When the Campbelltown City Library was officially opened at its new location last year, it added another chapter in the rich history of the Downes Plaza.
On November 1, 1951, Rex Downes and his two brothers opened the first modern department store in Campbelltown along Queen Street, pictured above. For our younger readers, this was just six years after World War II ended.
In the early 1980s, the Downes converted their Campbelltown department store into Downes City Plaza.
As a result, in 1984 two stages of the $2.5 million redevelopment were completed, containing a Franklins supermarket, food hall with butcher, liquor shop, fruit store, deli, fashion retailer Supre, a Mitre 10 hardware store and other local and national retailers.
When Spotlight relocated there from Macarthur Square a few years later, it was such a successful move there was another name change, this time to Spotlight Plaza, a name many locals would be familiar with in the past couple of decades.
This wonderful part of Campbelltown history has now been captured in a photo mural, which will be unveiled by Mayor Darcy Lound on Thursday, March 5, on site.
Members of the Downes family will be attending.
The mural includes a history board and two plaques of the original Downes Plaza opening by the then Mayor Gordon Fetterplace in December 1984, and the new one commissioned by current owners of Downtown Plaza, the Zois family.
Mural event organizer Michael Chalker, who ran Chalker Music in the Plaza for 35 years, says a chance meeting with Derek Downes, who was travelling through Campbelltown and had noticed the building empty in 2022 after Spotlight vacated led to the city library finding a home in what is now known as the Downtown Plaza.
Mr Chalker says Derek Downes got in touch with leasing agent Darren Zammitt from LJ Hooker Commercial Macarthur “and as they say, the rest is history’’.
When the announcement of the library opening was made, Downes family member Jan Downes (daughter of Rex) toured the new library, and discussions began how the rich heritage of the building could be honored.
Mr Chalker says there was no shortage of locals with fond memories of the store when a brainstorming session was held.
They included Councillor Meg Oates, who was on hand on the day, as well as Derek Downes, David Pollard {Downes City Plaza centre manager), Jim Whitfield ( former staff member, TV technician), members of the Campbelltown Airds historical Society, Campbelltown Library local Histories Andrew Allen, Michael O’ Sullivan and two still trading stores in Downtown Plaza from the Downes City Plaza days, Paul (Paul’s men and boys hairdressing), and Sharon and Ian at the Plaza book exchange.
“The Downes family are grateful to the Zois family for commissioning the photo mural,’’ Mr Chalker said.
“And as the next generation visit the Campbelltown City Library H J Daley they can learn about the rich history of the Plaza.’’
