Old Big White site ready for retail redevelopment

Topics: big white furniture, sammut bulow, top of town ipswich

IT HASN'T taken too long for someone to breathe new life into an old Ipswich business.

The site of the once iconic Big White Furniture building is set for a major overhaul over the next six months, with Ipswich accounting business Sammut Bulow planning big things for the Top of Town location.

Sammut Bulow partner Martin Sammut said $7 million would be spent transforming about 4800sq m of space into a multi-storey retail and office precinct, incorporating his accounting business, in addition to cafes, shops and other offices.

"Ipswich is definitely booming and these types of developments will only help the city in terms of providing better quality space in which to do business," Mr Sammut said.

Curious CBD shoppers and residents may have noticed a building at the rear of the old Big White's shop being demolished over the last week.

That demolition work will make way for the construction of a two-storey retail and office block, including about 800sq m of shops and offices downstairs and a similar amount of space upstairs.

The design also features courtyards and walkways to Brisbane and Limestone Sts.

The new construction will connect with the existing Brisbane St shopfront, which will be preserved and renovated to accommodate more retail space.

Sammut Bulow has already renovated the old White's house to make more office space - that was after the 93-year-old family furniture business finally succumbed to the changing economic times at the beginning of 2012.

Read this article:
Old Big White site ready for retail redevelopment