Tag: Soda Factory West End

Century-Old Soda Factory in West End Sold for $42-M

The iconic Soda Factory in West End has been sold this week for $42 million in an off-market deal to a private investor.

Read: How Boundary St Building Evolved From Tristram Soft Drink Factory To West End Shopping Centre

Located at 79 Boundary Street, the site is a cornerstone of the community, anchored by a Coles supermarket and supported by 21 retailers, primarily focusing on food and allied health services.

The sale was negotiated by CBRE’s Joe Tynan and Michael Hedger. Tynan highlighted that they had been collaborating with the investor for an extended period and identified the Soda Factory as a key target. A direct approach to the vendor enabled them to negotiate and secure a favourable outcome.

The buyer, an esteemed commercial and residential group, is known for its active market presence and strong ties to the West End area, according to CBRE.

A Century-Long Legacy

Soda Factory
Tristram’s Grey Street Factory (Photo credit: triscofoods.com.au)

The Soda Factory’s rich history dates back over a century, named after the Tristram soft drink factory that once thrived on the site. Thomas Tristram founded the original company, T Tristram Essences, in 1875, not long after arriving in Brisbane. 

Initially operating from his family home at the corner of Grey and Hope Street, the company moved to Boundary Street in West End after the council requisitioned the original property for road improvements.

Soda Factory
Tristram’s factory on Boundary St (Photo credit: triscofoods.com.au)

In July 1929, the Tristram family acquired the Boundary Street land. By January 1930, Thomas Tristram had engaged the renowned architects Atkinson, Powell, and Conrad to design a state-of-the-art factory. The Tristram soft drink factory operated until 1979, after which the business transitioned into Trisco Foods, now managed by the fifth generation of the Tristram family.

Transformation and Redevelopment

The former soft drink factory was transformed into the West End Market Shopping Centre during the 1980s. In 2001, Heritage Pacific redeveloped the site, creating a mixed-use major retail facility and residential apartments. The property changed hands in 2014 when SCA Property Group purchased it for $32 million.

Read: Frozen Legacy in West End: A Century of Ice Cream Dreams at Peters Factory

The recent sale to the private investor marks another chapter in the Soda Factory’s storied existence, ensuring that this historic site continues to be a vital part of the West End community.

Published 25-June-2024

See The Stunning Mural At Soda Factory In West End

Aboriginal artists Tori-Jay Mordey and Warraba Weatherall (Photo credit: Soda Factory/Facebook)

The Markets West End, recently rebranded as Soda Factory, has unveiled a stunning mural that highlights suburb’s connection with its Aboriginal heritage.

Read: Coles Scraps Little Shop Collectables For Sustainability Goals

The mural is Soda Factory’s collaboration with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island artists, Tori-Jay Mordey and Warraba Weatherall, which draws inspiration from the native flora traditionally grown in the West End area. 

Photo credit: Soda Factory/Facebook

Weatherall, an installation and street artist from the Kamilaroi Nation of South-West Queensland said that they looked at the historical and environmental aspects of the site in an artistic way, making sure that there’s still an acknowledgement of place even though there is a building there now.

“In coming up with the concept for the mural we focused on looking at what was here before there was a building, especially the native plants that would have grown. The painting itself takes a lot of time – around a week in addition to the concept design. Getting the colours right was very important. Anything with colour that pops was key and lightens up the space and stands out,” said Mordey, an established Torres Strait Islander illustrator.

Soda Factory’s Refurbishment

Photo credit: Soda Factory/Facebook

The rebranded retail precinct pays homage to the building’s original use as a soda making facility. The Spanish Mission styled factory building remained in use by Tristrams until 1979 and has since been converted into a market. 

Soda Factory’s multi-million-dollar refurbishment, which commenced January 2021 is nearing completion. The redevelopment will see the site elevated into a new-look, convenience-based centre anchored by a newly redeveloped full-line Coles Supermarket and an additional 22 specialty stores.

In addition to the internal mall area’s renovations, other improvements will include new travellators and lift, upgraded amenities, activated street frontage, and redeveloped car park.