After 25 years in commercial real estate on the Fraser Coast, I often ask: Why do some retail centres feel forgotten, while others come to life?
The answer usually isn’t location – it’s presentation. It’s pride. It’s vision. Too many of our older shopping strips still look like they did in the 1970s and 80s – tired facades, faded signage, outdated shopfronts, and carparks that haven’t seen a broom or line marker in years. But what if we saw these centres not as liabilities, but as untapped opportunities?
I’ve been involved in several retail transformations – from The Quay to the current makeover of The Place in Urangan – and the pattern is clear.
When landlords invest in upgrades, the flow-on benefits are real:
– Higher quality tenants
– Longer, solicitor-prepared leases
– Better returns
– Thriving businesses
– And more vibrant neighbourhoods
And yet, many commercial owners still hesitate. They wait for a “good tenant” rather than creating a space that good tenants want. But in 2025, leasing is no longer just about square metres – it’s about experience, aesthetics, and amenity. At FCPIA, we believe retail can be one of Hervey Bay’s greatest economic showcases – if we modernise the offering. A small facelift can change the narrative of a centre, attract the right businesses, and breathe life into entire precincts.
Retail isn’t dying. But the old “set and forget” model is. The opportunity is there – not just to rent a shop, but to elevate our city. Let’s stop settling for tired and start investing in better.
