Murray Bridge Marketplace turns 10
A decade has passed since Murray Bridge RSL made the decision to sell its South Terrace property and make way for a shopping centre.
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Ten years ago, members of Murray Bridge RSL faced a serious choice.
Would they keep their clubrooms and bowling greens, or give them up to be turned into a shopping centre?
They chose to sell, paving the way for the RSL’s move to the east side and the construction of Murray Bridge Marketplace.
A decade on, RSL president Rod Harris said that decision had benefited the community.
“You can’t stop progress,” he said.
“If you look at Murray Bridge now, they need something like this ... otherwise people would go to Mount Barker or Adelaide.
“A bit of tradition went out the door when we shifted, but ... the town’s better off with (the centre) here.”
The shopping centre’s 10th anniversary was celebrated over the weekend with displays by local community groups, specials from retailers and family activities.
Mr Harris helped centre manager Felicity Connolly cut a cake on Friday morning.
“We are delighted to be celebrating 10 years in the community,” Ms Connolly said.
“Over this time we have grown to be one of the biggest employers in the region and have supported many local clubs, sporting groups, charities and not-for-profit organisations.”
She thanked all the tenant businesses who had filled the centre during the past decade; the RSL and Country Women’s Association, who occupied the South Terrace site prior to 2011; and all the community groups, pictured below, which were represented on Friday.
