Back in the 1980s, an aquarium stood in the heart of the Capital. Unfortunately, due to a lack of traction, it had to close.
The Fiji Times published a report on November 15, 1984, which said it was due to close at the end of that month, and only the Anchor Inn sidewalk would remain in the renovated Old Town Hall.
Fiji Bio-Marine Ltd, which had the lease on the Town Hall since 1980, had planned with Suva City Council to sub-lease the building.
One of the directors of the company, John Hill, said in Suva the day before the reason for closing the four-year-old aquarium was that it was not making a profit.
Suva needed more tourists to be able to sustain something like that, he said.
The building covered over 20,000 square feet and was split into six areas.
They were the Crystal Palace suite, which took up the entire first floor, the Anchor Inn cafe, the Blue Heron shop and boutique, the main aquarium hall – the upper stage level at the back of the building and the stage basement.
Suva’s Lord Mayor, Cr Navin Maharaj, said the council had allowed the company to have unrestricted use of the place so long as it complied with town planning and zoning requirements.
Mr Hill said Crystal Palace would be changed to executive suites while the aquarium would be used as a mini-market, or a health or fitness centre sub-divided into offices.
He said the basement made an ideal storeroom.
“Sub-leases would be given for a term of 20 years,” Mr Hill said.
The company hoped to get someone to take over the Anchor Inn cafe.
There was a closing down sale on December 1 when all surplus items in the building, like live fish, fish tanks, corals, fishing nets, and antique furniture, were sold.
The shark and turtles were given away to friends.
