Airds Shopping Mall demolition, the unmet expectations of mid-century modernism

June 21, 2024February 14, 2025 camdenhistorynotes1 Comment

The Airds shopping mall's future encapsulates the decline of mid-century modernism in the midst of urban neglect. Once a symbol of optimism, the area's decay reflects broader global trends in retail. From failed Radburn principles to public housing challenges, the mall's history mirrors the clash of modernism and neoliberalism in Campbelltown. Despite the despair former residents report that they recall happy memories and stories of hope growing up in the area.

1920s · Adaptive Re-use · Aesthetics · Attachment to place · Belonging · Colonial frontier · Colonialism · Community identity · Cultural Heritage · Cultural icon · Edwardian · Farming · Georgian · Heritage · Historical consciousness · Historical Research · Historical thinking · History · Leisure · Lifestyle · Living History · Local History · Local Studies · Lost trades · Memory · Modernism · Monuments · Moveable Heritage · Movies · Myths · Place making · Retailing · Ruralism · Sense of place · Settler colonialism · Streetscapes · Theatre · Toowoomba · Tourism · Traditional Trades · Travel

Living history in southern Queensland

July 31, 2019August 1, 2019 camdenhistorynotes

Living history in southern Queensland in the regional centre of Toowoomba

20th century · Advertising · Aesthetics · Art · Attachment to place · Australia · Camden · Camden Story · Community identity · Costume History · Cultural Heritage · Cultural icon · Dairying · Dress history · Entertainment · Farming · Fashion · Fashion History · Festivals · Heritage · Historical consciousness · Historical Research · Historical thinking · History · Hotels · Interwar · Landscape aesthetics · Leisure · Lifestyle · Living History · Local History · Local Studies · Memory · Mid-century modernism · Modernism · Motoring History · Moveable Heritage · Myths · Pageant · Place making · Placemaking · Railway · Re-enactments · Retailing · Ruralism · Sense of place · Shopping · Stereotypes · Storytelling · Streetscapes · Sydney · Theatre · Tourism · Transport · Women's history

History Magazine photoshoot for RAHS captures a window into the past in Camden

January 13, 2019May 9, 2023 camdenhistorynotes

A photo shoot for the History Magazine of the Royal Australia Historical Society at Camden NSW captures a window into the past.

Adaptive Re-use · Aesthetics · Architecture · Attachment to place · Burra Charter · Business · Business History · Camden · Camden Town Centre · Collective Memory · Colonial Camden · Community identity · Country town · Cultural Heritage · Cultural icon · Economy · Edwardian · Entertainment · Family history · First World War · Heritage · Historical consciousness · Historical Research · History · Interwar · Living History · Local History · Local Studies · localism · Memory · Modernism · Place making · Placemaking · Retail history · Retailing · Ruralism · Sense of place · Shopping · Small communities · Stereotypes · Storytelling · Streetscapes · Tourism · Urban development · Urban growth · Victorian

Whiteman commercial buildings in Camden, an example of adaptive re-use

October 1, 2018November 25, 2025 camdenhistorynotes2 Comments

The Whiteman's General Store, a historic Victorian colonial building in Camden, has been successfully repurposed through the Burra Charter principles of adaptive reuse, maintaining its architectural integrity. Operating continuously for over 135 years, it now houses various retail and professional outlets, contributing significantly to the town's charm and community identity.