Half a century later, Mayor Fuller's dream is still a reality

Former Levin Borough Council Mayor C.E. Fuller cutting the ribbon to officially declare the Levin Mall shopping complex open on November 3, 1971. Photo / James Cumming Collection

The late 1960s through to early 1970s was a period of huge growth in the Levin town centre and the star in the crown was the construction of a new shopping mall.

The Levin Mall opened its doors for the first time in November 1971, much to the delight of one of the main instigators of this new venture, Mr C E Fuller, who was mayor of the Levin Borough Council from 1965 to 1971.

During 1969, construction had started on the new McKenzie's supermarket and variety store which at 31,000sq ft was one of Levin's biggest ever building jobs at the time.

Mayor Fuller's vision for the town centre was bigger than just this one building – he advocated for a 90,000sq ft shopping mall, incorporating McKenzie's plus a 10,000sq ft Farmers Department store as well more than 20 boutique/speciality stores.

A concept drawing of Levin Mall from the late 1960s. Photo / Photo and Framed

As with all building projects, things didn't quite go to the planned timeline – the original concept was mooted by Mayor Fuller in 1966, with an expectation of construction starting mid-1968 and the mall open to the public late 1969.

In November 1969, Mayor Fuller said, "Levin is the hub of Horowhenua and the Oxford Street Mall complex is visualised as becoming the commercial hub of Levin … central to a population of some 30,000 … [attracting] shoppers from even further afield."

After a few years of planning and negotiation, a lease agreement had been reached with Auckland based development company Commercial Centres Ltd for both the McKenzie's supermarket land and the remainder of the mall land area.

The company in turn arranged for local firm Sciascia Brothers Ltd, who were erecting the McKenzie building, to undertake the construction of the rest of the mall complex.

The early days of construction of the Levin Mall, circa 1971. Photo / James Cumming Collection

The Levin Borough Council had borrowed $248,000 from the Local Authority Loans Board to assist with the cost of purchasing properties in the area the mall was to be built, as well as the construction of a car park to serve the mall.

The development company also sourced funding for the McKenzie's building and mall complex from individual and syndicate investors in place of applying for mortgage funds.

The next move for the developers was to source tenants for the mall and one of the first local businesses to come on board was JH Berry Pharmacy, which had been successfully operating in Levin since 1965.

"Many local businesses were worried about the impact the mall opening would have on them … [one owner] even forbade his wife from shopping there," said John Berry, the pharmacy owner.

All kinds of entertainment was brought into the Levin Mall during the 1970s, including sheep-shearing. Photo / James Cumming Collection

Berry became chairman for the newly formed Levin Mall Tenants Association once the mall was up and running and had a lot of interaction with the various mall managers and owners up until he sold the pharmacy in 2000.

The developers also approached popular local hairstylist Sidney Gilroy to open a salon in the complex.

"They did a complete fit-out of the [upstairs] premises and it was one of the best in New Zealand [at the time]," she said.

Gilroy's Hairstylists moved downstairs into a slightly smaller but more easily accessible site in 1983, then in 1998, after a health scare, Sidney sold the mall salon to focus on a smaller shop she was operating in Cambridge St.

The 1970s was the start of a major retail boom in New Zealand and, as Berry pointed out, "the Levin mall opened on the crest of a wave".

In the 1970s Levin Mall was even a venue for local bands to perform for the community. Photo / James Cumming Collection

When the mall officially opened on Wednesday, November 3, 1971, there were 30 businesses operating, including Smith & Browns, Pamela Anne Floriste Ltd, Levin Travel Centre, Manawatu/Wairarapa Savings Bank, Electric Refrigeration Ltd, as well as Berry's pharmacy and Gilroy's hair salon.

On the day, hundreds of locals came in to check out the new shopping experience, to see radio and TV personalities, try for the chance to win prizes (including a trip to Fiji) and enjoy the entertainment which included a clown and carousel ride for the kids.

At the time the newly appointed mall manager, Richard Haslam, said there was an expectation the mall could attract up to 50,000 visitors a year from Wellington through to Palmerston North.

Gilroy and Berry saw a few businesses, mall managers and owners come and go over their nearly 30 years associated with Levin Mall.

Annual primary school quiz initiated and run by Hazel Watson, who was the Levin Mall manager during the 1990s . Photo / Hazel Watson

"There was a lot of camaraderie and teamwork among the tenants," said Gilroy. "We'd often mix socially outside of business hours as well."

During the 1990s there was another revive of the shopping mall complex with the appointment of manager Hazel Watson.

When Watson started her role, Berry's Pharmacy, Farmers, Pamela Anne Floriste and Gilroy's Hairstylists were the only original tenants of 1971 still in operation.

Watson's biggest part of her job was promotions, which involved a lot of coordination with the businesses within the mall.

Levin Mall is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this month. Photo / Nikki Carroll

"We'd run competitions and promotions about once a month … school holiday activities (including visits from BJ Bear) … a Santa's Grotto every December," Watson said.

One of the regular activities Watson was particularly proud of was the Primary school quiz – an annual event that involved a number of the local schools.

"I even came back after I left the manager role [in 1999] to run the quiz for its final two years."

Fast forward another 20 plus years and Levin Mall's current owners, Thompson Property Group, have been celebrating its 50th birthday in style.

Mall shoppers have had the chance to win one of five fabulous gift baskets loaded with local goodies, over the past week, as well as vouchers from various mall tenants.

A touch of nostalgia is also provided by gorgeously framed photos from the 1970s in the main mall entrance from Oxford St, so make sure you check those out to see who you can recognise.

Levin Mall entrance from Oxford St in the 1970s. Photo / Hazel Watson

The Oxford St entrance to Levin Mall during the 1990s. Photo / Hazel Watson

Levin Mall entrance from Oxford St, November 2021. Photo / Nikki Carroll