The dealership becomes Oldmac’s second Mazda franchise alongside Springwood, and replaces the company’s Mazda outlet in Cleveland.

Oldmac director Graham Oldham told GoAutoNews Premium that Redlands Mazda was developed to service the growing Mazda customer base and to prepare for future Mazda models.

“It’s a building that we said we would grow into, rather than grow out of,” he said.

“How many businesses build and then find within a relatively short time that there’s not enough space? We made sure that we have enough room to grow.”

It will also be a Metro 2 status dealership, elevated from Cleveland and now in line with other Brisbane metropolitan dealers.

The building is on a 10,200-square-metre corner site on the major Redland Bay Road in Redland. The block includes a showroom of 1605.9 square metres, workshop and service area of 1975.9 square metres, and 1860 square metres of external display area.

Mr Oldham said construction of the architect-designed building, which follows Mazda’s new corporate identity design, is on target.

“The builder said it would be a 48-week build and that’s exactly what has happened,” he said.

“So we’ll take over late June and start operating from July 1, but we have the official opening on August 8.

“It is a building that we have been told is very attractive. There was a lot of time – many, many days – and effort put into this building by our staff, a lot of thought to what we need and what works best and what the customer wants.

“For example, there will be space for up to 12 cars under a huge awning for service customers, so they will be under cover when they drop off and pick up their cars.

“We have used frameless glass wherever possible because it gives a building a timeless look.

“There is also a large outsize display area. We have a children’s playroom, 34 seats for customers waiting for service – it’s a very spacious building.

“We do, of course, expect sales to increase with the new building and the greater focus on the customer in sales, service and parts.”

Mr Oldham said that in line with Mazda policy, the dealer principal, Peter Niebling, will take up a 20 per cent equity in the new business.

Redlands Mazda will be a standalone Mazda dealership with a showroom and service centre with 20 bays.

Mr Oldham said the new dealership would have about 60 staff, with most coming from within the business.

“There will be some new employees but many of the staff moving to the new dealership have been with us for many years,” he said.

He said Cleveland will close its Mazda showroom but will continue to have Toyota and now MG on that site.

“Springwood will remain as the showrooms for Mazda and Toyota,” he said.

“We also have Hervey Bay, Maryborough with Mazda, Mitsubishi and MG in partnership with Jason Wiegmink.”

The Oldmac Group is one of the longest established dealerships in Brisbane, starting in 1976 as a joint venture between Graham Oldham and Jock MacGregor, hence the name Oldmac.

It opened its first Mazda dealership on the Bayside at Wellington Street, Cleveland, then relocated in 1999 to 60 Shore Street with a new and bigger showroom, customer facilities and workshop.

In 2002, Oldmac opened Mazda Springwood and developed a new showroom. Mr MacGregor retired from the business in the same year and Mr Oldham became the sole owner.

By Neil Dowling