Tuckey’s Mitre 10 owner John Tuckey at the site before a Bunnings Superstore was built, just 150m from his hardware store; and John Tuckey had a sign made up to express his dismay. It is hanging up outside the empty hardware store.
Camera IconTuckey’s Mitre 10 owner John Tuckey at the site before a Bunnings Superstore was built, just 150m from his hardware store; and John Tuckey had a sign made up to express his dismay. It is hanging up outside the empty hardware store. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Halls Head businessman says City of Mandurah can ‘rot in hell’ after closure

Vanessa SchmittMandurah Coastal Times

THE City of Mandurah can “rot in hell, from the CEO down,” according to John Tuckey.

“Anger and hatred all built into one,” was how Mr Tuckey described his feelings towards council after the demise of his hardware store.

Tuckey’s Mitre 10 in Halls Head had been operating for 25 years but shut up shop on July 31. Seventeen staff lost their jobs.

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Mr Tuckey places the blame firmly at the feet of the City of Mandurah.

“They allowed a Bunnings Superstore right on our backdoor step,” he said.

“Trade went down 70 per cent in the first three weeks after Bunnings opened.

“We had a choice of going broke quickly or slowly.

“We quit while we could.”

Mr Tuckey did not blame Bunnings, although he did accuse them of being “rotten” by parking an A-frame Bunnings advertising truck on his property during his 10-day closing down sale.

“I’d like to say thank you to the community though,” Mr Tuckey said.

“We had ladies crying…people have been amazing.”

Bunnings operations manager Shelley Begley said Bunnings had opened in many regional centres throughout WA over the past two decades.

“There are many successful businesses located close by to our stores which continue to thrive,” she said.

“We have been part of the Mandurah community since 1998 and our team members live and work here.

“We are committed to always employing from the local communities in which we operate and our Halls Head Warehouse employs 109 team members from the local community.”

The City of Mandurah has been contacted for comment.