Dreams turn to Ashs

The building with it"s new facade"!

J,F,Lee & Sons department store, New Norfolk.

This facade was covered up during the 1950s as some sort of modernisation exercise!

I have always had a soft spot for New Norfolk, and the recent fire that gutted an old property of mine,  was both sad and disappointing. Sad, in the sense, that all the hard work  Heather and I put into this building oversome six yearsor so, firstly in our attempt  to pay the mortgage, and secondly in an attempt to kick start businesses in the town. Disappointed, because despite all the wonderful potential of  New Norfolk, it seems one crises  after another are its constant companions. During these years we found the people both very kind, friendly, and always ready to help. Often when I was unloading the ute passers bye would just step forward and help. What they thought of us I have no idea. I would deliver furniture on an old IXL trolly up and down the High Street. The scene no doubt looked like something out of the 19th century, The fire that destroyed the old J,F,Lee & Sons building last week, destroyed one of the landmark  of the town. Any building that has stood for the best part of a hundred has a history that often parallels the town.

During the 90s, it became fashionable for commercial premises to be sold off, and leased back by banks, department stores on long term leases. This offered an opportunity for retirees like ourselves, to purchase a property with a national tenant, and hopefully a secure rental income. Unfortunately, Fitzgerald's were taken over after only four years into my lease, and the new owners did not intend renew. During this time New Norfolk's economy had been devastated,  the Royal Derwent Hospital had closed, the Boyer paper mill had up graded their machinery and reduced their work force, One department store had closed, and two banks had left town. Naturally the town had high unemployment, low moral, and the High Street had more empty shops than tenanted ones.

It seemed that our retirement plans were in tatters, At first I wrote to over fifty national companies, pointing out the advantages of setting up in New Norfolk, a historic town, thirty minutes from the capital. There was cheap housing, four schools, two swimming pools, face track, three hundred seat theatre, and more with a population base of around ten thousand. Our efforts in the end were rewarded, and the establishment of Bango's Bakery kick started the recovery.

                                                              Monday 19th March.2012.

The first three year were very difficulty, often we would camp on the upper floor for nights on end in order to avoid the two and half round trip drive from home. Often, our nights were broken with smashed windows  [five shop front windows in two & half years], The culprit claimed he had argued with his mum when asked why he had walked down the street smashing seven windows. One break in , and youths who seemed to take delight dancing on the flat roof at the back of the shop. My wife and I established several business in these premise during this time,  discount groceries, pet and stock feed, second hard furniture and antiques. No one could claim we were not trying. Eventually Banjo's Bakery after nearly six months were  convinced that an outlet would be financially successful in the town. There was a catch, we would have to part fund  their franchisee, plus redevelop our space , with all the necessary toilets etc., that seem to go with this sort of thing.

Every morning, I would go for  long walks through Willow Court [Royal Derwent Hospital], often drawing the wonderful collection of building the site has to offer. There are Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco, and 1950s modern all in one place. What a great pity this historic treasure has been vandalised, burnt, and defaced beyond belief. Willow Court has structures as old as Port Arthur and should be developed as a prime tourist site. It could have been a museum, on how not to treat the mentally ill. The council shortsightedly sold off all the furniture and fittings, to the locals no doubt this was a good thing, but just imagine, if you or I, could walk into a complete mental hospital from say the 18th or 19th century totally intact.

Now it seems that the Fitzgerald's building has to be demolished. The cause of the fire seems to be unknown, all any one seems to know is that the fire started in the end shop and went up the stairs, into the roof and curtain call. Why the sprinkler system wasn't working is any one guess, Sadly the building has to go, bring to an end one of the landmark buildings of the town.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the New Norfolk High School students, who' painted the mural  on the side wall. I know at the time, they were very pleased with their effort, and looked forward to viewing their handy work in later life. The flames on one side of the work seem to have some prophetic insight into the future.

                                           
                                                  Students and their mural , 10th July 2002

                                                           Mural on the left. [ tree not shown above]