Changing face of Ruthven St
RUTHVEN St is undergoing a rapid transformation with millions of dollars being spent across a myriad of projects in different industries.
From entertainment precincts at its northern end to lifestyle shopping and food destinations in the south, the Toowoomba street is being redeveloped and updated.
Capping its northern end is the $43 million Bunnings project which will employ about 180 staff and transform the historic site.
To the south there is The Intersection, a dedicated food precinct with 12 retailers where once stood the Marco Polo Chinese Restaurant.
Plans are also progressing with major accommodation centres including the Burke and Wills Hotel at the corner of Herries St, while developers push ahead with other apartment precincts on Ruthven St.
Ruthven streetscape
AFTER a year of works and construction, the northern end of Ruthven St has reopened which offers expanded parking and blends the business district in with the Toowoomba CBD.
Works included an upgrade of the storm water system, added centre parking and curb-side angle parking, and the installation of new street art.
City Hall
THE Toowoomba Regional Council’s city amphitheatre upgrade is progressing, with further funds allocated in the 2017-18 budget last month.
The amphitheatre, tucked behind City Hall on Ruthven St, is expected to be completed this year.
The Intersection
THE old Marco Polo Chinese Restaurant on Ruthven St is being redeveloped into a foodie destination as works progress on The Intersection, set to open later this year.
The major commercial project will host 12 big-name food outlets which will capture trade from the estimated 27,000 passing motorists each day.
The Shell
AFTER its closure earlier this year, the Shell Coles Express service station is expected to reopen this year with a host of new food outlets and upgraded store fit-out.
The $5 million precinct redevelopment will include Pump@123 when it opens in September.
South Central
INITIAL works have started on the multi-level South Central precinct on Ruthven St as part of Toowoomba developer Barry Bernoth’s ambition to offer something different to the city.
The seven-storey South Central precinct, while separate to the Bernoth Centre, will transform two blocks fronting the busy road in South Toowoomba.
Bernoth Centre
NEW and exciting retailers have joined the bulky goods retail complex at the Bernoth Centre which has
undergone a modernised transformation.
A total of 11 separate buildings exist on the site.
Mills Precinct
PLANS for the wider Mills Precinct redevelopment herald one of the most ambitious transformation projects in Toowoomba.
The multi-million dollar project is tipped to include a high-rise apartment complex, food retailers and bulk-goods outlets.
The Railway Parklands
THE Toowoomba Regional
Council is progressing with its plans to transform the Railway Goods Shed which shares partial frontage to Ruthven St.
With funds allocated in the latest council budget, early works are set to start and will eventually feed through to a sprawling parklands and create a go-to destination in Toowoomba.
Bunnings
WORKS are progressing on the $43 million Bunnings Warehouse in North Toowoomba, with the hardware behemoth hinting at an opening date later this year.
About 180 staff will work in the new store which will be the second Bunnings outlet in Toowoomba.
Burke and Wills
LOCAL construction firm McNab secured the tender for the $10 million Burke and Wills Hotel redevelopment in a boon for Toowoomba sub-contractors.
While the hotel’s transformation will see it modernised the foundations will stay true to the historic architectural roots and is part of the Ruthven St upgrade in the CBD.
The Gladstone Hotel
THE highly-anticipated multi-million dollar transformation of the Gladstone Hotel is yet to get under way but owner Kenneth Wagner has bold ambitions for the popular watering hole.
Walton Stores
THE popular food precinct tucked off Ruthven St is a boon for diners and pedestrians since its grand opening in 2016.
The Bank
SPOTTED Cow owner Phil Coorey knows what Toowoomba wants, and there’s intense excitement around the future of his latest venture.
Mr Coorey plans to transform the historic Westpac Bank on the corner of Ruthven and Margaret Sts, and the city is keen to see it come to fruition.
Blank Space
IT’S the newest venue to open and already proven as popular with social outings as with industry meetings.
Enter Blank Space, the transformed Mills Precinct warehouse which has added a new venue to the Toowoomba CBD with the promise of big-name acts, and special occasions and functions.
Village Green
TOOWOOMBA’S Village Green is set to be refurbished as part of works to upgrade the Civic Precinct.