Early Work 2007-08: Stirling Dairy Portsea Sign

Early 20th Century Public Transport Corporation Advertising

Source: Victorian Government Image Library

Reidy's Lonsdale Street Melbourne 2008

Second panel sign from left  says "Suppliers to the Refrigeration Industry". A little research has indicated that there is a history back to the 1930's in refrigeration supplies from Reidy's and other companies that now go under the Actrol brand. It is well described on the web as follows:

A History of Actrol (and Reidy's)

During the 1930's, new refrigeration and air conditioning units were being invented and the first sealed refrigeration unit was manufactured.  By the end of the 1930's almost 100% of Australian households had some form of refrigeration and the air-conditioning era had begun.  In this climate a store owner in Brisbane, Mr. Phillip H. Phillips branched into the supply of refrigeration and air conditioning parts.

Rapid market expansion led Ray Inns of Adelaide and Jeff Reidy of Melbourne to consider establishing a national network of independent dealerships. In 1955 R.E. Inns Ltd. opened in Adelaide (with Phillips and Reidy's support) followed in 1961 by J.F.Reidy's Pty. Ltd. in Melbourne.  The Phillips, Inns and Reidy union firmly established the group of independent wholesalers.  1965 saw Joe Doyle Pty. Ltd. open in Sydney.  Nation-wide status followed in 1970 via acquisition of both Hobart and Perth businesses.

1979 saw Actrol become a part of Repco resulting in the opening of many new branches around the country.  Actrol's then parent company Repco began to shed its assets in 1985 and in 1986 Actrol was procured by Gold Securities Australia (GSA Ltd) becoming once again a private owned identity.

With a solid capital foundation and the allegiance of many of the world's biggest and most renowned suppliers, Actrol was in a very strong position.  Growth continued for the next 25 years under GSA to result in Australia's largest private wholesaler to the refrigeration and air conditioning industry with national coverage incorporating 49 branches.

May 2010 saw Actrol commence a new chapter in its journey. Ownership was exchanged into the competent hands of Catalyst Investment Pty Ltd.  The change saw Actrol in a position to further expand and strengthen its relationships with both customer and supplier.  

Source:  Actrol web site at http://www.actrol.com.au/About-Us/A-History-of-Actrol/

Early Project Photos 2007-2008

Very Interesting Cash Grocery building in Melbourne's west taken in 2008. Features McAlpin's Flour, Robur Tea, Berger Paints and Kem-Tone Wallpaper signs

Sabatys Blue Stores, Frocks, Coats and Costumes,
 above University Meats, Glenferrie Road, Glenferrie 

 Early Project Photos (2007-2008)

Sabaty's Blue Stores, Glenferrie, Melbourne

I have yet to research either Sabaty stores or University Meats but the Sabaty sign seems a good example of a Ghost Sign. The full wording is:

Sabaty’s Blue Stores

Frocks Coats Costumes

Value Quality Satisfaction

Glimpses of Old Melbourne 

Beginnings of the Project

I started this project in 2007. 

The title and home photo is as I used in 2007. As you will see from the many photos taken since then I am equal parts interested in the old signs, (both masonry relief and hand painted), the building(s), the community in which it exists and the history of the creation, the subject and the people. So, I have a basic curiousity in the sign as it relates to the local history and the community.

It is devoted to photographs of signage used long ago by businesses and other enterprises in old Melbourne - some retained by people who care and incorporated in a revitalised building. Also devoted to uncovering some stories of how the old businesses used to operate and the human endeavour underlying the sign.

The general organisation of the Blog will be photo and then any details pertinent to the sign, building, product, business, people etc

Chinese Mission Church Melbourne

My first photo is the one above of the Chinese Mission Church in Little Lonsdale St Melbourne. The lovely decoration of the main sign and the other detail on the building is what attracted me. 

The Chinese Mission Church is of heritage significance and was built in 1872 by the Wesleyan Methodists and is known today as the Chinese Parish Office of the Uniting Church. The Wesleyans provided missions to the Chinese on the goldfields, and this building brought that mission into the Chinatown quarter of Melbourne. Many Chinese came to Victoria during the gold rushes of the 1850s, large numbers of whom were young men from the Canton Delta area of the southern province of Guangdong. Economic hardship and political upheaval forced many to emigrate and provide for family back in China. The two storey building was designed in the Gothic style with simple pointed arch windows and slate roof by architects Crouch and Wilson, and is an early example of polychromatic brickwork incorporating diaper work to the facade and polychromatic voussoirs to the windows. 

Source: http://www.onmydoorstep.com.au  Everything Happening on my Doorstep web site