QBD will trade from premises just north of the food court in the shopping centre.

The site near the Just Cuts hairdressing salon is best known for having housed the mall's newsagency for many years.

AW Commercial Real Estate director Scott Mann said the store would be handed over to QBD at the end of September and he expected trading would begin in late October or early November following a fitout.

QBD began life as the Queensland Book Depot in the late 1800s and has spread substantially since 2016 with its branch numbers jumping from 54 to 76 in that time.

It opened a store in Wagga's Sturt Mall in June.

News of QBD coming to Lavington coincides with The Book Grocer being due to close in Olive Street, Albury, next week.

Its emergence also coincides with Lavington Square celebrating its 40^th anniversary on Saturday.

Department store Big W, which has been the anchor tenant from opening day in July 1979, will be hosting a celebration.

Store manager Adam Ladanay reflected on changes.

"In the early days, Big W North Albury sold everything from whitegoods, hardware, paint and had its own mechanic shop and cafeteria onsite and the popular garden centre ran monthly workshops from the lunch room," Mr Ladanay said.

Earlier this year Big W announced some stores would be closed following a review and the company has not confirmed whether they will include Lavington.

"As soon as a signed agreement with a landlord has been reached, we are committed to informing our store team and the local community with a minimum of 3 months notice," a spokeswoman said.

Celebrations on Saturday morning will involve a birthday cake, cooking demonstrations, face painting for children and an animal farm.

The centre, originally known as Border Shoppingtown, was opened by then NSW Premier Neville Wran in 1979, predating Albury's West End Plaza and Myer City Centre.

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