Originally published September 22, 1982
TARGET'S two Mildura stores threw their doors open to an estimated 25,000 people.
Staffs totalling 329 district people will be employed by the combined Target operations.
Two separate companies -- Target Supermarkets and Target Australia Pty Ltd operating the discount store -- expected to attract shoppers from a radius of 200 miles.
The Target Discount Centre, operating on the Irymple side of the complex at the corner of Fifteenth Street and Deakin Avenue, is the largest Target store in Victoria.
It's selling area covers 90,000 square feet -- more than two acres -- and it has a storage and processing area of another 35,000 square feet.
At its peak the store will have 23 checkout points, manned by staff who have been in training for three months.
Of the 185 staff in the discount store, all but five have been recruited locally.
Ninety-five of them are on the permanent staff.
Buses will be bringing shoppers from the Riverland and from Broken Hill.
The shoppers will have $3.5 million worth of stock to select from in the discount store and $500,000 worth in the supermarket.
The range of goods in the discount Centre covers softgoods -- men's, women's and children's clothing -- bedding and Manchester, shoes, hardgoods including electrical, auto, lighting, kitchenware, china and glassware, toys, toiletries, camping, outdoor furniture, stationary and tools and hardware, and an extensive range in a separate garden shop covering plants and seedlings, and garden accessories.
The complex has car parking space for 845 vehicles.
