Jenkin's Library

Re-posting this, as I've just come across this photograph of Jenkin's store c1960 (thanks to the book "Road Board to Restructure : the history of the Shire of Wimmera").

 It started innocently enough with:

"I have been given this book - wonder if you know anything about the Jenkin's  library".
So off to search Trove, with this result:

JENKIN'S 

Music Shop, Fancy Goods and Gifts 

Parents who sincerely desire to give their young folks a good start in life will see that they have the opportunity of learning to play some kind of musical instrument, for there is no more glorious form of artistic expression than music. Those who desire a thoroughly reliable instrument, at a reasonable price, should visit Jenkin's Music and Gift Store in Firebrace Street, Horsham. 

Mrs. R. A. Jenkin and her two sons are the principals of this establishment, which was founded by her husband, Mr. R. A. Jenkin many years ago. and it is to their credit that this thriving business is still one of the most popular shops in Horsham. Mrs. Jenkin assumed control of the business on the death of her husband last year. 

As Allan's agent in Horsham, Jenkin's stock a wide range of instruments including pianos, piano accordeons, accordeons, ukeleles, mouth organs, etc. All the latest sheet music is received by this establishment soon after it is released. An extensive range of gramophone records is always kept up to date by these dealers. This establishment also carries a wide range of crockery, glassware, fancy goods, toys, Semco linens and cottons, fashion books, knitting books, Weigels dress-making patterns, etc. 

Kiddies toys including teddy bears, dolls, and motor cars are also stocked. A feature of this store, with its modern plate glass windows, is its multitude of artistic and beautiful articles suit-able for gifts, including delicate china and beautiful cut glassware. 

The Jenkin's site (under the old Shire Office Buildings facade), now Specsavers

Another important feature of this concern is the circulating library which they conduct. All books by the best known authors are included in this section, including dramas, thrillers, Western and love novels. A large number of new books, many suit-able for gifts, are included. In addition to the circulating library, Mrs. Jenkins also controls the "Readwell" circulating, library, giving a variety of new books every month. It is most worthy of mention that in addition to her husband having served in the last war, Mrs Jenkin is herself a re-turned nursing sister, having served the A.A.N.S. abroad with the last expeditionary force.

This was from 'The Horsham Times', Tuesday 9 July 1940, page 7, and even more importantly the article was from a larger piece "Who's Who In Business". This is now a snapshot of the businesses operating in Horsham in 1940 - an advertorial with a potted history of the business and its people.

Noske's flour mill

The newspaper piece was part of a "Business As Usual" campaign of Horsham business people's determination to maintain service despite upsets due to war and whatever difficulties lie ahead. In these pages something is told of the business people and the service they render. These commercial houses and industrial organisations, on whom you depend for good value and economy, are your agents in the markets of the world. What it now represents is a raft of information on mostly vanished companies and trades, with virtually all these family businesses no longer trading or sold out to other concerns in a generational shift.

Other businesses listed were: R.A. Ludbrook - chemist ; L. Hutchesson & Son - funeral directors ; Noske Brothers - flour mills ; Thomas Young & Co. - auctioneers, stock & station agents, Ford garage ; Roy Findlay - furniture salesman, upholsterer ; Boyds - general drapers ; Bevan's - grocer ; Weight's Timber Yards - builder's supplies, timber ; A. Wynne & Son - duco, iron, fuel, farmers requisites ; R. McMullin - chemists ; Bolton's RACV Garage ; Horsham Butter Factory - dairy products ; Rockman's - ladies' wear specialists ; D. Ellis - baker & pastry cook ; Shepherds - general drapers ; A.F. Weight & Sons - funeral directors ; Peacock's Pharmacy ; M. Robertson - Super Elliott agent (cycles) ; Hotel Locarno - R.E. Charles proprietor ; E.F. Gerlach - hardware, timber & building contractors ; Henry Smartt Trading Co. - (transport) ; F. Cincotta - lounge, milk bar, fruit & confectionery ; Hardinge Brothers - electrical ; A. Taranto - fruit & vegetables ; Dalgety & Co. - (stock & station agents) ; Carine Brothers & Duncan - fibrous plaster manufacturers & plasterers ; Newton & Miller - general carriers, grain & produce merchants.

Wynne's Corner, site of the Wynne's building in 1937 (now Trev's)