Donated by Mrs Lockwood, Bonnie, formerly HamiltonPostcard size, black & white reproduction, unframed. Norman Hamilton & small boy in front of O. Gilpin's store which once belonged to his father Mr David Hamilton"Norman Glen Hamilton, cnr High & Main Streets O. Gilpin store ex D.G. Hamilton"norman hamilton, gilpin store, d g hamilton

Part of a collection relating to the Parkin family. The reference to 'Gilpin girls' refers to the women who worked in Gilpin's Store, Rutherglen.Black and white photograph of six women in a back yardOn back of photo: "Gilpin girls. Miss Nott, Myrtle, Dorrie Jones, Daisy, Edna Hare, Olwyn Harbley"parkin family, daisy parkin, gilpin store

This building no longer exists. The new building on the site was used as a branch of the Commonwealth Bank for some years, and is now (2019) the Anglican Op-Shop.Black and white photograph of O Gilpin's Storegilpin, stores, shops

This figurine of the drapery store owner himself, Oliver Gilpin, also represents the many similar figurines used within his chain stores to display hats and ties. in 1951, the Gilpin business and chain was purchased by G.J. Coles & Co. Ltd.Heavy, painted plaster figurine of man in grey coloured three-piece business suit. Head is of larger proportion, cigar end inserted in mouth. This figurine of the drapery store owner also represents the many similar figurines used within his chain stores to display hats and ties. Gilpin’s first store was in Korumburra and then expanded across regional Victoria. In 1951, the Gilpin business and chain was purchased by G.J. Coles & Co. Ltd.O. GILPIN / SPECIALoliver gilpin, drapery store owner, 1895, korumburra, gippsland, figurine

Dark wooden-framed rectangular photograph with glass, mounted with cream and black matt board. Landscape-oriented black + white image representing seven women in front of rustic weatherboard building.O. Gilpin Staff Leongatha / Back - Alison Sinnbeck,?, Lorna Backman, Yvonne Courtney. / Front - ?, Mavis Wightman, Merle Griggs.historic record, gilpin store, female staff, leongatha, 1940s, workers, alison sinbeck, lorna backman, yvonne courtney, mavis wightman, merle griggs

Black and white photograph (2 copies) Printed on photograph, "Series No.2 - Municipal Chambers, Ringwood." Typed on backing sheet below one photograph: "Gilpins store (later) Coles site. Fence to left (later) S.E.C. site - c 1930".

2 copies of photograph (1 large black and white, 1 sepia postcard)Printed below photograph: "Published by C.V. Ward. Main Street Showing Municipal Chambers, Ringwood". Written on rear of backing sheet: "1 - Town Hall - Front only 1930. 2 - Bank of Victoria, 3 - T & G Williams Hardware, 4 - SSB of Victoria, 5 - O. Gilpin Store, later Foy & Gibson, then Coles".

In May 1931 the Australian government announced a 20% reduction in expenditure, cuts to wages and pensions, and increased taxation. Despite workers striking, wages were reduced and working hours increased. The economy plunged into depression. Workers blamed the hardships on greedy bankers and the rich elite. The unemployed’ home-made, designed, knitted, painted and created things like pegs, pincushions, soaps, kitchen utensils and Pokerwork art, to sell door-to-door or in the streets. ‘Make Do and Mend’ was the mantra of the time. Making and mending clothing at home became a means to save money and an income offering services mending, altering or making clothes for the working people. Making over garments had been a time-honoured tradition since pioneer days. During the Depression clothes were a luxury and new fashions were created by altering old clothes. A best dress became a housedress, a church suit became a mine suit. Old shirts became new aprons, old trousers became new hats. Magazines and newspapers published Instructions on making and mending clothing and these became curriculums for sewing classes. Darning, mending, patching, saving fabric for rags, patches or upcycling became a necessity. Having a Sewing machine like this 1927 Singer housed in Oliver Gilpin’s store at Coal Creek Community Park and Museum could be the difference between survival and starvation The popularity of publications such as ‘Make do and mend’ lasted through the Second World War and into the 20th Century. Hand operated Singer sewing machine with wooden cover, circa 1927Y4476618

Oliver Gilpin (1874-1942), chain store proprietor, was born on 8 July 1874 at Seven Creeks near Euroa, Victoria, fourth child and second son of William Gilpin, farmer, and his wife Dinah, née Barton, both from Tyrone, Ireland. He was educated at local state schools and became a draper's assistant at Euroa. A testimonial as 'an energetic, pushing salesman, a careful stock-keeper … honest and industrious' gained him city experience with Ball & Welch Ltd, drapers, in their Carlton store. He used an inheritance to open a drapery store at Korumburra, south Gippsland, in 1895, moving to Rutherglen in the upper Murray valley in 1899. Frustrated by irregular stock deliveries, he moved to Fitzroy, Melbourne, in 1902, seeking a warehouse and the benefits of combined supplies for effective development of country trading. By 1905 he was producing many stock items at Northcote and had established retail outlets at Bendigo and Warracknabeal. Branches at Echuca, Numurkah and Yarrawonga followed in 1906, with ten more in 1907. He moved his city establishment to East Malvern in 1911, and had opened forty shops by 1920 and seventy-four by 1928. All were managed by women, on a strictly cash basis. Drapery remained the main line, supplemented by ironmongery, crockery, school requisites and toys. Gilpin saw the Depression years as a challenge. Between 1928 and 1931 he established eighteen new branches, including two in Tasmania, at Devonport and Ulverstone. The chain included South Australian branches at Mount Gambier, Millicent and Renmark, twenty-five stores in southern and western New South Wales, and ten in suburban Melbourne. Gilpin's Chain Store News was issued monthly. In 1944 Foy & Gibson acquired a controlling interest in Gilpin's business and in 1951 the chain was bought by G. J. Coles & Co. Ltd for £1,250,000. Three wooden blocks used to display hats. 9042.1 Slightly head shaped on top 9042.2 Light timber, flat on top, a wedge at back. 9042.3 Dark timber, flat on top.hat blocks, millinery, haberdashery, gilpin, korumburra

Written next to photographs (mounted on single sheet) SS0186c: "Coles Store being altered. Crane is lifting down RSJ of veranda, June 1959. SS0186d: "Previously Foys (soft goods etc.). Previously O. Gilpin (grocers)."

This photo is reproduced in the book on Oliver Gilpin's life by his granddaughter Muriel Perry, titled 'Just a pocket for the money', 1995, p.84. The staff names have been labeled as 'Kath? (M), E.Myles, M.Haly, D. Walker, V.Bond, I.Christensen, L.Mattinson, D.Shipsides, J. Miles, '(Coal Creek Historical Village per I. Devlin) Note : (M) Abbreviaton for Manager.Photo of 9 female staff from O.Gilpins Dimboola store, circa 1935on back of frame: Dimboola, 1935?

Donated by Mrs Lockwood, Bonnie, formerly HamiltonBlack & white reproduction, unframed. Group of five in front of store owned by D.G. Hamilton. Store later was O. Gilpin, later Foy and Gibson, later still a hardware store owned by the late Fred Cooper, later demolished & at present the State Bank."D.G. Hamilton Store cnr Main & High Streets. Later O. Gilpin, later Foy & Gibson, Later Fred Cooper, then demolished for State Bank"d g hamilton, david hamilton, hamilton store