By Tania Phillips
Spring is here – a time to spring clean, plant out the garden, do those repairs and generally spend a lot of time at the local hardware store.
In Stanthorpe that store is Stanthorpe Mitre 10 and it’s having a bit of a spring clean of it’s own as well as their very own Spring festival.
The well-known local landmark in Mary Street is now owned by born and bred locals Melissa and Bill Kerr who took over the place just two days before Covid 19 closed the Queensland Border (the first time).
They have been slowly but surely been giving the hardware store a make-over, from the front door right through to their much bigger garden area and beyond. They are adding camping gear to the many things you can find there.
This week however is dedicated to spring. They started Spring week on Tuesday with a visit from the Makita and Blundstone representatives but there is still a lot to come – and of course it’s all Covid compliant.
“Stanthorpe usually has a garden festival but they aren’t having it this year so we thought now that we have our garden section up and running why don’t we do something to welcome spring,” Melissa said.
Today (Thursday) customers can come in and chat to the Stihl and Searles representatives while tomorrow it’s the turn of the Rocky Point and Permaculture experts. Saturday is a big day with a sausage sizzle cooked by the Lions Club in the morning, the drawing of the big raffle – though there are give-aways all week. There will also be a coffee maker on Friday and Saturday selling coffee – 8am to mid afternoon both days. Spend $100 or more during the week and go into the draw to win an Zippy-Scaff with guard rails.
“We bought into the business two days before they shut the Queensland Border in March,” she explained.
“We didn’t know what was going to happen but eventually we were made an essential service which was great and things have steamrolling along. It has been quite good and we’ve been supported by the local community quite well. Both us are local born and bread and we also have a building company called K&A Building. We bought the Mitre 10 as a stepping stone because eventually my husband wants to retire out of building. Seemed to be a good fit because I’m also off the land and from agriculture – my parents are veggie growers and have cattle, sheep and goats. So it made sense and we have recently expanded the garden section which has been very well received.
“We would just really like to thank all of those people who have supported us.”
They receive a new delivery of veggie seedlings each week and have recently signed on with another supplier who grows commercial grade seedlings and are now selling individual seedlings.
“There is nothing worse than having to buy a Zucchinis and having to go home with a whole punnet of them,” Melissa laughed.
Find the Stanthorpe Mitre 10 at 47 Maryland St, Stanthorpe.
