What I Miss About Mildura From the 80’s

There’s a certain feel the 80’s had in Mildura — a slower rhythm, a smaller-town closeness, and those everyday places and people that quietly stitched the community together. You didn’t need a million options to have a good day. You just needed the corner store, a decent haircut, a hot chicken pack, and a town that still felt like everyone knew everyone (or at least knew your mum).

Here’s what I miss most.

1) Mary’s Corner Store (Palazzo's) – Hawthorn Grove & San Mateo Avenue

Mary’s Corner store sat on the corner of Hawthorn Grove and San Mateo Avenue, and it was the definition of the classic Aussie corner shop. Not a “convenience store” like we think of now — this was the real deal: the type of place where you’d wander in for one thing and walk out with three, plus a quick chat you didn’t know you needed.

Mary’s wasn’t just a shop. It was part of the neighbourhood fabric. The owners weren’t strangers behind a counter — they were part of the street. They knew who lived where, who was related to who, and who was trying their luck buying lollies with ten cents and a confident smile. You’d pop in for bread or milk, but the real value was the sense of community you picked up with it.

2) Joe Germano the Barber – A Mildura Rite of Passage

If you grew up in Mildura, chances are you ended up in Joe Germano’s chair at least once — and it honestly felt like a rite of passage.

Joe had that thick Italian accent, the kind you could hear before you even saw him, and he ran a barbershop that wasn’t just about hair. It was a local institution. There was always a big line-up of men waiting for a haircut, and you’d sit there listening to the banter, the opinions, the footy talk, the town gossip — all of it bouncing around like it was part of the service.

You didn’t rush Joe, and Joe didn’t rush you. A haircut at Joe’s wasn’t a quick in-and-out chore. It was part of growing up here.

3) BBQ Chicken Hot Packs in Langtree Ave – Especially the Hawaiian One

Langtree Avenue in the 80’s had its own kind of magic, and one of the tastiest parts of it was those
Sunraysia (or maybe Mildura) BBQ chickens — the hot packs you’d grab when you were hungry and needed something satisfying right now.

And the one that stands out most? The Hawaiian.

It’s funny what sticks in your memory — not some fancy restaurant meal, but the smell of a hot chicken pack, the warmth in your hands, and that sweet-savoury Hawaiian vibe that somehow felt like the height of luxury back then. It wasn’t complicated. It was just good, dependable, and very Mildura.

4) Two TV Stations and One Proper Local News Bulletin

The 80’s were simpler in a way that’s hard to explain to anyone who’s grown up with streaming, social media, and a thousand channels.

Back then, you had two TV stations — and that was that. If you wanted to change channels, you got up and changed it. No scrolling, no endless options, no personalised feeds — just a simple choice, and everyone in the room knew exactly what was on.

And there was one real local news bulletin that actually felt local. It wasn’t a quick mention sandwiched between metro stories — it was our news. Our events. Our people. It made Mildura feel like the centre of its own world, not just a dot on a bigger map.

5) Heley’s Soft Drinks – Crates, Molasses, and That Smell in the Air

This one hits the senses straight away.

Heley’s soft drinks weren’t something you picked up in plastic bottles. They were delivered in crates — proper old-school style — and it felt like they were part of daily life around town.

But the thing I remember most isn’t even the taste.

It’s the smell of molasses.

Because Heley’s didn’t just make soft drink — they also brewed beer there, and when that brewing was happening, the molasses smell would travel for blocks. As a kid, you could smell it strongly from Mildura Primary School, like the town itself was giving you a sensory update: Yep, they’re brewing today.

It’s wild how a smell can time-travel you. One whiff and you’re back in school clothes, back in the heat, back in that version of Mildura that felt permanent.

The Real Thing I Miss

When I think about it, what I miss isn’t just the places — it’s the feeling that came with them.

The neighbourhood corner store where you were known.
The barber shop where you learned patience and small talk.
The takeaway that tasted like a Friday treat.
The TV that everyone watched together because there weren’t endless choices.
The smell in the air that told you what was happening in town.

The 80’s Mildura wasn’t perfect — no time ever is — but it was grounded. Familiar. Local in the truest sense.

Now over to you: what do you miss about Mildura (or the smaller parts of Sunraysia like Merbein, Red Cliffs, Irymple, Nichols Point, or Gol Gol) from back in the day? Drop your memories in the comments — favourite shops, local characters, old takeaways, schoolyard stories, anything. I’d love to turn this into a proper community nostalgia thread.