Charles Edwards' Store 1886- c.1920
Edwards' General Store was first established in York in 1868 by William Edwards Jr and his sons. The Edwards family had a history of storekeeping, first in the 1830s at Guildford and from 1846 to c.1858 at Edwards Crossing, near Beverley.
The York store was relatively small and managed by seventeen-year-old Charles Edwards. The business moved to a new store where W. Edwards (Charles’ father) was listed as storekeeper' from 1874, with 'C. Edwards, clerk' and 'G. Edwards, butcher'.
In 1882, Charles and his younger brother Kenneth took over the store management.
The opening of the railway line provided a fast and efficient service between Fremantle, Perth, York and Beverley for receival and dispatch of goods.
With the advent of the railway to Beverley in 1886, a new Edwards' Store opened, relocating from across the road (No.21).
Charles Edwards (1850-1927) was the second son of William Jr and Jane Edwards. After marrying Charlotte Elizabeth (Bessie) Brown in 1881 the family grew to nine children, eight of whom were girls. Charles and his brothers were educated at Gilgering School (later called North Beverley School), and later at Bishop's School, Perth. Charles was involved in the family's York General Store while still a teenager and he took over the business in partnership with his brother Kenneth in the 1880s, before taking sole ownership in 1893. Charles was also involved in local affairs, being a York Town councillor 1877-1881 and Mayor 1889-1901, member of the Agricultural Society and the Race Club.
William Edwards Jr died in 1889 and the General Stores passed to the ownership of his sons Charles & Kenneth. In 1893, Charles acquired Kenneth's share of the business and became the sole owner. Charles was also a partner in a flour mill, known as Quigley and Edwards' and was involved in the purchase of wheat and the milling and sale of flour.
Charles' son, Hewitt Morris Edwards, took over management of the York and Greenhills Stores in 1905, while Charles retained the Beverley Store, where he put in a manager. In 1910, Hewitt Edwards acquired ownership of the entire business, including the Greenhills and Beverley stores. The Beverley Store was still operating in the 1920s.
The York store was relatively small and managed by seventeen-year-old Charles Edwards. The business moved to a new store where W. Edwards (Charles’ father) was listed as storekeeper' from 1874, with 'C. Edwards, clerk' and 'G. Edwards, butcher'.
In 1882, Charles and his younger brother Kenneth took over the store management.
The opening of the railway line provided a fast and efficient service between Fremantle, Perth, York and Beverley for receival and dispatch of goods.
With the advent of the railway to Beverley in 1886, a new Edwards' Store opened, relocating from across the road (No.21).
Charles Edwards (1850-1927) was the second son of William Jr and Jane Edwards. After marrying Charlotte Elizabeth (Bessie) Brown in 1881 the family grew to nine children, eight of whom were girls. Charles and his brothers were educated at Gilgering School (later called North Beverley School), and later at Bishop's School, Perth. Charles was involved in the family's York General Store while still a teenager and he took over the business in partnership with his brother Kenneth in the 1880s, before taking sole ownership in 1893. Charles was also involved in local affairs, being a York Town councillor 1877-1881 and Mayor 1889-1901, member of the Agricultural Society and the Race Club.
William Edwards Jr died in 1889 and the General Stores passed to the ownership of his sons Charles & Kenneth. In 1893, Charles acquired Kenneth's share of the business and became the sole owner. Charles was also a partner in a flour mill, known as Quigley and Edwards' and was involved in the purchase of wheat and the milling and sale of flour.
Charles' son, Hewitt Morris Edwards, took over management of the York and Greenhills Stores in 1905, while Charles retained the Beverley Store, where he put in a manager. In 1910, Hewitt Edwards acquired ownership of the entire business, including the Greenhills and Beverley stores. The Beverley Store was still operating in the 1920s.