Parkmore Shopping Centre (now Brentford Square) The 'Parkmore Shopping Centre' was built c.1960-1961. Prior to the development of the shopping centre, horses were kept in paddocks on the site of the current Woolworths supermarket (Local Vermont Resident, 2020). Joan Nethercote (nee Livermore) recalled her mother, Jane Giles, lived just past where Brentford Square is now located in the early 1900s (Nethercote, 2000). Sometime around 1968, the name of the centre was changed from 'Parkmore Shopping Centre' to 'Brentford Square Shopping Centre'. This name may have a connection to 'Brentford Development Corporation Proprietary Limited, Bentleigh' whom developed some shops in Nunawading c.1957.
Vermont South Shopping Centre The 'Vermont South Shopping Centre' was built between 1974-1975.
Forest Hills Shopping Centre (now Forest Hill Chase) In 1958, land for the development of the Forest Hill drive-in shopping centre was secured at the corner of Canterbury and Mahoneys Roads (Victorian Places, 2015). Prior to development of the shopping centre, it is thought that there was a poultry farm on the site owned by Fred (Freddie) Loomes (Harrington, 2020). 'Loomes Street' which intersects the carpark of the 'Forest Hill Shopping Centre' is named in his honour. 'Forest Hills Shopping Centre' opened in June 1964 to become the first 'drive-in' shopping centre in Forest Hill (Wurundjeri Walk, 2020). Controversy arose early in the centre's history after its developers deliberately bestowed the name 'Forest Hills' (presumed to refer to an American shopping centre or place called Forest Hills) instead of 'Forest Hill' to respectfully reflect the suburb in which the centre was located (Dickins, 2018). However, in response to protests and public outcry, the name was eventually changed to 'Forest Hill Shopping Centre' (Dickins, 2018).
Forest Hills Shopping Centre in the 1960s. Source: (Forest Hill Chase, 2018)
Rocket playground at Forest Hill Shopping Centre (1987). Source: (Wurundjeri Walk, 2020)
References
1. Dickins, Richard, 2018, One from the archives: Comment, viewed 24 July 2020, <https://www.facebook.com/ForestHillChase/photos/a.413531081060/10156314267856061/?type=3&theater>. 2. Forest Hill Chase, 2018, One from the archives, viewed 24 July 2020, <https://www.facebook.com/ForestHillChase/photos/a.413531081060/10156314267856061/?type=3&eid=ARC23L0NpWzKIyR4qqjj1oNGm34w5WeQI5OyAJ76s46ZuXhOXQUHstprbIkJE-Gtfh9te35PltPy1GFO&__tn__=EEHH-R>. 3. Harrington, Bob, 2020, Personal communication, 26th May 2020, 19th July 2020. 4. Local Vermont Resident, 2020, Personal communication. 5. Nethercote, Joan, 2000, Vermont and Us. 6. Victorian Places, 2015, Forest Hill, viewed 27 July 2020, <https://www.victorianplaces.com.au/forest-hill>. 7. Wurundjeri Walk, 2020, European Settlement, viewed 24 July 2020, <https://wurundjeriwalkhistory.wordpress.com/european-land-acquisition-settlement-1830-current/>.
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