Beverley Farmers' Cooperative Company 1919-c.1995
Beverley Coffee Place c.1886-1919
Beverley Coffee Palace, described as belonging to the Forrest Estate, was established by Misses Simpson in c.1886 as a temperance accommodation facility, comprising a dining room, two spacious sitting rooms, 12 bedrooms and two bathrooms.
In 1906, Andrew McBride established a livery stable at the rear of the coffee place to cater for travellers’ horses, as well as hiring carriages, carts and heavy horse wagons, and also carrying goods throughout the region.
During World War One farming was profitable. In 1917 the local farmers, looking to the future, called a public meeting, held in the Mechanics Institute, to form the Beverley Farmers’ Co-operative Company – initially as a wheat handling concern.
An office was set up in Powell’s Building (No.15) under the stewardship of Bill Townsend. Two years later in 1919 they purchased the current site (former coffee place) and opened a ‘Departmental Store’ selling grocery, crockery, drapery and hardware lines as well as acting for various farming agencies from 1920, including H.V McKay. The eastern part of the building was leased as a newsagency.
The growth of the business was such that in 1927 an extra 6,000 square feet of space was added at the back along with a large bulk store and commodious office space. The front of the original building was left untouched, the idea being to install modern showcase windows at a later date.
In 1965, as a Statewide requirement, the Beverley Shire Council ordered veranda post supports along the street edges in Vincent Street be removed.
The veranda issue may have coincided with the 1965 ‘re-vitalised’ Co-op that presented a ‘new and handsome appearance’ with the whole of the front glass-enclosed.
By the 1990s, the Co-op was less successful and the company folded. The building has since been supermarkets: Four Square (the Pepper family) and more recently, IGA (Independent Grocers Association).
Supporting the town’s art community the IGA permitted two murals to be painted on side walls by local & visiting artists. On the west wall is a large red hen by James Giddy, on the east wall are two windows painted by members of Station Arts to match the windows of the Station Gallery next door. Life-sized images of members of the Pepper family peer from the windows.
In 1906, Andrew McBride established a livery stable at the rear of the coffee place to cater for travellers’ horses, as well as hiring carriages, carts and heavy horse wagons, and also carrying goods throughout the region.
During World War One farming was profitable. In 1917 the local farmers, looking to the future, called a public meeting, held in the Mechanics Institute, to form the Beverley Farmers’ Co-operative Company – initially as a wheat handling concern.
An office was set up in Powell’s Building (No.15) under the stewardship of Bill Townsend. Two years later in 1919 they purchased the current site (former coffee place) and opened a ‘Departmental Store’ selling grocery, crockery, drapery and hardware lines as well as acting for various farming agencies from 1920, including H.V McKay. The eastern part of the building was leased as a newsagency.
The growth of the business was such that in 1927 an extra 6,000 square feet of space was added at the back along with a large bulk store and commodious office space. The front of the original building was left untouched, the idea being to install modern showcase windows at a later date.
In 1965, as a Statewide requirement, the Beverley Shire Council ordered veranda post supports along the street edges in Vincent Street be removed.
The veranda issue may have coincided with the 1965 ‘re-vitalised’ Co-op that presented a ‘new and handsome appearance’ with the whole of the front glass-enclosed.
By the 1990s, the Co-op was less successful and the company folded. The building has since been supermarkets: Four Square (the Pepper family) and more recently, IGA (Independent Grocers Association).
Supporting the town’s art community the IGA permitted two murals to be painted on side walls by local & visiting artists. On the west wall is a large red hen by James Giddy, on the east wall are two windows painted by members of Station Arts to match the windows of the Station Gallery next door. Life-sized images of members of the Pepper family peer from the windows.