together.
