Town Talk | Years of success at Lunn and Fordyce

However, everything has a beginning, and I wanted to know about the early days of the store, so I gave Jeanette Smith (née Lunn) a call. We arranged a meeting in her beautiful home on Corio St.

Jeanette mentioned that she had lived in this house all her life — and I wanted to ask about that, too.

The beginning of Lunn’s

Jeanette’s father, Arthur Lunn, opened the store in 1922. The shop, at that stage, was much smaller, and most of the clothing was made on site. Only shirts and overcoats were ‘ready to wear’.

I asked about the making of a gentleman’s suit — and there were several stages.

First, the customer was carefully measured. Then, the material was cut to the required size and usually tacked together for the next fitting, where further adjustments might be necessary. When everything was as it should be, the garment was sewn together — partly by sewists using a machine, but with a substantial amount of hand-sewing on cuffs and lapels. The garments also required a good iron to establish the creases, with large presses heated on a stove. There were no electric irons at that stage.

And there were ‘guidelines’; for example, the buttons on a single-breasted suit were a particular size. The buttons on a double-breasted design were smaller, while on a waistcoat, a different size again was required.

At some stages, as many as 13 people were required to produce the suits, sports jackets and trousers for the gentlemen of Shepparton.

A store was opened in Yarrawonga but had to be closed during World War II when the manager was called up.

Mr Lunn passed away in 1947, and his family took over the business.

In the 1950s

Early in the decade, Woolworths decided Shepparton was a worthwhile investment and that Lunn’s store was in the perfect position.

Woolworths also wanted Riordan’s Shoes, which is next door (to the south). So, it approached the owners of the buildings with an offer to purchase. The owners lived in the UK and, as became apparent, were fair and reasonable people. They had had good tenants for many years and felt the tenants should have the first option. Mr Lunn and Mr Riordan both purchased their buildings.

Woolworths also wanted two other buildings — one next to Riordan’s and one next door to Lunn’s. However, both these buildings were owned by Jeanette’s uncle, and Woolworths needed to look elsewhere.

Jeanette and I considered the fact that the buildings were owned by someone overseas. The only scenario we could come up with was that a British immigrant to this area either built or purchased the buildings — and, when he passed away, they were inherited by a nephew or two. Maybe!

Lunn’s business continued to grow, and it needed more space. Next door, to the north, was a tobacconist and barber who had, in recent years, turned his business into a gift shop while retaining the tobacco sales. He happened to be married to Jeanette’s cousin and turned his store over — becoming a partner. Lunn and Fordyce was the outcome.

The store was remodelled, with two separate doors.

The next four decades

The next 40 years were a success story, with the business expanding into ladies’ and children’s wear. The store had expanded to the west and was again remodelled, this time with a central double door. This is how many of us remember it.

As my sons had all outgrown the size range in my Maude St store, we became regular customers of Lunn and Fordyce. I certainly made my contribution to its success.

Goodbye — in the 21st century

Jeanette’s husband, Bert, passed away in 1994. However, the business remained strong with Jeanette and her brother, Bryant, at the helm. Bryant retired in the early 1990s, while Jeanette continued running the store until 2007. The decision was made to close it down.

Today

Jeanette is content with her retirement in the lovely home built by her parents. Her father passed away when she was young, and at the time of her marriage, her mother became ill.

The couple remained in the house to take care of her — and, unsurprisingly, Jeanette has never wanted to leave.

Our chat was wide-ranging; I was amazed at her memory as she named the businesses in Wyndham St, some from the 1940s.

I’m going to list some of them — because there are memories here for many of you.

On the west side of Wyndham St

Gilpins Department Store

Foy and Gibson

Williams the Shoeman (remember the little guy in the window?)

Moran & Cato

Coles (later)

Lloyd Wright’s Hardware

Favaloro’s Bakery

The Court House Hotel

On the east side

Maher’s Café

Roy Gorr Pharmacy

Voumard’s Jewellery

Kilpatrick McLennan Estate Agents

McKeon’s Fashion Store (later moved across the street)

Lorisanne (original site)

Nightingale’s Electrical

Varloine Photography

NAB and State Banks

However, although clear about businesses and their positioning, we both needed help with dates. The years these businesses occupied their sites remain to be clarified.

A small group of us will be meeting at the museum this year in an attempt to ‘tie down’ the history of the CBD. Please let me know if you can clarify any of the above because it is going to be a huge task and difficult to get right.

My chat with Jeanette came to a reluctant close, as my husband’s lunch was almost two hours late! But I enjoyed myself immensely, and I think, and hope, Jeanette felt the same way. I thank her for her time and patience.

A memory

For me, any discussion about Shepparton’s past brings back a memory or six. Some of the businesses Jeanette mentioned were a little before my time — but many were not.

When Moran & Cato was mentioned, I had a clear picture of a tall man with curly dark hair. He must have been young, but his hair was greying. George Page and his wife, Nance, relocated to Shepparton because he had been appointed to manage the Moran & Cato store, which was one of a chain of grocery stores. Nance and George were friends of my parents and were here (I’m guessing now) for three or four years.

They were born to be parents, but this was never to happen — so, while they were here, I would have to do.

One Saturday afternoon, they knocked on our back door. ‘Uncle’ George’s eyes were shining; he was happy about something. They had bought me my first ‘real’ book — one with just words. I remember a discussion in the kitchen about whether or not I’d read it. George said I would, and Nance said it didn’t matter because I’d read it eventually.

Why wouldn’t I read it, I wondered. It had words in it, and words tell stories. It was Enid Blyton’s Famous Five.

It was 1950, and this was my introduction to literature.

It wasn’t too long after this that George was offered a job at home in their beloved Tasmania. He was to manage an RSL club. I had learnt, by that time, that he had spent some years in Changi as a prisoner of war — and that he had never spoken about it to anyone, not a word.

They bought me another Enid Blyton book before they left.

Rubbish

I’ve done careful calculations and reckon that, by Easter, I should be caught up with the rubbish. I’ve just brought in the recycle bin, and it is now full again. I had three large plastic containers ‘hidden’ in the laundry. The landfill bin doesn’t go out for a week — and it is already full. Meanwhile, the green bin comes and goes with half a dozen little bags — as we haven’t been doing any substantial gardening.

Easter Sunday is March 31. AFL footy starts March 7, which is eight weeks from next Thursday — but who’s counting?

The house wasn’t floating when I woke up this morning (Monday), which was a relief.

I hope you are reasonably dry.

’Til next week.

May it be easy, my friends

Marnie,

Email: Towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Letter: Town Talk. Shepparton News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.

Phone: Send a text to 0418 962 507. (Note: text only. I will call you back if you wish.)