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H. DAVIES & SON    UPDATED

Hugh "Huey" Davies 1910-1999

Hugh's father was also named Hugh. Senior Hugh Shields Davies, was born in 1881, who only had one eye.  Hugh Senior and his wife were affectionately known as "Pop" & "Nan".
In Kilbernie, Scotland, wedding bells rang for Hugh "Pop" Shields Davies (Snr) and Jean Morrison when they married in 1908. The passing years have brought them full measure of joys and sorrows but rewarded them with prizes money cannot buy - youthful minds and a respected place in the estimation of their fellow men.
The fifth son in a family of ten children "Pop" commenced work as a grocer's boy on leaving school and has remained in the trade right throughout his life.
Hugh (Junior) was born in 1910 in Kilbernie, Scotland. At 14 years old he migrated with the family to Australia in 1924, joining relations at Shackleton.
Hugh Davies (Senior) commenced duties in the Shackleton Co-op as a counter hand. During the depression he took over the management of that Co-op and under his direction the business was put on a sound basis and weathered those troublesome times.

 

HUGH "HUEY" DAVIES (Junior)               #1
 

Hugh (Junior) started work as a 'spud boy' and general roustabout, eventually taking his place with his father as Secretary and Manager. He married Winifred M. Jacob in 1938 at Bruce Rock.
During the family's 21 years in Shackleton, Mr. Davies (Senior) took an active part in the public life of that community and on leaving the district the football club gave him a gold medal as a token of esteem, Pop still prizes this medal along with one won by his father at bowls in 1881 at Kilbernie. From Shackleton Mr. & Mrs. Davies went to Brookton but were there only 12 months.
Hugh (Junior) was in the RAAF for three years as a 2E fitter, and on discharge was offered the Managers position at the 1st Kojonup Co-op and after a very successful year, he had the opportunity of buying a business at Gnowangerup and moved there in 1946 and was joined by his parents. The Davies purchased the general storekeeping and agency business previously owned by Mrs. C. L. Heppell in Gnowangerup.
Hugh was born to buy and sell, so the business at Gnowangerup flourished. The family ran a very successful business that had a grocery, gift, clothing, manchester, hardware, and fruit & vegetables. They employed a staff of about nine. The partnership of Davies & Son has prospered over twelve years and they erected a modern shop in which the town can be proud.
 

DAVIES & SON STORE, YOUGENUP ROAD, GNOWANGERUP  1958              #2
 

INTERIOR GROCERY SECTION  DAVIES & SON STORE  1958              #3
 

INTERIOR GROCERY SECTION DAVIES & SON   1958              #4
 

People known to have worked there in the 1950s:
(Owners) Pop Davies, Hugh Davies, Win Davies, (Drapery) Gwen Gunther, (Greengrocery) Henry Frantom, (Grocery) Sid Heath, Syd Walker, Brian Altham, Gordon Freegard, Faye Frantom, Janina Benarski, Roslyn Eastwood.

Janina was friendly with Dave Murray who worked at the Post Office. At her lunch breaks Dave would pick her from work, on his scooter and they would go off together for lunch.

 DAVIES & SON STORE, YOUGENUP ROAD, GNOWANGERUP  1958              #5
SYD WALKER, Grocery Manager & ROSLYN EASTWOOD, Assistant
 

"Pop" & "Nan" Davies originally lived in an old house next to the shop, behind what had been originally the Road Board Office, and later the Venning family home Years later they had a nice new home built further back on the same block. They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1958. Hugh Davies (Snr) died 12th March 1964 and is buried at Karrakatta.

Win and Hugh lost their first born very tragically when he was drowned in a local dam, but they still had a precious daughter Jenny, and Terry was born in 1948.
In 1960, they were able to buy a farm from Les Schubert, on the Kwobrup Road, this achieved their lifes ambition to go farming.

 ADVERT FOR DAVIES  & SON STORE               #6
 

 THE ORIGINAL GNP ROAD BOARD OFFICE          #7
 

 GRAN & POP DAVIES NEW HOUSE  1958            #8
 

GRAN & POP DAVIES ON THEIR 50th WEDDING ANNIVERSERY 1958       #9
 

  THE FORMER DAVIES HOUSE c2006         #10
 


They were joined by Terry who had been at the Narrogin Agricultural School and later by nephew, Rod Davies.
Win and Hugh enjoyed travelling and travelled widely, visiting their relations in Scotland.
Hugh loved people and his community. He was made a JP in 1956 and was a councilor of the Gnowangerup Roads Board for three years and was on the Shire Council for a further 16 years.
He joined the Masonic Lodge in 1949, and continued his association almost to the end.
He was a keen and enthusiastic bowler, and this made him many friends when he moved to the city.
The farm "Waidup" hosted many people from around the world. He just loved having visitors and made everyone welcome.
He and Win retired to Karrinyup in 1980 and in 1987, moved to a retirement village at Merriwa RAAFA Estate.
Sadly Hugh (Junior) passed away in 1999.
Hugh is survived by his loving wife Win (of 61 years) and two children, Jenny and Terry, and their families.

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:     Research by Gordon Freegard
                                                Gnowangerup Star Newspaper

                                  Image:     1        Unknown
                                                 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9     Gordon Freegard

 


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