Paddington Central Archives - Paddington Today

Sandwich Bar Ham On Rye Opens At Paddington Central

Sandwich lovers, rejoice! Ham on Rye, a sandwich deli has just opened at Latrobe Terrace in Paddington, bringing such meat-on-bread classics as the Reuben and the Cubano to the neighbourhood.

Read: Paddington Bakery Misspelt Closes; New Sandwich Bar To Take Over The Space

Brought by the Pop Mega Hospitality Group (the same team behind Remy’s and Hai Hai Ramen), Ham on Rye is a refreshing addition to Paddington Central. Any of their sandwiches can fuel you up for a whole day, because everything on the menu is bursting with greens and meat.

Among the must-try items on the menu is Choripan, the beloved sandwich from Argentina which comes filled with Parrillera or cured-pork sausage.

Choripan (Photo credit: Ham on Rye/Google Maps)

They have all the integral parts of a great Reuben, from the pastrami and the Russian dressing to sauerkraut and cheese, all between slices of rye.

As for the Cubano, they give a twist to the traditional sandwich recipe by adding tropical citrus and herb spread to ham, roasted pork, honey mustard, pickles and cheese.

The cold cuts, like what the name suggests, are filled to the brim with slices of deli meat such as ham, salami and roast pork. If you want something lighter, you can go and try their salad sandwich.

All the sandwich loaves are baked by New Farm’s The Bakeologists, who are known for creating fresh and handmade sandwich bread.

The thoughtfully crafted menu was the brainchild of Executive Chef Alex Triffett and Chef Marcelo Oliveira, who previously worked as head chef at Woolloongabba pizza joint Superfly.

Aside from the delicious sandwiches, they also serve fresh juices and coffee from Coffee Supreme.

Read: Here’s Where To Get Your Boozy Brunch In Paddington

You can find Ham on Rye at the Paddington Central Shopping Centre at 5/107 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington. They are open Tuesday to Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Follow them on Instagram @hamonryedeli.

Looking Back at the Paddington Tram Depot Fire 60 Years Ago

One of Brisbane’s largest fires in history occurred 60 years ago when the Paddington Tram Depot fire destroyed 67 trams, more than 20 per cent of the city’s entire fleet. Here’s a look back.

In the early evening of 28 Sept 1962, residents near the two-storey depot alerted the staff about sparks underneath the facility. Though the actual site where the fire started was never determined, many believed that the spark came from the storage area.

Whilst waiting for the firefighters, some of the staff attempted to drive the trams out of the site and at least three were rescued before the fire eventually cut the electricity.

Firefighters were challenged to control the blaze due to very low water pressure. It did not help that the Paddington Tram Depot had heaps of tyres, oil and grease as well, due to the nature of its operation.

Photo Credit: National Library of Australia

As the fire progressed, it was becoming clearer that the building would collapse and can no longer be saved. Thus, the local fighters shifted their focus to ensure that the blaze will not impact neighbouring homes and buildings. Dozens of residents packed their belongings within a flash and evacuated away from the site.

Firefighters called to the scene recalled that the depot continued to smoke and burn for over a week.

Unfortunately, the trams and the depot were not insured and various conspiracy theories snowballed about its fate. Prior to the fire, plans have been discussed to replace the trams with buses from private operators.

A year after the Paddington Tram Depot fire, however, tram lines in Bulimba, Kalinga, Rainworth, and Toowong were switched to bus routes. Brisbane City Council had to ask help from New South Wales Transport Department for additional buses.

The tram system officially ended in April 1969. The former Paddington Tram Depot, on the hand, was sold and redeveloped as Paddington Central in the 1980s.

Meanwhile, the Brisbane Tramway Museum in Ferny Grove has commemorated the Paddington Tram Depot fire every year. The museum’s vice president, Peter Hyde, believes that it’s still important to keep the history of Brisbane’s tram system alive.

“People enjoy reliving the time of their parents and grandparents,” Mr Hyde said in a radio interview. “They can see how these past events have led to the nature of the city at the present time and possibly give an indication of how the city will continue to develop in the future.”

Challenging Times Spark Dwindling Tenancy at Paddington Central

Paddington Central has been losing quite a number of tenants lately as retailers reel from the continuing economic impact of COVID-19 and changes in consumer spending habits.

A few retailers have recently moved out or announced that they will not renew their lease with Paddington Central. The shopping centre also has at least a couple of tenancy spaces that have been vacant for months now.

The retail business has been struggling over the past couple of years due to lockdown restrictions and changes in customer spending habits.

In April, Cafe Yoyo announced that it will not continue with its lease and served its last coffee order on 29 April 2022. The cafe’s exit follows JC’s Engraving & Shoe Repair’s exodus which reportedly moved to West End.

“To the wonderful community of Paddington, as most of you know tomorrow the 29th of April will be the Cafe’s last day of trade. We have reached the end of our lease and it is with a heavy heart that I have decided to not continue,” their social media post reads.

“I have had the privilege of meeting so many fantastic human beings that have supported me and my team through some tough years. I trhank each and everyone of you for your love your smiles and your sometimes weird coffee orders.”

Spiros Bottle Shop which has been a long-time tenant at the centre has also announced that it will be trading until July 2022.

“For those of you who haven’t heard the news, it is with great sadness that we inform you that we’re moving the store,” Spiros announced on their website.

“After many wonderful years interacting with such a wonderful customer base and community, the centre has decided that your needs would be better served by a BWS.”

Spiros will be moving to Toowong and will be rebranding as Embassy Cellars. The space, however, may not stay vacant for long as liquor store BWS has been announced to launch later this year.

“BWS is coming to Paddington Central later in 2022. We are pleased to announce that BWS will be opening in Paddington Central with a large store and an associated large offering to service the needs of locals. Stay tuned for more updates,” a Paddington Central post reads.

Paddington Central is anchored by Woolworths and is also home to a number of specialty stores, cafes and restaurants. However, some locals feel that an improved retail mix and some renovations could help improve foot traffic at the centre.