While the year 1968 will long be remembered in Port Macquarie for its celebration of the town’s first 150 years, it also marks the change and advancement that comes with settling into business in an entirely new shopping complex, apart to some extent from what has grown up as the recognised shopping centre of the town.

An extension out of Horton Street has been looming for at least the past ten years, because of the popularity of Port Macquarie as a holiday resort, and because of the motor car. With everyone driving a car these days – and wanting to drive to the front door of every shop - some shortcomings in Horton Street have manifested.

It was inevitable that a development such as the Kooloonbung reclamation would come, though few if any envisaged the remarkable transformation we see today. Horton Street has not stood still; indeed, in the face of the Kooloonbung scheme there is much spectacular development going on today within the short strip between Clarence and William Streets, and more is to follow.

Ald Matesich topped primary poll

Alderman Norm Matesich, a doubtful runner prior to nomination day, topped the primary vote at Saturday’s municipal election, and on Sunday he was the first of the new council elected when the counting started.

Alderman Charles Thurling, running mate with Ald Matesich, was the second lowest of the eighteen candidates in the primary count – 61 primaries (or No.1 votes) to Ald Matesich’s 538 – yet he was the second alderman elected when the preferential system for voting was applied.

Despite the fact that voting was not compulsory, a total of 3097 votes were recorded. This 46 percentage compared with a total of 3600 votes cast at the last general election and a percentage of 68 when voting was compulsory. When counting closed, five aldermen had been elected. They were N Matesich, C Thurling, C Adams, D Kennedy and C Gott.

Plaza – A beautiful addition

With its completion due later this week ‘The Plaza’, a 30,000 square feet shopping complex, built at a cost exceeding $300,000, is the pride of Kooloonbung and is already being hailed as a very wonderful and beautiful addition to Port Macquarie.

The developing company and its architect, David Bell, well deserve the congratulations they are receiving as this magnificent new building takes its final form. Not only is The Plaza a beautiful building, it is also functional. Everything has been designed to suit shoppers’ needs and to make the housekeepers’ lot a pleasure.

Beautiful surrounds planned for The Plaza are already taking shape and grass lawns stretching to the water’s edge will be interrupted only by garden plots. There’s a playground where the children can amuse themselves while the shopping is done; there’s space for 200 cars in the carpark – a convenience much sought after by present-day shoppers.

On the footway surrounding the building the names and birth dates of men associated with the early history of Port Macquarie are inserted into the pavement. Cast in bronze  the names and dates will be a durable feature.