Collecting Bundy's Buildings

NEW LIFE: LES Palmer has bought the old Friendly Societies building in Bourbong Street and looks forward to restoring it.

A FORMER Gold Coast man who has moved to the Bundaberg dis­trict loves his new home so much he is slowly buying up pieces of it.

Les Palmer recently bought the 80-year-old Friendly Societ­ies building on Bourbong Street and has plans to breathe life back into it.

"I'm going to restore it for something like an upmarket style cafe or coffee shop," Mr Palmer said.

Mr Palmer said he bought the building directly from the Friendly Societies board.

He already owns the property leased to Canterbury Interna­tional in Bourbong Street as well as a 70-acre red volcanic soil property on Elliott Heads Road.

"I believe Bundaberg is on the verge of becoming big," he said.

"Property in the main street is going to go sky high because Bundaberg is just a wonderful place to live," he said.

Mr Palmer said restoration on the building would start this week.

He expected it to be completed in six to eight weeks.

NEWS MAIL, Wednesday, November 17, 2004 Page 9