Today in history: Kingston traders complain of declining business

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Today in history: Kingston traders complain of declining business

Deteriorating trade blamed on revaluation of properties and subsequent rises.

By John Thistleton

From the Canberra Times, May 6, 1965.

Fifty years ago, trading at Kingston had steadily declined from a peak in 1958 and was in a depressed state, the Land Leases Appeal Board was told.

Kingston traders had increased their advertising commitments in an attempt to fight the decline but had not succeeded, businessman Mr J. S. Cusack said. Mr Cusack, chairman of directors of Cusack Properties Pty Ltd, said the reappraisal of property values and the subsequent increase was a monster which would devour everyone.

He was appealing on behalf of his company against the reappraisal of Block 12, Section 21 at Kingston, the site of the firm's furniture store in Eyre Street. He also has appealed against the reappraisal of three residential sites in Eyre Street. The 1924 appraisal of the furniture store site was £1100. The 1944 appraisal was £1050. The 1964 appraisal set the value at £39,000.

Mr Cusack, of Arthur Circle, Forrest, told the board the Government's policy had been to keep prices down and to not ruin traders' economics. He obtained the property in 1939.

"Kingston was the only shopping centre of any importance for years and years," he said. "Civic Centre was never considered as a shopping centre. Anything you wanted, you could get at Kingston.

"This decline at Kingston started after the National Capital Development Commission came on the job and a lot of land was made available at Civic Centre. Kingston traders have tried to combat this decline by increasing advertising. We have doubled our commitments."

Some traders had been forced to leave. "There are five shops vacant in Kingston. Quite a number of people have started in business in Green Square and have been forced to leave," Mr Cusack said.

"I draw the board's attention to the 1944 reappraisal, when the policy of the Government was to keep prices down and not to ruin our economy. Something has gone wrong."

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