The old Midland Brewery had been used as a milk processing plant for the past 30 years prior to 1976. It was purchased in the mid- 1940s by the Manawatu Milk and Cream Co. When the new milk processing plant in Gillespie’s Line began operating the building was purchased by the Consumer Co-op. The sale agreement included a compulsory demolition clause, as parts of the building had been condemned for some time. The cleared area provided parking space in 1976 for 60 cars between PDC and Ferguson Street.