Forbes Building 1929-Current
The first building on this site was built in 1896 by Beverley pioneer, Horace Smith, and described in the Eastern Districts Chronicle as a ‘Commodious Store’.
Bought by Donald Forbes in 1924, it housed general agencies and Misses O & E Smiths’ drapery. The original store was ‘dismantled’ in 1928 and the new Forbes Building was built in 1929. Cavanagh & Cavanagh architects designed the complex of 4 shops in the interwar Free Classical style with simple parapets with concrete balusters.
Donald Forbes opened an office for Dalgety and Co in 1906 providing a valuable service to stockowners. He was the agent for various farming-related services including Dalgety and International Harvester. Forbes also had a bakery and Miss M Forbes ran the Wattle Tearooms in one of the shops. The bakery and the tearooms were purchased about 1945 by HH Sawyer, owner of the Beverley Dairy.
Forbes business interests were ‘disposed of’ to Barrow and Co of Pingelly in 1945. The general agencies continued under the name of Barrow & Richardson. In 1953 Mrs. Schleicher took over the café in the western shops.
In 1965, as a Statewide requirement, the Beverley Shire Council ordered veranda post supports along the street edge in Vincent Street be removed.
In about 2005, all four shops were leased to Helen’s Variety Store for a couple of years selling new toys, electrical goods, homewares and second-hand goods. Michael & Kate Sofoulis opened East End Art Gallery in 2012.
Bought by Donald Forbes in 1924, it housed general agencies and Misses O & E Smiths’ drapery. The original store was ‘dismantled’ in 1928 and the new Forbes Building was built in 1929. Cavanagh & Cavanagh architects designed the complex of 4 shops in the interwar Free Classical style with simple parapets with concrete balusters.
Donald Forbes opened an office for Dalgety and Co in 1906 providing a valuable service to stockowners. He was the agent for various farming-related services including Dalgety and International Harvester. Forbes also had a bakery and Miss M Forbes ran the Wattle Tearooms in one of the shops. The bakery and the tearooms were purchased about 1945 by HH Sawyer, owner of the Beverley Dairy.
Forbes business interests were ‘disposed of’ to Barrow and Co of Pingelly in 1945. The general agencies continued under the name of Barrow & Richardson. In 1953 Mrs. Schleicher took over the café in the western shops.
In 1965, as a Statewide requirement, the Beverley Shire Council ordered veranda post supports along the street edge in Vincent Street be removed.
In about 2005, all four shops were leased to Helen’s Variety Store for a couple of years selling new toys, electrical goods, homewares and second-hand goods. Michael & Kate Sofoulis opened East End Art Gallery in 2012.