This intersection of Fryers St and Maude St has some significant history pertaining to the buildings on the corners..
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I wrote a column about the Fairley’s building back in November 2022.
Now, let’s have a look at the Fairway Building, which commenced with Maples as the first major tenant. This corner’s history dates back to the early 1900s.
The 1958 Maples photo shown here was first published as a black and white image, and thanks to Travis McScratchey, he has added his colour interpretation and enhanced the photo for us.
Travis lives in Bendigo and has been colouring/enhancing old pictures for the Lost Bendigo Facebook page for quite a while.
I started this page 10 years ago and have been admiring his work. After meeting him in person for the first time a few months back, I invited him to work on some Lost Shepparton images, and he agreed.
Maples was founded by Benjamin Nathan in 1887 in South Melbourne. It was the first of a chain of maple furniture and music warehouses, which later extended throughout Australia and the Commonwealth.
In 1910, he took over the Ripponlea Estate, and his home became famous for its collection of exotic flowers and orchids, reputed to be the finest in Australia.
“In 1938, Shepparton’s Centenary year, under the instructions from Mr J. F. and A. W. Fairley, the construction of the ‘FAIRWAY’ building commenced in January and was completed in August.
The architects of the building were Mr H. A. Norris, in conjunction with Twentyman and Askew of Melbourne. Harry Norris was noted as one of Victoria’s most influential architects of the Art Deco period. A number of buildings, which were landmarks of Shepparton, were demolished to facilitate the latest developments in business architecture.
It was reported that the ‘FAIRWAY’ building would cater up to six shops and perhaps nine offices.
A feature of the building work was the construction techniques utilising four steel pillars in the supports for the floor of the corner building. The supports were advertised as being able to bear the weight of about 90 tonnes of bricks, concrete, and girders. The outcome of using these special supports was to enable a clear space for windows, which in turn improved the look of the building.” (Shepparton Advertiser, 1938)
I can remember the Maples store in my hometown of Maryborough (Victoria) as a kid and how grand it was. I can recall that my parents bought nearly all their furniture and appliances from there.
“FAIRWAY at the corner of Maude and Fryers Sts, the most modern and spacious building in the Goulburn Valley, has attracted considerable attention. It is no exaggeration to say that outside the metropolis, there is no other showroom that exceeds it in space or design. The display of furnishings surpasses anything ever before seen in the Goulburn Valley or northern Victoria.
Yesterday the new premises were opened for business and throughout the day a record number of visitors inspected the wide range of goods displayed.
One of the outstanding features is the brilliant lighting scheme of the showroom. Viewed for the first time at night, it creates a feeling of wonder. Such a lighting scheme could be arranged. It is unique in many ways and adds to the attractive display.
In their magnificent new store, Maples has combined the experience of years with the requirements of modern times, and the result is the most up-to-date furniture warehouse in all of Australia carrying what is easily the most extensive stock of furniture, carpets, pianos, player pianos, radios and soft furnishings outside of Melbourne.
An added and most accommodating feature of Maples’s easy-term plan for the residents of Shepparton and the district is the after-harvest payment scheme, whereby you can pay for your goods strictly in cash after the harvest.
Another buying facility at Maples is the exchange of old, home-worn goods for new ones. This enables those who wish to re-furnish to get rid of their old goods without the troublesome business of sending them to auction or calling in a dealer.
This method of exchange assures them of a fair price for the old, and at the same time, they can obtain their new furniture at minimal cost to themselves. With the opening of their new store, Maples will still retain their original Fryers St shop.”
People on my Facebook page also mention that after Maples was Clark Rubber, and then it was Angie’s Bakehouse.
Many will remember Shepparton Camera House as it recently closed early this year, and the new tenants are Prouds The Jewellers, which opened in August this year.
Lost Shepparton Facebook comments:
Jeanette Doherty
Who remembers the wishes often read out at weddings? “Don’t buy your bed from Maples. They stand behind everything they sell.”
Ann Mallamaci
Maples was my first job after finishing school in 1977; John McLeod was the manager. Great store.
Mick Koster
My Dad took over as the manager there in July 1980 when we moved to Shepparton. It was moved to the old Wong’s World store in High St in 1982.
Cheryl Linehan
My Dad was the carpet layer for Maples in the ’50s and early ’60s.
Alan Causon
I was the manager from 1972 to 1976. Fond memories.
In summing up, the article about the new Fairway building mentions the following in 1938: “A number of buildings, which were landmarks of Shepparton, were demolished to facilitate the latest developments in business architecture.”
After some research through old newspapers and a couple of old photos, I found mentions of the following businesses in the early 1900s.
In Fryers St, starting on the corner and heading east were the following: James Chuck — Fruiterer and Confectionery, W. Daish — Butcher, Jack Story — Hairdresser and Tobacconist and Corboy’s Seed Shop.
P.S. James and Maude Chuck became the first Chinese couple to establish a business and raise a family in Shepparton. Mary Chuck, pianist and piano teacher, was one of their children.
Pics of the past columnist