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)

Butter factory spreads

Back in July 1893, the Horsham Town Hall was the venue for a meeting calling for the establishment of a shareholder butter factory in Horsham.

Following the promise of milk from 300 cows, cream from a Natimuk factory, and Burnt Creek and Green Lake district support for the supply of cream, the dream was realised.

On 11th October 1894 the Horsham Butter Factory was officially opened by the Mayor Cr W.F. Osborn. Built for £1,350 a “commodious, sightly and highly convenient building” was erected on the corner of Hillary and Urquhart Streets.

As a butter factory, milk arrived in cans on suppliers’ carts, it was hoisted to the upper storey, weighed, and run into a large receiving tank. The milk was then conveyed to the separator for the cream and buttermilk (the buttermilk was pumped by centrifugal pump to tanks at the rear of the building for sale or return to suppliers). The cream went to a large Cherry churn, where salt was added, then it was washed and pressed into pats. The factory’s power came from a Tangye vertical engine.

The Opening ended with 3 rousing cheers for the Horsham Butter Factory.

Move on many years and diary and butter production has declined across the region, and the factory building becomes the Horsham Italian Social Club. In the post war years the building was a centre for many migrant Italian families. About 120 families were involved with the club at its peak. The building was important for the Italian community who migrated to the Wimmera in the 1970s and 1980s.Members of the Italian community would come together to play cards and socialise, but now many have passed on or moved away. The building was used for weddings, birthday parties and other functions.

Now, the property includes a large building with a formal entrance that leads to a hall. The building has a commercial-grade kitchen, bar and restrooms. And the Club felt that the time had come to sell the building and to donate the money from the property’s sale to charity.

From Wimmera Mail Times: Former Horsham Italian Club treasurer Lorenzo Manserra Photo: Elijah Macchia

On 20th April the building went to auction, and in negotiations afterwards it was revealed that the Horsham Table Tennis Association has found a new home.

After years of searching for a permanent place and playing out of the Maydale Pavilion at the Showgrounds, the Association has purchased the building, for an undisclosed price.

The Association’s president Leon Forrest said the purchase was a big move forward in helping grow the association’s numbers and viability, as it had grown out of the facilities at the Maydale Pavilion.

 “We want the place to be for the community. We cover all age groups, from juniors to seniors, and we want to provide a hub for enjoyment.”

“The place will be used for our tournaments, think seven to eight tables can fit in. The dance studio currently uses the building, but they are looking at other options for what the space could be used for, eg. other community clubs that want to hire or rent it.
The Association are holding a Community Open Day on Sunday 24th from 2pm to 4pm.

So the Butter Factory gets another lease on life.

Uniquely Horsham cuisine

Was stopped in the street today by a woman with an accent, possibly Canadian, and asked to explain this sign. 

It wasn't the word 'Yabby', it was 'Flories'.

The Florie (sometimes with a double r or y – florry) is a steak topped with a slice of ham and cheese, crumbed and fried then served in a sandwich with salad or coleslaw. Horsham is recognised as the birthplace of this delicacy, which was invented by Pasquale (Pat) Neri. 

Photo from Lost Horsham's Facebook page

Pat & Rosaria Neri migrated to Horsham from Italy (actually an island off Sicily) in 1956, and ran firstly the Niagara Café in Firebrace Street (now the Wimmera Foot Clinic building) and later La Fontana Restaurant (now the Horsham Sports & Community Club) in Baillie Street. Pat died in 2015.

La Fontana advert, with possibly Chef Robert Pitt (Lost Horsham)

So to an actual florie ...

A steak florie

In the beginning - G.J. Coles

As the Coles supermarket chain celebrates its 100 years of operation, it is fitting to mention the Wimmera's links to the foundation of the dynasty.

George Coles (1833-1866) and his brother James emigrated to Victoria in the gold-rush year of 1853. George married Jane Clipsham the following year in 1854. They had four sons - George (born in Daylesford), James, Frank and Fred all born in St Arnaud.
George lived in Daylesford, St Arnaud and Stuart Mill before moving to Jung and marrying Elizabeth Scouler. They had 10 children before Elizabeth died giving birth to Gracie the eleventh in 1900.

Sir George James Coles (1885-1977) of G.J. Coles of retail fame, was born on 28 March 1885 at Jung, the second of the children and eldest son. 
The Coles family had a store, blacksmith and hotel at Diapur, and later a store at Nhill.
In May 1888 Mr George Coles (Senior & father of G.J.) built a general store in Miram (Allotment 11 Section 5), and with the assistance of Mr Castles carried on the business until 1892. The building later became the Post Office, proprietors office, and No. 2 Bulk Store. Thomas & Adelaide Butcher succeeded Mr Coles, and he held a wine & spirits licence. When the Butchers left the district in 1899, the store closed, and concerts, dances, and school (rented by the Education Department) were all held in the building.
In April 1903 Mr Phillip Wheaton purchased the building from Cordner Brothers (who had purchased it earlier in the year) and commenced business, Mr W.A. Brown joined the staff in 1913. and was a partner from 1924/6 to 1937.
The current building was built on the old site by the Mills family in 1929, and opened on 18th September 1929.

Wheaton's Pioneer Store in Miram

Under the ownership of generations of Wheatons the store grew, becoming a cornucopia - extending beyond groceries to drapery, footwear,  millinery, glassware, menswear, timber, hardware, iron, motor oils, wireless receivers... It provided an electricity supply for the town, a permanent water supply, eggs from their poultry farm, a Freisian dairy herd for fresh milk, cream & butter, and a meat supply from their beef herd. Equipped as a Post Office the store had a postal service and van delivery of goods.

Meanwhile G.J., in partnership with his brothers Jim and Sir Arthur, he opened a store in Smith Street, Collingwood. in April 1914.
Sir George died on 4 December 1977 at his Toorak home and was cremated. His estate was sworn for probate at $986,486. The family business continued to expand, forming a partnership in 1968 with an American company in the establishment of K-Mart (Aust.) Ltd. With the takeover of the Myer operation in 1985, Coles Myer Ltd became the largest private employer in Australia.