BEHIND an impressive heritage-preserved façade lies Bega’s latest modern retail store, with Target opening its doors to customers Thursday morning.
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Local construction company Hoyland Constructions has been converting the old Central Hotel on Gipps St since purchasing the building in 2008.
While inside appears every inch a modern department store, the original Central Hotel façade remains, as does the original brickwork of the old stables on Target’s main entrance facing Coles.
In fact, owners and builders Damien and George Hoyland said the bricks of the stables were all individually removed, cleaned and rebuilt facing the opposite direction in order to preserve the heritage value of the site.
“Today is a big reward for us,” Damien Hoyland said on Thursday morning as customers streamed through the new store.
“This has been one of the biggest jobs taken on by a local, to invest in, and develop, a site like this.
“We were committed to this project from the start – even before the tenant had signed on - and we were half-way through before the bank approved our finance.
“It has been a challenge for me and my old man [George Hoyland].
“He’s the backbone of this business - he’s been in the game for donkey’s years.
“And both my pops were builders so it’s in our blood.”
Mr Hoyland paid tribute to his crew for the build.
“The subbies hold everything together for us, while my everyday workers are key components of this company,” he said.
“They don’t hesitate to do whatever’s asked of them.”
Proving their commitment to the project, the Hoylands and their team worked right through until Thursday morning to get the store ready to open.
As it turned out, Mr Hoyland ducked home for a quick shower after putting some final touches to the entrances and missed the early ribbon cutting!