7 shops from Queanbeyan’s past that you’ve probably forgotten ever existed
Queanbeyan’s shopping district has seen some iconic Australian businesses come and go over the years. We decided to compile a list of seven of the most memorable stores and why we loved them so much.
1. Copperart
Copperart was one of those stores that kind of just didn’t make sense. A place where you could buy fake flowers, porcelain dolls or.. bathroom scales. I guess it was a homewares store, but in an Aldi kind of way. It always just had things that were so random, it was an absolute lottery just entering the store and probably why I loved it. My sister and I both had matching bed sets from Copperart, they were daybeds with a metal (plastic) frame that also came with matching dressing tables. Mine was black and my sisters was white with floral accents, and believe me, those things were about as stable as my 42 year old knees. You didn’t want to breathe too heavy lest the paint would start peeling off. Apparently it turned into ‘Homeart’ years later, but it just doesn’t have the same energy as ‘Copperart’ for me.
2. Kleins
Remember Kleins on the corner in Riverside Plaza, where I think Prouds is now? As soon as you’d enter you’d be accosted by a sales lady to pick a scratchy out of her “lucky” dip box. It would also be something like “Buy a pair of sleepers and get the 2nd pair 17% off!”. Cool, I have 2 bucks my Mum gave me, that doesn’t help me. It was the precursor to Diva and Lovisa and was where you’d go to buy black rubber bracelets to stack up your arm. I mean it really was junky jewellery, but it was all we could afford.
3. The Great Australian Ice- Creamery
A place to get ice-creams other than Maccas, what a dream. Situated adjacent to the Royal Hotel in Crawford street, it was perfect for a treat after footy on netball on a Saturday. They sold meals (by meals we mean hotdogs) as well, so you could eat dinner and then wash it down with a banana milkshake topped off by an Australian flag. Who could forget their iconic face ice-creams made out of lollies (was one of them Agro, or was that a fever dream?). I remember Dad taking me and my brother there one time and as soon as he got his rainbow kids cone the ice-cream slid straight onto the floor. He was only allowed to order ice-cream in a cup after that.
4. Clints Crazy Bargains
When I tell you my Mum frothed over this shop, I mean every single payday she was there in her nurses uniform scouring the shelves for crazy eye books, and any number of useless household items. Shoppers would always stop her and ask her where things were. Was it the nurses uniform? Or because they had seen her there before? It didn’t matter, because she knew where all the things were and she would kindly give them directions and even advice (whether they wanted it or not). It was one of the first of its kind in Queanbeyan and the ability to access dog toys, birthday cards and brick a brack all in the same shop really was life changing.
5. Liquid Blue
Ok this one was in the 00’s which wasn’t really that long.. wait that was like 2 decades ago?! Everyone was in their Blink 182 and Avril Lavigne era, cargo pants, vests and dog tag chains were a must. It was the go to shop for a nice Roxy jumper, a ripcurl watch or Billabong wallet. I used to buy all my gifts there as well as Haviannas, belts, sunnies, school bags, it really was the most versatile store. I would definitely still shop there now, no bikinis for me now though- thanks kids.
6. Fosseys
As a young child Fosseys seemed like one of the fancier stores in Queanbeyan, but as an adult I’m kind of thinking it was similar to Best and Less. I remember everything in the store from 4ft high- the lino floor, tables through the middle that had undies and socks, the blue light (or was it red light?) specials. I also distinctly remember the old style circular racks of clothes that my sister and I would hide under, until I became terrified that Mum would leave me behind so I’d run back to the pram. Fosseys was established in 1926 and at its peak grew to 148 stores throughout Australia including the one on Crawford Street in Queanbeyan (where the Salvation Army is now). As part of the acquisition of Grace Bros (which had also purchased JB Young’s of Queanbeyan who owned Fosseys) Coles Myer eventually came to own Fosseys.
7. Cardeaux (“Car-Doh”)
My first ever job- I think it lasted about 3 months. All that dusting of the christening gifts was just never enough for the elderly store manager (didn’t she know I had to dust my Copperart vanity like every day? My arms were tired!). Another store that was just so of its time, blow up furniture, beanie bears and lava lamps would draw you inside the store, then you stayed for the cheesy birthday cards and birthstone necklaces. Also sold at Cardeaux and were those bedroom door name plaques that had the meaning of your name and some really psychedelic, spiritual rainbows and unicorns behind them. Peak 90’s.
Special mention to forgotten Queanbeyan stores Shoprite, Ocean Masters and Main Street Sports.
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About the Author: Holly Winchester
Part Jennifer Coolidge, part Jennifer Garner (gaudy and geeky), Holly idolises Dolly Parton and Princess Di and loves NRL. When she's not creating killer content, you’ll find Holly at the Maccas drive thru getting her chai latte fix or buying 1990s memorabilia for the walls of her Googong home. Specialist subject: the Woolies carpark.
