It was not just relief at a job finally done that cracked a broad grin across the face of Gordon Bradbery at the Crown Street Mall grand reopening on Saturday, as the Lord Mayor revealed the special place the mall holds in his heart.
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Cr Bradbery was joined by Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and Minister for the Illawarra, John Ajaka, to launch the long-awaited mall upgrade.
With the delayed construction finally over, Crown Street hit party mode on Saturday with DJs, games, giveaways, food and drinks to welcome the Illawarra back into the pedestrian thoroughfare.
The Lord Mayor was no doubt pleased to finally see the years-long project come to fruition, but there were other reasons behind his smile at the launch.
Aside from his time as minister of the Wesley Church On The Mall, Cr Bradbery revealed the mall was the place he first met his wife.
"The mall will now be filled with the activity, excitement and joy of the people of Wollongong," he told the gathered crowds in officially launching the mall.
"It's a blank canvas. It is what we do with it next that matters.
"It is place we can be proud of."
Sen Fierravanti-Wells said the upgrade was another sign the Illawarra was shedding its tag as an industrial city, saying the retail strip was a sign Wollongong was growing up.
"The transformation from a steel city to a true city of innovation is ongoing," she said, citing the city's burgeoning small bar culture as an example.
Touching on the mall's controversial history, she said "no matter what side of development you are on, this is a great job by the council".