The Centre receives upgrade

The Centre in 2007. Many businesses have called the central location home in the past 20 + years.

Local residents and visitors to town will have noticed a tarped off section of Belmore Street and the footpath, with many questioning what is occurring.

‘The Centre’ on Belmore Street, which has previously housed a barbers, locksmiths and more recently the Belmore Laundromat, Décor Queens, Rachael Hart Millinery and Kelly’s Books has been demolished to make way for more updated buildings.

Riches Homes and Improvements Jack Riches, who is currently working on the site, said that the building was demolished due to being run down.

The Centre at the beginning of 2024 which still housed Yarrawonga Laundromat, Décor Queens and Kelly’s Books.

“The businesses that were in the building had been notified months ago that the building would be demolished as it was no longer up to standard,” Mr Riches said.

“Most of the building is now demolished but once that is complete, we will be building one large store as well as one small.

“It is the perfect opportunity in respect to business, especially people within the retail industry.”

The Centre has been the home to several businesses for many years with Kellys Books possibly the longest proprietor, spending almost 30 years in the building with the businesses opening their doors in 1995.

The top façade is the only part of the Centre that remained last Thursday.

Residents that have frequented Kellys Books for many years have questioned on Facebook and down the main street if the store is still around. Rest assured, Kelly’s Books has now reopened, located at 124 Belmore Street, next to Yarrawonga Glass.

The Yarrawonga Laundromat is also still operational, now at their new location of 4/153 Belmore Street, in the Woolworths street frontage complex while Rachael Hart Millinery are currently looking for a new premises.