Historic Houses - Henderson and Gregg's Drapers

In mid-1923, Mr. James Reid Dill Henderson and Mr. Harold Gregg, business partners of Henderson and Gregg’s opened their draper and milliners store on the south-west corner of Church and George Streets, Parramatta, having taken over Mr W Turnock’s well-known draper business.[2] To mark the occasion, a ‘sensational introduction sale’ ‘at unheard-of prices’ was held[3]. Their previous general draper business was in Hamilton, Newcastle, N.S.W. was by then sold to John Foy Glynn with the right to use their name for 12 months from 1 August 1923 to 1924.[4]

George Street, Parramatta, looking east through Church Street intersection, 1928. (Source: City of Parramatta, Local Studies Photograph Collection/Local Studies Library, LSOP803)[5]

The site of the Parramatta store was on the south-west corner of George and Church Street, Parramatta. It is currently occupied by the Commonwealth Bank at 235 Church Street. The site in the past was once the site of the local courthouse and Scottish Church before both were demolished. All that remains of these significant buildings is a circa 1838 heritage listed Court house wall and sandstone cell block and potential arch at the rear of the present site.[6] 

Former courthouse wall, cell block now included in the grounds of Commonwealth Bank Parramatta branch

(Source: National Trust of Australia (NSW Parramatta Region), 2240112b235)[7]

Henderson and Gregg’s were a popular business and advertised frequently in the local newspaper. Below is one of their advertisement showcasing some of the merchandise they were selling in their prime.

(Source: Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate)[8]

In 1931, Henderson and Gregg acquired the adjoining premises (of Moran & Cato) to expand their business. The whole of the interior was remodelled to cope with increased business and an archway was constructed between the two buildings in addition to works which modernised the exterior building [9]

(Source: Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate)[10]

(Source: Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate)[11]

In December 1941, Gregg was elected to the then Baulkham Hills Shire Council as a councillor representing B Riding (ward)[2] and he served until 1944.[13] 

On 29 May 1942, Henderson and Gregg Pty Limited went into voluntary liquidation with Anstey Withers Rockwell (Chartered Accountants) of 62 Margaret Street, Sydney appointed Liquidator after a Special Resolution was passed.[14]

In 1943, during an inquiry into the suspension of then Shire Clerk Major H.C. Hain, Gregg stated he was a retired business director of Henderson & Gregg’s having been a partner for 19.5 years and was by then a poultry farmer at Mornington, Castle Hill.[15] On 14 February 1948, he passed away at a private hospital in Strathfield. He was survived by his wife Clare Louise Gertrude Gregg and daughter Dawn Gwendoline Kirkwood.[16]

James Reid Dill Henderson of 11 Harris Park Estate, 42 High Street, Harris Park (Sec 11, lot 22 no 31603)[17] passed away on 17 June 1945 at his residence, aged 65. He was privately cremated at Rookwood and was survived by his wife Martha (née Thomas) and sons Gordon and Dugald.[18] His son Malcolm Haslam Henderson, predeceased him having served as sub-lieutenant of the HMS Sultan of the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve and died on 30 April 1942, aged 26 and buried at Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore (grave reference coll.grave 31. D. 1-17)[19]

In the years that followed, the building has since been demolished and as previously mentioned is currently the Commonwealth Bank.

Commonwealth Bank Parramatta Branch, 235 Church Street, Parramatta NSW. (Source: Google Maps)[20]

Anne Tsang, Research Assistant, Parramatta Heritage Centre, City of Parramatta 2020

References

1. Parramatta’s relic of earlier days (1931, December 31). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 14. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106855409 
2. Business change. (1923, October 10). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105912360
3. Advertising (1923, November 17). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 9. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105922884
4. Public notice. (1923, September 5). Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, p. 8. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139599638 ; We, James Reid Dill Henderson and Harold Gregg [public notice] (1923, September 5). The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 8. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16091164
5. City of Parramatta (2020) George Street, Parramatta, looking east through Church Street intersection, 1928. Local Studies Photograph Collection/Local Studies Library, LSOP803. Retrieved from http://heritagecentre.parracity.nsw.gov.au/search.do;jsessionid=J648ngmci5SgpymkqQ2i-HMi?id=90846&db=object&page=1&view=detail
6. Church Street, Parramatta (1925, July 10). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 12. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103758928 ; NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (2014). Court house wall and sandstone cellblock and potential arch. Site [223-235 Church Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150]. State Heritage Inventory database number 2240112. Retrieved from https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=2240112 ; Higginbotham, Edward & Johnson, Paul-Alan. (2010, 1989). No. 80. In The future of Parramatta’s past: AN archaeological zoning plan 1788 to 1844. Volume 2: inventory. [Sydney, N.S.W.]: Dept. of Planning, N.S.W. & University of New South Wales, p. 96. Retrieved from http://www.higginbotham.com.au/pdf/AZP_Parramatta_Vol-2.pdf 
7. Court house wall and sandstone cellblock and potential arch. Site [223-235 Church Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150]. State Heritage Inventory database number 2240112. Retrieved from https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=2240112 and https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/HeritageItemImage.aspx?ID=2240112#ad-image-0
8. Advertising (1934, April 26). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 18. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104586152
9. As seen through the lens of a local camera: Local business expanding (1930, March 13). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 6. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103861883 
10. Henderson & Gregg’s extensive alterations (1935, January 10). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 5 & 11 Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105088610 and http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105088640 
11. The march of progress (1935, August 29). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 – 1950), p. 20. Retrieved May 9, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105103493 
12. Five for B riding keen fight in Baulkham : Keen fight in hills election (1941, December 3). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 – 1950), p. 5. Retrieved May 10, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107304622 
13. The Hills Shire Council (n.d.). Chronological Councillors of The Hills Shire from 1906. Retrieved from https://www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/files/sharedassets/public/ecm-website-documents/page-documents/library/library-e-resources/councillors_of_the_hills_shire_-_chronological_order.pdf 
14. Henderson & Gregg Pty. Limited. Special resolution – passed 29th May, 1942. (1942, June 5). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001), p. 1863. Retrieved May 9, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article220093312 
15. Councillors have expressed views somewhat unfounded” inquiry into suspension of shire clerk man who voted for “half the resolution”‘ deputy attacks certified balance sheet’ (1943, May 12). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 6. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106131787 
16. Gregg, Harold [Death and funeral notices] (1948, February 16). The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 10. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18061169 ; In the will of Harold Gregg late of Parramatta. (1948, February 21). The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 12. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27893901 
17. Government notice (1933, March 10). The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 14. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16980318
18. Henderson [Death notice] (1945, June 19). The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 10. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17943138 ; Obituary (1945, June 20). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate. p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106135978 
19. Commonwealth War Grave Commission. (n.d.). Sub-Lieutenant Henderson, Malcolm Haslam. Retrieved from https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2228404/henderson,-malcolm-haslam/ 
20. Google Inc. (2020) Google maps. Available online at https://www.google.com/maps/place/235+Church+St,+Parramatta+NSW+2150