General News
9 July, 2025
50 years since toilet demolishment
Ironically this year, the shire has updated the toilet amenities near the Tourist Centre - 50 years ago the shire was faced with the dilemma of demolishing the public toilets.
Ironically this year, the shire has updated the toilet amenities near the Tourist Centre - 50 years ago the shire was faced with the dilemma of demolishing the public toilets.
For those who are old enough to remember, 50 years ago there were toilets centred in Woolcock Street, the women's toilet to the west and the men's toilet to the east (as many would comment - conveniently outside the Palace!)
On April 22, 1975, the Warracknabeal Herald reported on the issue, outlining the objections to the central toilet blocks from the Chamber of Commerce.
In the report, then-Chamber president, Mr Peter DeVries, said the toilets were ugly and stated "clean, but disgusting".
Mr Frank Ward suggested an underground location might be more "adequate if public toilets were needed" and Mr Doug McColl said the toilets were a traffic hazard.
The report had a footnote which stated the Warracknabeal Shire Council decided to give the toilets a reprieve.
Demolition did not immediately follow but as we all now know this did happen and new amenities were built in their present position.
WRITTEN BY WARRACKNABEAL & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY