THE iconic Fidler and Webb site in the heart of Mount Gambier will be completely erased this weekend, which will be the final chapter in its 150 year history.
The demolition – which has been in full swing for two weeks – will see the final skeleton of the former department store and its associated buildings pulled from the city’s retail landscape.
The works will make way for the construction of a $6.8m Aldi supermarket project, which will include four adjoining retail shops.
It is also understood the demolition of the Target store – which is earmarked to close this month – could get under way within months.
Demolition contractor Gary Douglass – who is director of GT Bobcat – said all of the buildings were on track to come down this weekend.
“While we will have to clear some piles of rubbish, there should not be any rubbish on the site by the middle of next week,” Mr Douglass said.
Mr Douglass said the west bound lane along the front of the site on Commercial Street East would close tomorrow from 6am to 6pm as a safety precaution for passing motorists.
“The demolition is going well, we are well ahead of schedule,” Mr Douglass told The Border Watch.
“We will blocke the street off tomorrow – we will have three machines working on the site. The front and side will all come down.
“We are hoping Saturday night/Sunday morning there will be nothing left standing.”
Mr Douglass foreshadowed only one lane would be closed to traffic tomorrow.
“We will not be working from the road, but the council wants it for safety reasons,” he said.
The earthmoving company has a four week window to complete the demolition as well as another month to remove the dirt and replace it with new material.
“This job is actually bigger than the first. This will get it ready for the car park and the building works,” Mr Douglass said.
He described the demolition as a “messy job” given the age of the buildings.
“There was a lot of timber in the building and internal walls,” Mr Douglass explained.
He said the demolition included more than 5500 square metres of building.
Mr Douglass said he was pleased the company’s workers were able to locate the time capsule buried on the site as well as recover the marble plaque.
“A bloke told me over the fence where the time capsule was, which helped us find it,” he said.
A section of brick work – adjacent the South Australian Hotel – would remain standing, which would be incorporated into the new building’s design.
“We have had good weather for the demolition, but any rain would not have hurt given it would have settled any dust,” Mr Douglass said.
He said any concrete would be crushed on site and the scrap metal would go to a Millicent company.
