In what is a vote of confidence in the shopping precinct he has helped lead for several years, Mr Nolan's new career will see him as a shop owner in the mall.

Any analysis of Mr Nolan's term will provoke mixed emotions from traders, competitors and from the city council.

Especially, the city council.

Mr Nolan has had a tempestuous relationship with the decision makers at Town Hall and has often been quite vocal in his criticism of some council policy.

Never was this more evident than 18 months ago when the City of Ballarat announced its plans to re-open the Bridge Mall to traffic, only to be met with fierce and passionate objection from Mr Nolan and his group of traders.

His pro-mall, anti-road stance gained substantial support from the Ballarat shopping public.

The outcry forced the council to back down from its plans and proceed with a plan B - a major restoration of the shopping precinct which is just now coming to fruition.

Mr Nolan can take much credit for the success story which is the Bridge Mall today.

In an era where malls across the country are regularly becoming relics of the past, often replaced or surpassed by mega undercover shopping

centres, Mr Nolan has managed to keep the Bridge Mall a vibrant, safe, consumer-friendly shopping precinct.

Vibrant because there are only ever very few vacant shop fronts in the Bridge Mall.

Safe because the installation of CCTV security cameras has proven successful in catching thieves and vandals and deterring further attacks (not forgetting their success in spotting escaped murderers).

And consumer friendly because there is a wide variety of stores on offer as well as ample nearby free parking.

One would hate to think how lifeless the city's central business district would be without the success of traders in the Bridge Mall precinct.

So while Mr Nolan has been at loggerheads at times with prominent city decision makers, his passion for his job and for the Bridge Mall has helped ensure its ongoing success.

His successor now faces a tough task and has big shoes to fill.