Louis Jack, the man who beautified George Street Parramatta NSW

Louis (Lou) Jack was born on 24 February 1889 in Tasmania, the son of Charles James Jack and Alice Rachael Forsey. In 1910, he launched his first Australian pelt business in Dubbo, N.S.W. before expanding and opening branches in Narromine and Cobar, and in 1912, included branches in Orange and Bathurst. In 1914, he married Ethel Pauline Wyborn in Bathurst, N.S.W. before the couple appear to have settled in Orange, country N.S.W. where the birth of their two eldest children Maxwell Louis Jack (1914-1991) and Una Pauline Jack (b. 1916, later Mrs Albert (Bert) Harold Goodyer from 1942) were registered. By 1920, their youngest son Edward (Prince) Jack (1920-2005) was born in Parramatta.[2] 

Based on N.S.W. electoral rolls and death notices for Ethel (d. 14 February 1954) and Louis (d. 5 June 1957), the family home was listed as 45 Harris Street, Harris Park, N.S.W.[2] Today, that house is The Golden Palm Guest House.

In 1915, Louis Jack started his furrier business at then 18, 20, 22 George Street, Parramatta, as seen in the photograph above was opposite Tattersalls Hotel.[4] At first it was known as Parramatta Dryers and Cleaners before Jack, a student of economics, diversified his business operations to include manufacturing furriers, dryers and cleaners. Other branches in Auburn, Burwood, and Ashfield were opened around the 1920a and even a retail fur depot and receiving office for renovations in Rawson Place, Sydney. A second branch known as “Jack’s” was also opened in Parramatta. Overtime, Jack brought up many properties along George Street Parramatta and in the local newspaper The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, had the honour of being called ‘the man who beautified George Street, Parramatta’.[5]

Jack’s furrier, dryer and cleaning business remained at the same premises 18, 20, 22 George Street (north side), the present site of Mayfair Plaza for over 30 years.[6] This shop became well known for its window displays, quality products, catalogue and advertisements.

One of Jack’s 1920's billboard size advertisements titled Our latest designs for coming seasons : Parramatta Manufacturing Furriers & Dyers Regd : converters of rabbit skins to coney has been digitised by the National Library of Australia. It is available to view online at http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-67695720. The advertisement features their fur products on approximately 85 models. It also promotes their other services including skin polishing, fur cleaning and repair. Catalogue numbers with annotations and prices are included.[9]

In the newspaper article ‘Romances of industry : "My Lady's" fur : Camouflaging titles of "imported" skins : Interesting sidelights on a Parramatta industry’ published in The Sunday Times (25 June 1922, p. 12)[10], it details Jack's pioneering enterprise in turning Australian pelt into fashionable feminine coats and garments. Photos behind the scene of the Designing and Cutting Department of the Parramatta Dyers, Cleaners and Furriers as well as the corner of the dyeing section showing some of the vats was published in the article to illustrate the Australian made process.

To continue the family empire, Jack's eldest son Maxwell appears to have also been involved in the business briefly from 1934 to 1936 before the business ownership reverts back to Louis Jack.[11] Maxwell remained a North Parramatta resident until his death in 1991.

At the time of Louis’ death, his will indicated that he also owned the property at 41-45 George Street, adjoining Tattersall Hotel, later Woolworths, corner Church Street.[12] The property was put up for auction sale on Tuesday 20 May 1958 under the instructions from the executors Maxwell Louis Jack, esq. and Edward Jack, esq., as Perpetual Trustee Company (Limited).[13] 

Based on Council valuation books, Louis Jack also owned 30 George Street, Parramatta that was listed under his wife Ethel Pauline’s name where Norma Cafe ran.[14] In 1931, this business was managed by Mrs Isabel Harvey, wife of Parramatta Bowling Club secretary Charles Herbert (Bert) Harvey[15]

Anne Tsang, Research Assistant, Parramatta Heritage Centre, City of Parramatta, 2021

References

1. City of Parramatta. (2021). Looking down George Street towards Smith Street, Parramatta with Tattersalls Hotel on the right, circa 1930 [image]. Local Studies Photographic Collection, object number LSP00319. Retrieved from https://heritagecentre.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/objects/8105/looking-down-george-street-towards-smith-street-parramatta-with-tattersalls-hotel-on-the-right-circa-1930
2. Ancestry.com (2010). Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922 ; Marriage Index, 1788-1950 ; Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. ; NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. (2021). Family history search. Available online via https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/ 
3. Google Maps (2021). The Golden Palm Guest House, 45 Harris Street, Harris Park NSW 2150. Available online at https://goo.gl/maps/m6wjDVBuY2DaZWHr8
4. Registered firms : Parramatta Furriers, Dryers & Dry Cleaners. (1928, March 12). Dun's gazette for New South Wales, 39(10), p. 205. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-838837103
5. Louis Jack : George Street Booster (1928, March 30). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 12. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107101038  
6. For high-class costumes and suits : Jack’s : 20 George Street Parramatta [Advertisement] (1938, March 17). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104978030 
7. Jacks : the quality tailors [Advertisement] (1938, May 11). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 36. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104975910   
8. The house that Jack’s built [Advertisement] (1938, October 26). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 69. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104974385 
9. Parramatta Manufacturing Furriers and Dyers & Jack, Louis. (1920). Our latest designs for coming seasons : Parramatta Manufacturing Furriers & Dyers Regd : converters of rabbit skins to coney. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-67695720  
10. Romances of industry : “My lady’s” fur : Camouflaging titles of "imported" skins : Interesting sidelights on a Parramatta industry.(1922, June 25). Sunday Times, p. 12. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128209736     
11. Change in ownership or constitution. (1934, October 1). Dun's gazette for New South Wales, 52(14), p. 307. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-826378467 ; Change in ownership or constitution. (1936, February 17), Dunn’s Gazette of NSW, 55(7), p. 150. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-768871041  
12. RE will of Louis Jack, late of 45 Harris-street, Harris Park. (1957, November 1). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales, p. 3488. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article220358792  
13. City of Parramatta under the instructions from Perpetual Trustee Company (Limited) Louis Jack, esq. and Edward Jack, esq., executors of the will of the late Louis Jack. (1958 May 10). The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 38. 
14. City of Parramatta (1954, 1957) [Valuation list for 30 "Norma Cafe" George Street, Parramatta (North side)] In Valuation books for the Councils of Parramatta, Granville, Dundas, Ermington and Rydalmere, 1925-1965, valuation no. 2483. Available at Parramatta Heritage Centre Local Studies Research Library.
15. Business change (1931, April 23). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 10. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106849601