Carrington Road Store

End of an Era. The Wilderness Shop is to close down.

It is with some regret that Neil and Mary Blundy, owners of The Wilderness Shop in Box Hill, announce the impending closure of the business. For 43 years the Wilderness Shop has been servicing the needs of outdoor enthusiasts in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Starting in modest premises in Carrington Road in 1980 before moving to our current address in Whitehorse Road in 1996, the store has been a much loved institution, in particular for bushwalkers of all types.

Neil and Mary wish to thank our customers, staff and suppliers for their support over all these years. “I have seen young children in our shop with their parents, these children growing into adults and then bringing their own children to our shop in turn. There are many familiar faces. It has been quite a journey” says Neil. “We are so grateful to have shared so much with our customers over the years, in particular all the adventures and places they are going to.”

Some of you have been with us since the early days. From time to time you will come in and regale us with tales of a pack or sleeping bag purchased years ago at Carrington Road and how it is still going strong and the trips it has been on. We are so glad to have shared your journey.

So why are we closing?

Neil is 67 years old and is looking to lessen his work load and responsibilities. Box Hill has changed remarkably over the lifetime of our business. And there are further changes afoot. It just seemed the right time to divest ourselves of the business and leave more space in our lives to explore the world and other interests. We would like to emphasise this is not a forced closure due to poor sales or economic problems. In fact, since the covid shutdowns the business has been stronger than ever which has made the decision doubly difficult. We have been really sad to take this step. The shop reflects our personal interests, it has always catered for people just like ourselves, which has made it such a joy to run and operate for nearly all our adult lives.

We will continue trading until late January next year or until our stock runs out. We hope to see many familiar faces over this period. It is you, our customers, who have sustained us over this journey. When we opened the shop in 1980 we had no idea where it was to lead but it has turned into a lifetime's work. So to all of our customers, older and newer, we say a massive thank you.

See you in mountains somewhere!

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