Christmas shopping in Gympie – 1891

Over several years, articles about the offerings of Christmas Fare at various establishments in Gympie appeared in the newspapers and this allows us to take a look back and imagine walking in the shoes of our ancestors as they went about their shopping for festive season.   The following account appeared in The Gympie Times and Mary River Gazette on the 24th December 1891.

“Christmas Preparations.

Once again Christmas tide is with us, and although the season is looked upon by all as the special time when an extra amount of goods and fancy articles are exhibited, yet the majority of the local Storekeepers up to yesterday had made but little effort towards giving an effective display of their wares, compared with the extensive preparations of previous years. The dullness of the times and the depression in commercial circles are perhaps responsible for this, and their effect, no doubt, will be felt at the season by the business people. The evergreens used to decorate the outside of the business places at Christmas time are conspicuous by their absence, but this defect will probably be remedied by this evening. The principal places of business were inspected yesterday and a few of the Christmas preparations made in anticipation of increased business, are noted below.

Commencing at the top of Mary street, the old established firm of Messrs. Cox and Roberts, booksellers and stationers, are the first to come under notice. A splendid assortment of books, suitable for gifts, and an extra large supply of Christmas publications are here displayed for sale ; and in addition to these there is a varied assortment of mechanical and other toys, Christmas and New Year cards in endless variety, and various other articles appropriate to the season. Mrs. Bates, fruiterer, etc., makes a tempting display of her wares, and judging by appearance, will be well prepared to supply the wants of her numerous customers. Mr. J. H. Stamp makes a fair show of smokers’ requisites and fancy goods, with the limited spice at his disposal, an attractive feature in his window being a revolving Father Christmas. Messrs. Hood and Balthes, tailors and outfitters, show a large and varied assortment of suitings, hats, hosiery, ties, etc., and their windows present a very neat appearance.

Messrs. Ferguson Bros, show an assortment of electro-plated ware in one of their large windows, while the other is used for the display of essentials for the well appointed dessert, and the substantial which are used in the manufacture of Christmas cheer. Inside the establishment are to be seen groceries of every description, and delicacies for the festive season. In the adjoining shop, Mr. J. Fletcher offers an attempting assortment of jewellery, watches, etc., which will no doubt attract a great number of those who look upon Christmas as a suitable time for the making of handsome and useful presents. Messrs. Newbery and Shambler, general ironmongers, have made large additions to their stock of hardware, and also display a nice and varied assortment of crockery. Mr. A. G. Sudbury exhibits a choice stock of mens’ and boys’ suits, suitings, and hats, and in the hosiery department are to be seen a new lot of scarfs, silk handkerchiefs, shirts, umbrellas, etc., all displayed to the best advantage.

As usual Messrs. H. Niemann and Son are showing a fair stock of furniture, toilet ware, etc., and in their fancy shop next door, toys and china ware are exhibited as well as the customary sweetmeats. Mr. H. Clark, jeweller, makes a good display of his wares. Messrs Henderson, Scott and Barke’s large establishment has a very bright appearance, the windows being nicely dressed, and looking very attractive. Theirdisplay in the interior of the building is large and varied, and includes, besides their usual stock of drapery, toys of all sorts and sizes.

Mr. John Lyons is again to the fore with his Christmas preparations and his shop contains a large collection of goods suitable for the season. In one of his windows is to be seen an excellent assortment of jewellery, including rings, bracelets, pins, brooches, watches, and clocks, all being well displayed. Two very neat designs are to be seen in clocks, one representing a violin and the other a guitar ; they are made of silver filigree work and are quite a novelty. To the right of the jewellery, toys and pocket and table cutlery are displayed while the window on the opposite side of the doorway, contains an assortment that would be hard to beat. In the centre is a life-size doll, neatly dressed in maroon satin, every detail in the dressing apparently having been observed. Among the mechanical toys exhibited is one that is bound to attract the attention of the juveniles; it consists of a female acrobat on horseback, and when set in motion the horse trots round the ring, the rider at a certain time taking a leap over a bar in the orthodox style and landing again on the horse’s back. In addition to the toys are to be seen writing desks, work boxes, hand bags, dressing cases, glassware, portrait frames, date calendars, etc. The interior of the shop is crowded with all sorts of goods, from the smallest toy to handsome book and electro-plated ware, of which there is a good display.

Preparations on a large scale have been made at the establishment of Messrs. E. Bytheway and Son. In No. 1 window there is a large and varied stock of men’s and boys boots and shoes, locally manufactured and imported. No. 2 window is composed entirely of boots and shoes made on the promises, and the goods certainly compare favourably with those imported. The space in the third window is devoted to an attractive display of electro-plated goods, cutlery, etc., while the fourth window contains useful and ornamental glassware, dinner, tea, and toilet sets, and gold and silver jewellery. The end portion of the building is used for exhibiting ladies’ boots and shoes, a very large assortment being on view. The majority of these goods are specially manufactured in Northampton for Messrs. Bytheway and Son. In the interior of the establishment are to be noticed furniture, ironmongery, chairs, electroplate, glass aud earthenware, sewing machines, lamps, clocks, cutlery, etc, while the bulk store at the back of the main building contains a large reserve stock of mangles, bedsteads, spring mattresses, stoves, colonial ovens, cream separators, saddles, galvanized iron goods and other articles ‘too numerous to mention.’

Mr. M, Shields and Messrs. Shanahan Bros, display their stock of boots and shoes to advantage, a great deal being made on the premises, the latter firm especially having it large supply on hand ready for the requirements of their customers. Mrs. Harris, of London House, is one of the few shopkeepers who have gone to extra trouble to mark the festive occasion, and the expert window dresser has evidently been put on his mettle, for a splendid display of goods has been made, despite the smallness of the windows. In one of the windows is shown a large variety of cheap dolls, and various other toys, while the other windows are utilised for showing off dress goods and fancy articles suitable for the season. Above the doorway, surrounded by evergreens, is a large placard with a seasonable wish, and although want of space is noticeable inside the shop, yet here again great taste has been exhibited and the arrangements for making the place attractive show signs that no trouble has been spared. In places around the shop are several greetings to visitors, and branching from the gas lamps, flags of various colours and pretty lanterns present a pleasing effect.

Returning to Mary-street, the first place to attract attention on the south side is the large establishment of Mr. J. H. Carrodus, who is again to the fore with fresh goods and novelties, and a splendid assortment of dress materials. Messrs. Ambrose and Asmusson show a large stock of furniture of every description, which is well displayed in their roomy promises. Mr. J. Waldron has a stock of groceries which will compare favorably with other storekeepers, and Messrs. Woodrow and Son, in the same line of business, tastefully display their principal lines in one of the windows, the other containing a fine show of electro-plated ware. Mr. Anderson shows a fair assortment of suitings, etc., and Mr. A. Bevan has on view some good specimens of the photographic art. The Gympie Industrial Co-operative Store is well supplied with seasonable goods and their stock-in-trade is worth examining.

Mr. J. S. Cullinane’s drapery establishment is the next to attract attention, arid here great care has been displayed in dressing the windows, the goods being well set off, without overcrowding. Inside the building the drapery goods are well exposed to view on either side, while along the middle of the shop is placed a counter, containing toys, dolls, etc. Mr. Soblusky shows a fair stock of boots, and Mr. Dobson exhibits a supply of all sorts of fruit and confectionery. Mr. A. M’Donald, has a variety of articles of a fancy, ornamental, and useful description, which will secure him a share of ‘ public patronage. ‘ The Busy Bee ‘ has evidently been preparing for a good Christmas trade, judging by the quantity of boots Mr. Squire places before the gaze of visitors.

The old-established firm of Patterson Bros, are generally looked upon as providing an attractive show for Christmas, and this time they are well to the front again. The windows are tastefully decorated, and the goods displayed to ad-vantage, reflecting credit on their assistants. The dress window is one that is sure to attract the ladies, and the opposite one, contains a miscellaneous assortment of toys, which will be equally as pleasing to the older folks as those of younger growth. The windows of the next department contain a miscellaneous assortment of good suitable for the sterner sex. and are tastefully arranged. A look into the spacious premises discloses the fact that the establishment is as well stocked as any out of the metropolis, but it would take up too much space to give any description adequate to its merits.

Messrs. Bunworth and Sutton, grocers and wine and spirit merchants, show a large assortment of their particular goods, which are bound to attract the attention of passersby. Messrs. Bennett and Son although hampered by want of room, have managed to exhibit their goods in such a way as to claim a fair amount of attention, the daintily trimmed millinery being well set off by other articles for the use of the fair sex, while inside the shop is shown a stock sufficiently large and varied to suit the requirements of most people.

Mr. Baker’s Refreshment Palace shows traces of an artistic hand having been at work, and the tasty decorations that have been made, entitle it now to its name. The lower window has a fine display of sweetmeats, nuts, etc. , while the upper one contains an assortment of fruit, sufficiently tempting to induce the most economical to become purchasers. The interior of the shop has been as well attended to as the windows and an attractive display is made. Mr. M. Newman exhibits a choice stock of jewellery and tobacconist’s goods, which are well worth inspection.

Among the other shops which contain a fine assortment of goods are those of Messrs. F. J. Lorraine and Co., jewellers, Mr. C. J. Woolgar, and the Gympie Tannery Company, saddlers, and Mr. G. A. Watts. The butchers’ establishments are not yet prepared for the Christmas trade, but by this evening it is anticipated that all will have a good display. Mr. A. J. Fisher announces that he will have an excellent stock of all sorts of meat, special arrangements having been made to secure the best in the market. Mr. Sterling also announces that he will have a superior supply in his shop, including some very fine lamb from the Brisbane market. In conclusion we trust that the endeavors of our business people to assist in a successful Christmas Eve will result in a large increase of business, and feel sure that despite the bad times their efforts will be appreciated by the general public.”

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 Story compiled by Kathy Punter

Sources:  Trove;