FLASHBACK FRIDAY | Photos from the Leader’s archives

Southside Plaza led the way in the retail revolution, which swept through southern Sydney in the 1960s.

​The £800,000 ($1.6 million) development included the popular Rockdale Bowl, which attracted top bowlers and hosted national championships.

The bowling alley remained separated from the shopping centre despite proposals to join them.

Also very popular was a trash and treasure market, held in the grounds on Sundays.

Southside Plaza was built over former market gardens, and thousands of tonnes of soil had to be brought in to raise the ground level to the height of the Princes Highway.

More than 4000 people attended the opening of the complex, which housed Mark Foy’s, a Woolworths supermarket and 33 other shops.

Rockdale MP Brian Bannon officially opened the centre at a gala, night time charity event, accompanied by fireworks.

The Leader reported business was so brisk jeweller S. Healey sold 500 boxes of ashtrays within a few hours.

Developer Sid Londish, who had built similar developments in St Ives, Northbridge and Hillsdale, said there were “‘many misconceptions”’ about this type of centre, including the one that it threatened the livelihood of other local shopkeepers.

‘‘Nothing is further from the truth,’’ he said.

‘‘Experience has shown [it] stimulates a district’s trade strongly’’.

Mr Londish predicted shops would spread south from the old retail strip and join up.

But, that never happened, and neither was the centre as successful as had been forecast.

Many shoppers and major tenants deserted it after Roselands and Miranda Fair opened.

Southside Plaza’s major tenant Mark Foy’s became McDowells and then Waltons, and then moved from Rockdale to Hurstville.

A council report, preserved by Rockdale City Library (Bayside Council), says, by 1993 the centre was in ‘‘poor condition’’.

Various proposals for redevelopment were considered before the centre was rebuilt in conjunction with an apartments development and reopened in 1997 as Rockdale Plaza.

Every Friday we delve into the Leader archives to embark on some time travel.

We will bring you a photograph of a news event from 57 years of Leader news coverage that you may or may not recall.

Flashback Friday submissions are also welcomed.

Feel free to share your recollections with us on our Facebook page @stgeorgesutherlandleader or email leaderletters@fairfaxmedia.com.au