WHILE the last remaining remnants of the Fidler and Webb buildings will be swept away this weekend, its demolition has stirred community nostalgia.
The iconic general store employed hundreds of people over its existence and was a favourite shopping destination for people over many decades.
Historian Phil McInnes – from the Mount Gambier History Group – said the organisation had a collection of items from the Fidler and Webb store to preserve its rich history.
Dusting off purchase books dating back to the late 1880s, Mr McInnes said the Fidler and Webb store had been one of the city’s landmark retail buildings.
“It is important to preserve its history,” Mr McInnes told The Border Watch.
He said the history group had a list of Fidler and Webb employees, which filled 24 sheets of paper.
While the demolition would erase the buildings from the landscape, he said there was little heritage value left at the former two-storey building.
But he said the site had lingering sentimental value for many people.
“I used to walk past the Fidler and Webb building going to school. It sold a lot of different things,” Mr McInnes said.
“I remember it selling hardware and I remember my dad buying gelignite there.”
Former employee Julie-Ann Thompson – who worked at the store for 25 years – said she had fond memories of Fidler and Webb and the staff.
“I worked mainly in the giftware and kitchen ware sections,” Ms Thompson said.
“I really enjoyed working there, it was like a second family.”
Ms Thompson was among workers names that were placed in time capsule that was buried in internal wall 18 years ago.
Packed in the time capsule were catalogues, receipts and a laminated history of the site.
The time capsule was unearthed by demolition workers at the site this week, dating back to 2001.
“There is a lot of sentiment there. We have lifelong friendships formed during our days at Fidlers. There is still a group that still gets together regularly,” Ms Thompson said.
She said Fidler and Webb was a busy store with many regular customers.
“We regularly had customers coming in and putting things on their monthly accounts,” Ms Thompson said.
“Because we had the supermarket and the clothing, it was a one-stop shop.”
She said the new development earmarked for the site was “exciting” and would usher in a new retail chapter for the site.
Meanwhile, Kathy Finnis was among the employees who were there when the store closed 10 years ago.
“I have so many memories of working in the store – there were lots of laughs among the staff. It was a great place to work and the staff were wonderful,” Ms Finnis said.
“A lot of it was done the old way, but we had old fashion customer service and the store was so convenient for people.”
Mount Gambier resident John D’Souza also reminisced about his time at the store.
“It was my first job when I arrived in Australia from India,” Mr D’Souza said.
“It was a wonderful place to work and all the staff knew the names of the regular customers.
“This is where my career started and how I got to know so many people in Mount Gambier.”
Former employee Helen Douglass – whose name was also in the time capsule – said she had “so many stories to tell” about her time at Fidlers.
“I have so many memories,” Ms Douglass said.
