Westfield Marion was one of Adelaide’s first suburban shopping centres, built in 1968 on a large expanse of land bordered by Sturt, Diagonal and Morphett Roads,
Marion was not the huge, very modern, state-of-the-art shopping centre that we know today. In fact back in the early years it was a relatively small complex that I always felt had a wonderfully strong sense of community
I vividly recall the old entertainment area, the Quarter Deck, where any promotions for the centre were presented, and as a young radio announcer at 5AD, we were often called on to compere various events on stage there, ranging from fashion parades to pop groups .
John Martin’s store was the main department store in those early years and many people still remember the old shopping centre with fond memories.
Photo from Glen H Flickr Photostream. Marion Shopping Centre in 1974 with the escalators to the Quaterdeck and John Martin’s Department Store
When I posted the photo above last year on the Adelaide Remember When Facebook website, it created an enormous response from those who recalled the early days of Marion Shopping Centre, comments also were posted about how it has changed so much in the past 5 decades and memories of some of the old stores and shops.
Kerrianne Springford remembered how her school band at Mitchell Park High School performed concerts there with their baton twirlers every Christmas. “The Quarterdeck at the top of the escalators had back-lit wall panels embedded with sand and shells and bubbles. Netting and glass floats hung from the ceilings and very basic food outlets sat around the edges of the area, fish and chips, sandwiches, roasts etc, not a sushi, pappadum or Maccas in sight.
She also remembered the florist on the corner to the right beyond the escalator; “and the pet shop next door tucked in the corner. There was Witchery and Sussan’s on the opposite corner. And of course, John Martins on the ground- floor. Thank you so much for bringing back my childhood. So many memories in just one small photo.
Shaun Bruce also remembered those less complicated times; “Who remembers the cocky out the front of the pet shop. Ahhh simpler days! You could even drink a beer on the stage in the centre and the quaterdeck restaurant provided great value. On a Saturday afternoon and on a Sunday the car park often hosted dads and mums teaching kids parking skills, and then there was the old robo car wash at the corner of Diagonal and Sturt road, you could push start the thing. Soo many memories of that place when it was a community place.”
Claire Thomas worked at Johnnies in Marion from 1978-82; “I lived in walking distance to Marion Shopping Centre. There is still a memory of JM’s at Marion, something special that most people are unaware of. I will let you find it if you ever shop or visit there. I have shown it my kids, the next generation.”
Great memories indeed. The comment about learning to drive in the car park will strike a chord with lots of people. Back then you didn’t pay anyone to teach your kids to drive, you took them to Marion Shopping car park!
What are your earliest memories of Marion Shopping Centre from that era?
I remember Pinocchio’s Coffee Shop with its marvellous bacon, banana and walnut sandwiches.
Also, the chemist shop on the corner opposite the down escalator, the little craft/haberdashery shop opposite the coffee shop. The ‘exotic’ Benson & Hedges and Peter Stuyvesant girls handing out cigarettes AND lighting them and last but certainly not least – the Johnnies Cafeteria!
ah the good old days!!
Yes, I remember that very fondly
I remember it so clearly my husband use to work for Rodneys Meats the shopping centre has changed so much
I worked out in front of Rodney’s meats at Mister Minit the Shoe Repairer
We use to have the odd beer with those guys out the back of their shop on a Friday night!
Hi Sue, I remember the opening day of the Marion shopping centre. You say about Pinocchio’s. I actually knew the owner Michael who I met through my stepmother. We had some really great food there. Michael had come to Australia from France with his wife. They had 2 children a boy and a girl. I was nearly 8 yrs old back then. I lived in Dalkeith ave Dover Gardens. I was surprised when I went to the Marion shopping centre nearly 20 yrs later and found Michael still owned and operated Pinocchio’s. As soon as I walked in he recognised me. He made me coffee and sat with me and we chatted while his wife and daughter looked after the other customers. His son was having a day off. Gosh how I wish them simple days would return. The quarterdeck with simple decent food and the old soda fountain shop. We’d go there and have a milkshake or an old fashion spider. They were the best days ever.
There was some kind of mural with circles above the elevators?
I was with the children’s charity like the Tiny Tots when I saw camera people from the Advertiser following me around, the next day I saw my face & white boots ,sitting near the newsagent. The food court was quite different,many rows of tables & chairs. The food was quite different. Many choices. The escalator was long & it was quite close to David Jones, which they had their own small Cafe. It was quite expensive
If I remember correctly, there was put put golf out the back which I presume was on Morphett Road. There was also a movie theatre where the Commonwealth Bank is and a gym where I tried to get myself thin and sexy for my wedding in 1980 in the location where the Kathmandu is now located. And the Quarter Deck was such a novel place to eat, all decked out in marine themes.
I think the Putt putt was on the site of the Pizza hut in later times – not even sure if that’s there now
I played Put Put thereon holidays.
Yes i to remember the picture theater where the CBA now stands and also seeing a movie there with my parents as a kid, good memories.
The photos you show are so amazing. Amazing because so many of them return me to a time of my life where I was truly happy. Thank you
I hope U still find true happiness again..I remember Marion in the 80’s and I relate 2 what U say..so much has changed and not 4 the best..the city was magical also 4 the gen X’s. Paul Urch
I remember those chrome ball things hanging from the cieling. They turned very slowly and over the years they stopped working until only one worked and then they took them down. I wonder if someone has them storded some place to be uncovered in 50 years an put in an art gallery.
I worked at Johnnies 1980-1981 in Menswear. I also remember when it was built (around 1969) I was 6. Dad had to explain what a shopping centre was. In the mid 70s, I remember going to the ‘flicks’ for 75c and seeing the standard ‘double feature’ on a Saturday afternoon.
Great memories of the Balls, and Combine dance awesome fun. John Farnham Bev Harrell, Coffee shop Pinocchio Ifelt so sophisticated, having a cigarette there and Mums friend was working there, my sister and I put the cigs out so quick!! The florist shop on the corner mentioned earlier was “Nonies” knew her from St John Ambulance cadets Marion. Gabbys craft shop down near John Martins. I had casual job at the Continental shop ?Dinos opposite fruit &veg shop. Dr Zhivago at the movie theatre….Omar Shariff….mmmmm. And before Marion paddock weeds to walk to Oaklands Primary. Thanks for walk down memory lane
My dad Barry Bullen was centre manager there for years..I practically grew up there. Worked there. Met heaps of famous people (Young talent time,Jason Donavon , early neighbors cast etc), got caught by dad’s secretary smoking in the john martins and yes you were aloud to in those days and hanging out st hungry jacks… Oh those were the days
Fantastic memories. Loved Pinoccio’s – mum always let us have a toasted sandwich as a treat (probably to shut us up), Quarterdeck, the hot dog shop near the entrance, great decor and the floor tiles – very distinctive designs. Love it
I remember having a toasted cheese sandwich at Pinocchio’s every Saturday. Yum
I remember they cleared the Quarterdeck and held a disco there on Saturday nights so much fun
There was an ice cream outlet at the door of Johnnies, and I would get a black licorice cone if I was a good boy shopping with mum. And I would try to follow those designs in the floor tiles, doubling back and forth, much to mum’s disgust (and sometimes at the cost of that ice cream 🙂
I remember the dentist up the escalators on the opposite side of the Quarterdeck. I also remember where the shopping centre finished at the opposite end of the escalators and it was really very small compared to today. There was a pool in the fitness centre (as someone else mentioned) and I used to like to try to catch a glimpse of it as we walked past. Thank you for the jog to my memory that would otherwise have laid dormant.
My mother took my son and his cousin there back in the 70’s. They found the emergency stop button on the escalator and pressed it!! She was mortified.
I remember going to the Theatre Marion back in the 70’s. We needed a pass-out ticket so we could get cheaper ice creams at the small shop where Kathmandu is now (I think).
cheers ,
Eddie
I remember the playground between John Martins and Myer which was open air!! Neil Kerley came with some of the Glenelg Football team, headed by a very young Graham Cornes and did a demo of marking etc etc. Very funny when i think back. Yes, definitely the gym, i remember my girlfriend getting pregnant at 17, and we rode for hours on the excercise bikes, went from sauna to cold swimming pool in a vain attempt to change the situation (didnt work!!!). Hahaha very funny. The gym became the movie theatre, and i remember going to see Woodstock there …
Cheers
Barbara
Wow so many childhood memories above!!!!!! Who remembers Granny May’s???? It was one of my favourite shops growing up
‘The Marion’ …. we were always going to ‘the Marion’ (Now Westfield Marion) or ‘the Market’ (Central Market) …. Oh dear little Adelaide – how the World has exploited us since 1968 …. Luckily we have probably come off WAY BETTER than Anywhere Else … probably because of Our Utopian, Egalitarian, Hanoverian Origins —- Now to get ‘Peace on Earth Forevermore’ from Adelaide – Balance & Harmony.
Marion Shopping Centre was around the corner from my grandmothers where I or my sisters would be parked for the weekend. Nana had grown up in Europe and was always going on about the quality of things in Australia being not as good as what she was used too!!.
One thing she always did was go to the Continental deli at Marion and buy particular things like Blue Mountain coffee and unsalted butter. She was a very good cook and seamstress so we were always trawling through the department stores for fabric bargains too.
The continental shop was Dino’s almost opponsite the fruit & veg shop. I got a job for over Xmas holidays there at age 15.. the owners were lovely people
I would’ve been about 10 years old and was with my elder brother going up those escalators ( approx ’74 ) . My foot got sucked into the side of the escalator and the emergency stop was pressed. There was such a cufuffall ha ha , This was the catalyst for the yellow lines which were then put on all the escalator steps. I also used to ride my bike through the entrance where Manuals’ Fish Shop and The Dog Inn was through the middle and out the other side to go to school at Oaklands Primary…………..couple of the Hot Dogs were called The Bashful Basset, Plush Poodle,Cha Wa Wa and were all numbered , loved the cheese and onion sauce. The Gym was called Lifestyle and was owned by David Hookes and Neville Roberts
Does anyone remember the name of the furniture store in Marion all those years ago?? It has been annoying my mother for decades that she can’t remember the name of it
I think it was called Watermans.
Alison I just can’t remember the furniture shop name ?♀️50s babe what more can I say? my 94yo Mum remembers there where lots of girls walking around all the time in their..she believes it was Slatters! Let me know if your Mum recalls this too when you let her know…. thanks Alison?
My mum worked at the Hindmarsh Building Society back then and reading all the replies brought back great memories of the hotdog shop which i attended regulary, the pet shop which i did work experience in and the other shops over the past 🙂 driving lessons at Marion were the best! The quarter deck and hanging out at HJ’s with friends and smoking!!
I remember a small white table with four seats and a pile of lego on it for children to play with just outside the internal entrance to Myers. I always wanted to stop and play with it but my mum would always hurry me past so she could go and get the shopping done. Also remember looking longingly at all the lovely toys in Steele’s Toyshop on the corner next to Myers.
I worked for Joan and Colin Steele from 1968 thru to the late 70s, and remember the Lego table well. When Steeles’ closed the Marion shop that table was given to my sons (now 40 & 42) they have fond memories of the table.
Has anyone found the memory of Johnnies that Claire Thomas mentioned? I’ve looked but I can’t find anything. Any clues?
My Dad worked in, and eventually became Manager of the Turner’s Butcher shop on the ground floor from approximately 1968 into the early 70s. So many of my earliest childhood memories were formed there. Mum used to take us down to visit Dad, we would walk into the shop and Dad would come out in his apron and slice off a bit off fritz for my brother and I, often she would take us to Pinoccio’s for a milkshake and toasted sandwich. My first cinema experience was also there, Mum took me to see The Sound of Music and Born Free. I remember the Quarterdeck, Mum took my little Brother and I up there once to watch the Channel Niners Club show where Patsy Biscoe and Humphrey B Bear were performing on stage – there is an old photo somewhere of my Brother and I sporting our Channel Niners T-shirts that we were given that day. The stop button on the escalators must have been a continual source of annoyance for the mall managers, as my Brother (along with other posters here) managed to locate the button and made a beeline for it every time we went to the mall. There was the ice cream shop with a rainbow of different coloured ice creams on display – my favourite was the bright blue bubble gum in a single cone.The first time I ever caught a bus alone, my Mum put me on the Henstridge bus at the Monroe Wylie factory on South Rd (we lived opposite, I would have been around 4 years old), and Dad was waiting for me at the other end out the front of Marion. I learned to ride a bicycle in the car park out the back near to Lloyds Hardware on Sunday mornings, Dad took me down there with the pushy in the back of our Wolseley 24/80 and kept an eye on me whilst I practiced in the deserted car park. Looking back at the photos, with those wonderful light fittings and wood panels in the roof, it was a nice looking mall.
The Twin Cinema was there before the gym I think, matinees for children were held on Saturdays in the early days. There was a store to the right of the elevator that sold homewares from Europe, perhaps Domus? The continental store was Con’s, a godsend for the Europeans, and I recall the health food store where you could bring your own container to buy honey. The fabric store near the centre, and Lasscock’s garden centre. I grew up close by, and remember all of the excitement at Marion Shopping Centre being built. And we still call it Marion Shopping Centre today!
When I was young I vividly remember an old house in the middle of the car park at Marion Shopping Centre. On Sturt Road about half way between the intersection of Morphett and Diagonal Road.
As I recall the little old lady refused to sell up when Marion was first developed and as her land was only required for car parking they could not evict her. Eventually she passed away, the house was bulldozed and converted to additional car parks. Although said car park spaces now form part of the massive south western expansion to the shopping centre.
While I vividly remember the house I am struggling to put a timeline on when it was finally demolished. My guess is sometime between 1980 and 1990.
Does anyone else recall this old house and if so when it finally went?
Yes, I remember that house also. I think it was in the early 90’s that it was demolished
I’m trying to find where mum and dad took me to child care while they went shopping. One of those places had a blue whale in the child care out side. It was large and kids could play inside it.
I only went to two places….Marion or the city in one of the big department stores.
There were only two cinemas back then.
Does any one remember a child care facility with a play area and Blue whale?
I remember the blue whale Elaine. It was very early on in the centres history maybe ’72 or ’73. So glad ypu mentioned it no one else seems to recall it but I remember it and a sand pit play area. Thanks
I remember it also! I’ve just searched the entire internet and apparently we are the only
3 people to remember or mention it. Would love to see a picture of it. I remember it as a child a bit later, probably late 70’s.
The blue whale made its way to Mitcham shopping centre in the late 1970’s I think, and put in an appearance at the Pasadena shopping centre too. I recall sliding down one if its side-flippers.
Hi,
My very first job was at Myer, Marion 1968-69 in Childrens Shoes, I was 16,
later moving down to Ladies shoes. Got paid the huge sum of $11.37/wk It was a very exciting time, getting all the stock ready in preparation for the grand Opening. We used to walk along the Mall during lunch and watch all the small stores getting fitted out in readiness. As a Teenager, Witchery was my favourite. Eating at the Quarterdeck on payday.
It is awesome to see so many notes from people remembering days done by.
HI. i recall a jingle for Marion from my childhood, cant find it or anyone yet who remembers it…
my recollection is that it goes like this….
“oh marion, oh marion, means more for you and me
John Martins, Myers and Woolworths and more variety
parking free and easy far away from city stores
if you dont know where i am…you can guess. My my
so gay, so bright Marion……
even little children love Marion……
is this a false memory…anyone?
Campbells newsagency is one shop I remember as I use to get my poster sheet for school projects from there and there was the guy selling newspapers near the escalators,brendan I think his name was ,but the strangest thing is I live in The Quarterdeck in Perth that’s weird ,same name as the food court.
Thinking back to 1974 I can also remember those wonderful balfours chocolate iced donuts from the shop down near woolworths I think it may have been a bakery of some sort,the heading up towards the newsagency their was a narrow shop just before it where they use to sell hot chickens and stuff I remember this because the girl who worked there was drop dead gorgeous especially to a 16 yr old at the time,and up top near the quarterdeck was the dreaded dentist ,I can remember buying a pair of bata scout shoes with the animal tracks and a compass in the shoe where your heel went they were at the time really groovy.
yes the original picture theatre out back ,sunday afternoons and they would play Christopher lee and the Dracula movies and the odd doco.
There was a record shop down on the right hand side just before you got to Myers I havent been back to Adelaide since 1978 so it would of all changed.
There was a toy shop down the other end cant remember the name we bought Cookie Cucumber and Mr Potato Head as presents for my younger brother that’s about all I can recall,hope to get back 4 a visit one day.
Can remember the quarterdeck( top of escalators) converted to dance area with live bands including the valentines ,twilights, Russell Morris,masters apprentices.usually finishing about 12-12.30 and sometimes till 2 in the morning when the bigger known bands were performing and the downstairs would be opened up for dancing as well.Marion shopping centre was the go to place for teenagers to hang out and often had events at the bottom of the escalators,we would all hang around the stage and all around the top looking down,this was in the sixties and early seventies,great memories!!Met my husband there and we are still married!
Hello, What a great surprise seeing this site. I was at Johnnies when it opened in February 1968 and can you believe that it will be 50 next February. Opening day was just huge and it was fantastic as the Centre came into operation. One of my duties was to put up and take down the flags on the Johnnies rooftop and it has a great view.
There were plenty of people around my age and there were plenty of fun times such as cabarets and balls, picnics, car rallies and football matches between us and the other stores.
I still recall those times fondly and although I now live interstate I still remember those times vividly.
If any of the old crew want to say hello, would love to hear from you.
Paul
Yes I vaguely remember the little old house now that you mention it ,use to go to the fish and chip shop on Saturday night didn’t recall the name of it until it was mentioned but I can clearly remember the faces of the father and son I presumed that worked there ;out the back of the shops was Allan s record bar cause I still have the album I bought there Just Zoot with the late Darryl Cotton and the boys RIP Dazza.
Pioneer Youth Group which was on the corner of Sturt and Morphett Road and next door was the Pittman Public Library as it was called then even remember my gym instructors name Chris Sargent, hello Chris !! if you are still with us
Doug Openshaw opened a heated pool heading up Morphett Road any one know if it still exists ?
Marion Shops what a great skateboard area when it opened on my old surfer sam board,shame we didn’t have cam corders back then.
Hi Steve as far as I know Dougs swim centre was still there the late 80s early 90s when I visited Adelaide. I actually knew Doug Openshaw and his wife. Doug gave swimming lessons to lots of kids in his own private pool at his home in Sunshine Avenue Warradale. We lived in Dalkeith ave Dover Gardens just around the corner from Dougs swim centre. His daughter ran the centre after Doug got very ill. We were there for the opening of the Marion shopping centre. We were there for Pizza hut and KFC openings. Oh how I wish for those old days a much simpler time and alot less stressful.
How many cinemas were at Marion when it was located where the commonwealth bank is now? Also which company owned them?
Does anyone remember the juice bar? On the back wall behind the counter there were big containers stirring different flavours of juice drinks. I think this might have been where you could also get the Dagwood Hot Dogs.
I worked at Jeremy’s Card and Gift shop. My first part time job while I was still at school, I worked Thursday nights and Saturday mornings. At Christmas time we had a stall set up in the mall with free gift wrapping. I loved the record store. Not sure if it was called CC Records and later on Brash’s.
I also went to the Dentist upstairs opposite Quarterdeck. Dr Rugless was my dentist, I’ll never forget when he said I needed to have braces fitted.
Also loved going to the ‘Pictures’ and Pinnochio’s.
Does anybody remember a shop called “heat”? and there was a cage on the second floor with a girl usually dancing in it? it was a rave / street wear clothing store? that was where the universal store is now.
And also a mcdonalds opposite marion hair & beauty? it was fairly big and i swear there was a playground in it also..was all indoors! :O oh i wish we could go back to the 90s!
I remember travelling through upper sturt rd from Murray Bridge via SE Freeway as a kid. Killing Heidi was on the radio and my friends mum handled the sweeping bends well in the LandCruiser. Marion Shopping Centre was the holy grail for countrytown kids like myself. I remember some oreintal/ Vietnamese kids playing gangsta up on the cinema level, a sight unseen in the Murraylands in the late 90s early 2000s. I remember buying some clothes from a shop and I had a Rambler Football Club (Murray Bridge) shirt on, the young man at the counter asked if I played for Seaton Ramblers. I had never heard of Seaton so I couldnt even comprehend his question.
Does anyone remember the name of the fish and chip shop that was on the outside of the shop centre i remember going there every lunch every school day all the way from dover high for a $1 of chips his name was steve
Manuels i think it was
Does anyone remember the great white shark in the truck that was in Marion shopping centre under the Quaterdeck it was red and blue semi trailer and you could walk in and walk along and see the shark and walk out the other end. We had hats and badges .
I remember that shark. I actually came accross your comment looking for info on it, to try and find out where it was caught and how big it was.
It seemed like it was nearly as big as the trailer.
I bought my first denim shirt (AMCO) at Tommys jean shop, it was next to one of the entrances.
In the early 2000s What was the nightclub called that used to be where chocolate Sanchez is now?? I have a mental blank of its name but was in the outdoor area near spargos. And across from it was Chartons bar. Good days.
Shenanigans & Zanzibar
Does anyone remember the yiros shop? Also the Myer cafeteria? I would love to see photos of that.
I remember as a kid. My family every Thursday would go for dinner at the quarter deck. Family tradition. My first job I ever had when I was at school was working in John Martin’s toy store. Best job I ever had. Hi be are the days… But never forgotten
Funny what comes to mind when looking at just a photograph. I remember having a milkshake upstairs on the Quarterdeck and drinking out of paperstraws. Sportsgirl was once where the Betts shoe shop is now – before they built the extension withe the bowling alley and cinema.
Wow that brings back memories. I had a part time job in the early 90s at the fish and chip shop at the top of the escalators to the right of that photo.
I remember going to the pictures which is now the commonwealth bank now
I remember dancing to the live performances of a young Johnny Farnham around 1969 to 70. He performed several times at Marion Shopping Centre to a small audience. I danced and encouraged others to do so too in respect of Johnny’s performance.
What an icon he is today.
Someone mentioned the Zoot above, which brings back memories of crowds squished into the quarterdeck and the Compass Court (? think it was called) because the Zoot were going to make an appearance. After sitting through countless fashion displays and Little Patti, the organisers thanked us for coming, only to have questions fired at them by the crowd about the missing band they’d come to see. The organiser mentioned so casually, that they couldn’t come. It didn’t take much to realise that the Zoot were the carrot-on-the-stick to lure crowds to MSC for a heap of promos, and they weren’t happy. Still, I did love Marion as a tweeny/teenager, and yes, Pinnochio’s was a treat. I still have a monopoly game in its original cellophane unopened with the John Martin’s price sticker on it.
Apologies my mistake. I mentioned that Little Patti was at Marion Shopping Centre in my former comment, but I realised when I submitted, that it was actually Bev Harrell.
We used to ride our bikes to Marion during school holidays. I think I recall the Theatre Marion being on an upper level, but not part of the original shopping centre, part of a subsequent expansion. We often played Putt Putt on the Morphett Road end of the site. We would grab our golf ball on the final hole before it went down the rabbit hole, then keep playing. The staff members in the little hut never seemed to pick up on it.
Thanks Fish.. I’d forgotten about those delish hot dogs
When I was a schoolkid, I played some chess simuls there 1976-78 in the centre court area. I wonder if there are any pictures of those around, I’d love to have copies. I’d play dozens of people at once, it was fund-raisers for my Olympiad team and the Shopping Centre gave generously, $400/simul as I recall.
I remember a child care centre at Marion around 69/70 The child care lady was named Dawn Ellis does anybody remember
There was never any need for that shopping center, either in its first form, or the later monstrosity, which was made after I left Adelaide in 1972. We lived in Warradale, within walking distance of the center. Adelaide had a superb downtown shopping area in Rundle STREET, and there was a very convenient and inexpensive half-hourly train service from that area to downtown. The lovely downtown train station was just a short walk to Rundle Street.
Glenelg, a short drive from that area, had a limited shopping area (Jetty Road) which was O.K. if it had the things that you needed.
One reason for my hating the idea of the current, enlarged, center is that my excellent primary school, Oaklands Primary School, was demolished to make room for it. We had an excellent team of teachers when I attended (1954 to 1959). It is sad that it no longer exists. My Mom taught 6-year-olds at that school from about 1955 until sometime in the 1970s. I still remember all the teachers’ names. The Headmaster was a pompous ass called Lipert, who was rarely seen and largely ignored. There was one psychopath teacher called Kesting, but I managed to avoid being in his class, and we kids kept well out of his way in the yard. My final year teacher was my favorite: Ernest Rowe. He was wonderful.
I wonder steve if it’s the same Kesting who we had at Brighton Boys Tech , old grey hair dude taught English use to carry on like a chook with its head cut off
The street name off the street ran along the Turn right into Marion off Morphett rd
Old Loyyds building the street name how many home along that rd to John Martins Myer (the street that allows a turn into loyyds that name thanks
Thanks mate , yes Manuel’s fish & chips , also The top part of the Quarterdeck was a good place to talk to your mates and meet new chicks as we would all rest on the wooden rail , Sue Crowhurst i m sorry i never spoke to you i just didn’t have the guts, going to Brighton Tech all boys we were a bit nervous around girls at that time , hope you are doing well you were so attractive then .
Marion was a big part of my life from when I was a little kid until my 20s.
My Dad worked in the chinese restaurant on The Quarterdeck in the I guess early 70s.
There’s black and white a picture of me standing next to some guys in a Lion Dance suit probably taken around 1972 or ’73 (I don’t think i had started school, but was past being a toddler). I beleive I started school in ’74.
I remember going there when it was just Johnnies at one end, Myers at the other end and Woolies sort of forming a T and a few speciality shops.- maybe 6 or 10 on each wing.
This was before Myers and Johnnies were extended and before first double story carport and before the section where Woolies was was extended.
I think down by Woolies was “The Doghouse” hotdog stand and Charlesworth nuts.
And the bus stops were on the Diagnonal Road side before the office bliock think was built.
The main entrance was where the office block thingo is and there was a Lifestyle Gym on the right of the entrance as you faced the entrance from outside and a cinema on the left.
I’m not sure but I suspect maybe there was a public pool before Lifestyle Gym in the same spot as Lifestyle. I vaguely remember swimming there once.
I remember going in behind the quarterdeck to get to the back of the restaurants.
My Nan and Gramps used to go to Marion when they wanted to buy a special purchase – in those days that was something like a home appliance e.g. a cake mixing machine or a TV and they’d get all dressed up into “good” clothes – not suits, but much more dressy than they wore to the local shops.
When I was in high school I used to go their every day to change busses.
Or go there when I was playing hookie (which was often).
Later I worked at Manuel’s fish shop for a bit cleaning fish. Everyone called it “Steve’s Fish Shop” because the guy who ran it full time and who was out the front most of the time was Steve, but Manuel was his dad who still used to work out the back in the morning cleaning and filleting the fresh fish. My job was scaling and gutting the fish.
Another girl who was from my high school, worked there out front – Heather I think.
I will forever be grateful to Steve for that job, because I was on the dole and didn’t look employable, by the standards of the day. And I got a feed thrown in at the end of the work day, which was a huge bonus for me then.
Sadly I screwed that job up, but not turning up one day, then I was embarrased and never went back.
If you ecer read this Steve I’d like to apologise and let you know how much I did appreciate you giving me a shot.