Pics from the Past | GJ Coles Store: Nothing over a shilling

In 1914, with brothers Jim and Arthur, GJ opened his first shop in Smith St, Collingwood, with the slogan, “Nothing over a shilling”, which in the early 1930s became “Nothing over 2/6b”.

Coles opened its Shepparton Fryers St store in 1936, and in 1964/65 it opened a larger store on Wyndham St, Shepparton, which included a cafeteria.

In 1972, a Coles New World supermarket opened in what is now Rebel Sports, next to the Victoria Hotel.

Over the past 10 years that I have been sharing photos on Lost Shepparton of Coles and especially the cafeteria, it has always attracted a lot of interest, with many people sharing their memories. Here are a few of them.

If you have any photos/stories, please share them with me via email pastpics@mmg.com.au

Shepparton Facebook memories:

Helen McKee

It was my first Saturday morning job in about 1967. I was in ladies’ accessories ... gloves, scarves, etc.

Jenny Harmes

Coles Variety Store that I remember was in Wyndham St, where the all-you-can-eat Chinese was. That used to be the Coles Cafe. My mum was the manager there when it transitioned to Kmart Coles.

Robyn Shelton

My aunty Kaye Weiland used to dress the windows for Coles in Fryers St and I was the window dresser in Wyndham St. I love reliving these memories. Thanks guys.

Lynne Hall

I worked in the new Coles store in Wyndham St many years ago with Mrs Sweet, who was Laurie Sweet’s wife. She worked in the old store and would reminisce about it often. I always wondered what it looked like.

Rodney Brauman

I worked at Coles Variety Store (the cafe was down the back). I started in 1981 till it closed, then moved to Super K.

Bob McKellar

I loved their lolly section; you would say a penny worth of them and a penny worth of those and so on until I spent my sixpence. Then, walk out with a bag full.

Pat Cooper

I worked there in 1953. My section was called Hardware Island.

Pam O’Shannessy

I worked at the Coles Wyndham St lolly counter after school in about 1958-59.

Margaret Pell

When I came to Shepparton in 1964 they were building Coles in Wyndham St and I ended up working in the cafe in 1971.

Jeanette Doherty

For a treat, mum bought my brother and me a single cone of ice-cream there for threepence ha’penny every Saturday morning.

Andrew Pattison

l can remember going to the Coles cafeteria when we were young kids with Nana Patto sliding your tray along the servery.

Judie Matthews

I worked in school holidays in the raised deli area in Coles. I had the best hands from working with the bacon.

Brett Mccluskey

Many good feeds at the Coles cafe — no ‘gluten-free, non-GMO, organic muck’, just decent tucker cooked in lard.

Julie Unsworth

I worked in Coles Variety Store in Wyndham St back in the early ‘70s. The cafeteria was at the rear and made the best waffles and banana splits. It was a great place to work and eat.

Kathy O’Brien

Mum would take us there on school holidays. I loved going there for lunch and a milkshake or ice-cream sundae. It was a major treat back then.

Karen Styles

Memories of Mum on Thursday (shopping day) lunch would be at Coles. My sister (Ann McNair) wanted to be a Blue Lady when she was a kid. Good memories.

Fee Gladman

I remember pushing the sliver trays along, choosing your food and paying at the end, If I remember correctly. When Kmart opened, they, too, had a small cafe.

Lesley Fowler

I had lunch there on Friday after shopping; it was my treat every week. I loved the self-service, the choice of food was great (I especially liked the trifle), and the prices were affordable for a family.

Ronnie Reno

The biggest school holiday treat with Mum after she did the shopping. I always had trifles, and we got in trouble for blowing milkshake bubbles. Then, we were allowed to look at the toys while she had her cuppa.

Mary Kennedy

I remember jelly with mock cream on top and the best banana splits. We went there as a treat.

Matthew Munn

Bowl of chips and a square of jelly, please.

Kath O’Donnell

I had lunch there with my Mum on shopping days. I loved a pie with peas and gravy.