THE iconic Fidler and Webb buildings have started to disappear with contractors moving onto the site yesterday for the long-awaited demolition works.
The 150-year-old landmark site – formerly home to Mount Gambier’s oldest and most celebrated department store – will be razed to make way for the multi-million-dollar arrival of supermarket giant ALDI.
The landmark Fidler and Webb store grew from humble beginnings in 1858 to become the largest country departmental store in South Australia.
While it will be the end of the era for the prominent retail precinct, the looming development is expected to further revitalise Mount Gambier’s inner city landscape.
According to the principal demolition contractor GT Bobcat, the demolition is expected to take up to four weeks.
Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM said the start of the demolition was a milestone for the future vibrancy of the city centre.
“Council is pleased to see work occurring on the site,” Ms Martin told The Border Watch.
She said the demolition would “pave the way” for the construction of the ALDI development, which was a “positive progress” for Mount Gambier.
“While the current building will be gone, in its place will be a new contemporary shopping precinct that will revitalise the central business district,” Ms Martin said.
But she conceded it would be an “end of an era” for that site, which had laid mothballed for some years.
In particular, Ms Martin said she was pleased to see such a significant development occurring in the centre of Mount Gambier.
“To have the development in the heart of city will be a real attraction for people to come to our city,” civic leader said.
The Fidler and Webb building has laid idle since 2013 following all the tenants vacating the site. Since then, it has attracted squatters, vandalism and fire-bugs.
Demolition site supervisor Jake Douglass – from Mount Gambier earthmoving company GT Bobcat – said the contractor was pleased to be part of the important project.
“We have started at the back of the site with the sheds. Once we get the back section off, we will start with the front section,” Mr Douglass said.
He said the company would pull out tonnes of material from the site over the next few weeks, such as scrap metal, limestone, gyprock and waste.
“The material will go to EPA licensed registered quarries, such as the Sandyridge Landfill, council’s waste transfer centre and our own crushing site,” Mr Douglass said.
He said the company would “crush down the stone and concrete”, which would be used for other projects.
“We will dig the site out and then we will put a thick layer of compacted new material,” the site supervisor said.
“This will ensure it has a nice solid platform for the building works.”
He said 98pc of the asbestos had already been removed from the site ahead of the demolition works.
“There is only a little bit to take out,” Dr Douglass said.
He also foreshadowed there would be little disruption to traffic along Commercial Street during the works.
“There will be a single lane closure on just one day.”
Mr Douglass said the timber at the site appeared non salvageable given it was “very dry”.
The ALDI supermarket store is part of a $6.8m development at the front of the site, which will also include the construction of four retail spaces.
The development is part a $19m overall blueprint for the prominent inner city precinct.
A $12m Coles Supermarket integrated shopping complex is also part of the broader blueprint, which will replace the Target store that will close next month.
