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Mount Pleasant Stores
The Mount Pleasant Stores was established in 1864 by Mr P. Miller, who was there for some ten years. Mr Robert Wylie then purchased the business, with Mr John Ramsay following, with Mr Loutit until 1881 when Mr G.B. Sketheway took it over, selling a large stock of drapery, grocery, ironmongery, crockery, and tinware.[1]
This store was situated opposite the Talunga Hotel.
J.C. Herriot was operating the store in 1912, when it was called Talunga Store, but in 1918 it was J.C. Herriot’s Store…For originality and up-to-date facilities for catering for his far and wide clientele; the popular "Jim"- can't be beat. .. In the winter-time when we had to carry lanterns to grope our way, he came as a ministering angel with his up-to-date electric plant to guide the weary wanderer. And in the summer he comes forward with an up-to-date soda fountain and cool drink emporium to slake our thirst. Some say he holds a brief for the prohibition movement, but our opinion is he is too broad-minded for that. He has got his whole establishment painted and decorated, and by local men, too.. To describe all the goods he has in stock would take a full page of "The Courier," and as much as we like "Jim," we could not afford that space, as paper is dear now. The only way we can possibly epitomise is that you can buy from a motor car to a sheet of pins. We cannot close without a word of praise to his assistants who are at all times anxious to please the customers.
We will always find during our sojourn through life that a good master always extracts the best out of his assistants, and the popular "Jim" is no exception. We leave the rest to our readers to sample the goods.[2]
[1] :Cyclopedia Of South Australia 1907-09
[2] The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 - 1954) Friday 20 December 1918 p 3 Article
This building has always been a store or office. Photo taken 2021
Emma Mathilde Brindley originally purchased the land for this property from Charles Crook Brice in 1895, who in turn had purchased the full block from Henry Giles in 1861. The block of land was subdivided, and the shop and house premises established, with a lease to Frederick Wilhelm Pfeiffer, brother of Emma, in April 1898, and a transfer of ownership to him a year later, in 1899.
Frederick Pfeiffer leased the premises to Albert Charles Follett in May 1912, for a term of 5 years, and extended this for a further 5 years in 1917.
A. C. Follett’s Store
This store is situated at 53 Melrose Street … Advertising in December 1918 gives us a description of this store, which was a second ‘general store’ for the town. This particular store, as usual, brimful of Christmas attractions and novelties, a feature of which is a very choice selection of ladies' and children's millinery, at prices which compared with even "sale times" in Adelaide will sink into oblivion. Amongst other bargains will we found a big range of ladies' dress goods. Also, ladies’ and children's boots in white tan, and black. Mr. Follett is also showing a. very choice display of Christmas goods suitable for presents including toys. Christmas cards, etc Anyone requiring groceries, tin ware, crockery, and glassware, combining freshness with utility, may go farther and fare worse. This store has been thoroughly renovated, and as Mr. Follett always encourages local industry he placed the order with a local firm of painters and decorators.[1]
In April 1919 ... A. C, FOLLETT, The Store of Quality, "where your money goes farthest. All the latest novelties in Ladies' Millinery, Boots and Shoes, etc. Men's-Wear a speciality. Suits, Shirts, Hosiery, etc.
The lease was surrendered by Albert Follett in 1920, and it was transferred to Lionel Hillary Hilton Neale for 7 years from May 1920, but with the death of Lionel Neale in 1922, the lease was transferred to his wife, Doris, who subsequently transferred the lease to Frederick Hawkesworth, a storekeeper in Mount Pleasant, in 1923.
Clara Ida Pearce took over the property in February 1924, with the lease being transferred from Frederick Hawkesworth to Ernest James Pearce in May 1924. Clara Pearce then transferred the lease to Alfred Harris for 3 years from February 1926, and thence to John Gartrell Mutton from November 1928, with John Skuse taking over the lease in 1929.
With the death of Clara in 1945, her husband Ernest, became owner of the property, and he sold the property to Donald Irvine Herriot in November 1945.
The history of this store continues in the same vane with many leasees and owners continuing to use the premises and maintain its original use as a shop.
[1] The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 - 1954) Friday 20 December 1918 p 3 Article
Arthur Reeks, son of John Reeks, in front of store in 1930s (QWB-Butler)
John Reeks’ Store
Reeks Store was situated opposite the Soldiers Memorial Hall, now 128 Melrose street, purchased in 1912 from Mr. Wurm. In 1918… Mr. Reeks, as usual, is abreast of the times, and he announces that he is fully alive to the wants of his numerous customers for the festive season He has a great stock of men's ready-to-wear tailor made clothing in navy serge and summer weight Tweed suits and owing to the high price of measured garments he has considerably increased his stock in this department. Amongst other features there will be a guessing competition for a large Christmas stocking; also toys, Christmas cards, and Christmas crockery and glassware.[1
April 1919 saw the following advertising...JOHN REEK'S "Favourite Store.'' All goods marked consistent with a well conducted Store. Special attention given to Men's Clothing, especially Ready-to-wear Tailor-made Suits.
In 1929 ‘Vines and Orchards of South Australia’ describe the Mr Reeks …his acumen and integrity have been the means of building around his departmental store a spirit of good will that is shared by all the local residents. In 1937 he was appointed agent for ‘The Courier’, the local newspaper.
After home wireless appeared in 1934, cricket enthusiasts of all ages flocked to a receiving set at Arthur Reeks’s Mount Pleasant store-cum-café to share in the excitement of Australian test cricket tours of Britain. Arthur later installed a shortwave unit.[2]
In 1938 block 10 was purchased by Lionel Deuclean Cowling and Armon Hicks, with the remaining block 11 retained by John Reeks. His widow Ada Emily Reeks then took possession until her death in 1956, and after probate son, Arthur Ivor Reeks had possession from 1959.
It then passed to the District Council of Mount Pleasant in 1969.
[1] The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 - 1954) Friday 20 December 1918 p 3 Article
[2] The Quiet Waters By: the Mount Pleasant District 1843-1993, Reg Butler
Messrs. H. and H. A. Giles' Store
This store was within the Mill complex. Messrs. H. and H. A. Giles would take it as presumption on our part to refer to their store in any way, as they are the pioneers of storekeepers here, but we would only like to add a word, if such were necessary, that they have not forgotten the wants of their customers for the festive season.[1]
[1] The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 - 1954) Friday 20 December 1918 p 3 Article
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