Old Shops

One of the landmarks of West End used to be the roundabout at Melbourne, Boundary, Mollison and Browning Streets. Now all of that remains of the roundabout is the Roundabout Cafe. Which is a bit like - all that remains of the Gun Shop is the Gunshop Cafe. There was a big campaign to save the roundabout.

The Gun Shop closed down in the late 90's. 'There was a story that a bloke went in and bought a gun and that he was going to come down Boundary St and kill people but luckily the coppers went around to his place and stopped him.'

There used to be a shoe repair shop called Brandons on the corner of Melbourne and Browning Streets. After the shoe repair shop there was a cafe where you could play records and experiment with making different sounds. There was also a pizza shop nearby. It was called Enzo's.

Emma's bookshop used to be in Vulture Street. Next to the bookshop was a fantastic deli. The Tru Value hardware shop was on the corner of Boundary and Vulture Streets. 'Cash Converters' was on the corner where the old hardware shop was for a while.

There have been so many changes in the last while it's hard to keep up to date.

From discussion with George, Kenny and David

Boundary Street - the best place in West End

I like Boundary street because there shops and things to see and i go to the coffee van on wednesday night. drugarm runs the coffee van.

Contributed by George

Fruit shop

Vietnamese Bakery

David buys sausage rolls here. "They are good, delicious, and they are cheap!" They always have plenty in stock. Malcolm says that it's the only place in West End where you can get long wholemeal hot dog rolls and that lots of people come here from other places. They always have lots of customers because, as Malcolm says:' the prices are really good.'

Ted said that one time there was a fire in the ovens and they had to shut the place down for a few days till it was fixed. Ted used to be a baker, at Tip Top. Daryll's father was a baker and he worked at Tip Top too.

John sometimes wakes up during the night - that's when they're baking - he buys a pizza or something from them as well. He likes it that he can get up and get something even when it's night, so long as you have the correct change, even at 2am! Peter says just give them a call.

When Karen wants to impress someone and look like she knows all about flash cakes she buys a fruit flan from the Vietnamese bakery. No just joking! It's really when she wants to share a lovely cake with people. Now who told Karen about the beautiful fruit flans? Margaret of course! And at that stage they were only $7.

Malcolm knew a couple who ran a snack bar in Charlotte St and they were complaining about how their baker wasn't very good and so Malcolm suggested they use the West End Vietnamese bakery - and a few months later he saw them in West End and they said how fantastic it was.

Contributed by David, Ted, John, Malcolm, Margaret and Karen

Triple A Kiosk

'Sometimes I hangout at the kiosk and I talk to people and staff. I stay for a few hours and then I go to other places like LANDS (Logan and Northern Districts Services - in Vulture St) after that. I like the kiosk because it's a good place to catch up with people.' George

'The kiosk is needed in West End because it helps not only Indigenous people but locals as well. The staff, Joe, Peter, Sally, Maya are great and do good work.' David S.


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Sussex Street

The Sussex Street Uniting Church Hall is the scene of many activities of West End Community House. For that reason it is a favourite West End space for George Moraitis.


What's George up to in the Sussex Street Hall space this year? You can find out on George's podcast:
http://westendstories.podOmatic.com/entry/2008-09-09T04_43_43-07_00

St Mary's