GNOWANGERUP & DISTRICTS CO-OPERATIVE

Drew, Robinson & Co. was a major Albany business which was formed when John Robinson of Mckail & Co. joined with Charles Drew. They opened a branch in Broomehill and in 1915 opened another branch in Gnowangerup managed by H. P. Jamieson.

The Gnowangerup District Co-operative Co. Ltd, formation originated from a meeting of the branch of the Farmers' and Settlers' Association in 1917. Its prime ain was to work for a reduction of production costs. About the same time a similar company was formed around the Borden area. However by 1919 it was agreed to amalgamate the two and the constituted company was called "The Gnowangerup District Co-Operative Co., Ltd." The office and depot were centred at Gnowangerup with a capital of 1,000 pounds ($2,000).

DREW ROBINSON'S STORE BOUGHT BY THE CO-OP 1919                #1

DREW ROBINSON'S STORE 1915             #2
 

Led by assute men the business prospered, so that by December 1919 it was able to purchase the town branch of Albany's Drew Robinson & Co., and increase the share value to 5,000 pounds ($10,000), by admitting to the company non-primary producers. For the first years G. Davidson was manager and the directors were D. Milne, N. P. Davis, A. B. Stone, J. McDonald and J. A. Moir, the latter remaining on the board until it came of age twenty-one years later. As  early as 1923 900 pounds were distributed in bonuses on trading, although remained in the business to strengthen the financial position. Cash bonuses were first issued in 1934.
 

GNOWANGERUP CO-OP STORE  1920s             #3
 

GNOWANGERUP CO-OP STORE  1920s             #4
 

This image was taken fron in front of the National Bank looking across the intersection of Yougenup Road and Allardyce Street. Parry and Co on the left hand corner. Smoke from a bushfire in the background.
 

GNOWANGERUP CO-OP STORE  ADVERT  1931            #5
 

 GNOWANGERUP CO-OP STORE  ADVERT  1939            #6
 

The Lamson Casheir System was used at the Co-op for many years.All cash transactions had to be handled by office staff only.

Once the docket was written out it was put together with the cash into a small container that was attached to a cable across the ceiling to the office. The gadjet was spring loaded and shot rapidly to the office where staff dealt with the transaction, included the change, if any, and the propelled it back to the staff that were dealing with the customer who had been patiently waiting in the meanwhile.

 LAMSON CASHIER SYSTEM 1939             #7
 

GNOWANGERUP CO-OP STORE c1939            #8
 

GNOWANGERUP CO-OP STORE  ADVERT  1941            #9
 

 GNOWANGERUP CO-OP STORE  ADVERT  1942            #10
 

GNOWANGERUP CO-OP STORE  1940s            #11
 

OPENING OF NEW GNOWANGERUP CO-OP STORE HARDWARE SECTION            #12

 

GNOWANGERUP CO-OP STORE STAFF  1953            #13
Rear L - R:   JACK WRIGHT (Manager), RON SIMMONS, NORMA BAXTER, SONNY HOUNSHAM
Front L - R: JOHN COSTYGN, MIRA JEFFERIES, LES CUNEO, MARGARET WHITE, MEG BARNARD, MARG EDGLEY, TOM BRADE, JANINE BENNETT
 
 

GNOWANGERUP CO-OP STORE STAFF 1950s            #14
 JACK WRIGHT (Manager) on left
 

GNOWANGERUP CO-OP STORE  1960s            #15

In the late 1950s saw some major changes in the grocery industry. The Grocery Manager, Allan Baker was very forward thinking and the decision was made to go
"SELF - SERVICE". This was an entirely new concept. It meant new shelving throughout the section and one checkout. It also meant that every item now had to have a price stamped on it. Prior to that prices were on plastic tags on the shelves in front of the stock and amazingly the staff remembered all the prices off hand. Bar codes were not even thought of then.

Customers soom adjusted to this new way of shopping although orders were still taken as well and processed by the staff.
 

GNOWANGERUP CO-OP STORE  1960s            #16
VITA-BRITS DISPLAY
 

People known to have worked at the Co-op in the early 1960s are:
(Manager)Jack Wright, (Office) Mira Jefferies, Janine Bennett, (Hardware) Ted Hawkesworth, (Drapery) Mrs. Walker, Margaret Atwell, (Grocery) John White, Patricia Godfrey, Mary Cook, Arthur Gunther, Gordon Freegard, Johnny Marshall.

 GNOWANGERUP CO-OP STORE  1960s            #17
CHRISTMAS WINDOW DISPLAY
 

GNOWANGERUP CO-OP STORE  1965            #18
 

As time moved on so did the business and the shop. To stay competitive they had to join larger buying groups  
to obtain better purchase prices. Also the old store was demolished and a brand new one built opposite.
They became part of the Foodland buying group and now currently (2023) a member of the 
Independant Grocers Association.
 

GNOWANGERUP CO-OP FOODLAND STORE            #19
 

 GNOWANGERUP CO-OP IGA STORE  2013            #20
 

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

References:                 Article:      "The Friut Of The Country" by Merle Bignell
                                                 Research by Gordon Freegard

                                  Image:     1, 6, 8, 9      The Gnowangerup Star Newspaper
                                                 15, 16, 17     Gordon Freegard
                                                 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20

Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2023