J A Geer's grocery store operated from 1909-1912 on the site established by George Sim in 1884. He bought a house and added a shop where, in 1889, he established the first post office in the area. Prior to this residents had to go the Box Hill to collect mail. Date is approximate.This records one of the earliest businesses in Surrey Hills. To begin with, businesses developed along Canterbury Road rather than Union Road, in part because of the muddy nature of the land north of the railway line.Black and white photo taken from a postcard of Canterbury Road, near the corner of Union Road, looking west in 1906 or 1907. Two children play on the LHS of the street and there is a man on a horse and carriage, and a cart, on the RHS. Buildings on the RHS are the Surrey Family Hotel and J A Geer's grocery store; on the LHS is a row of double-storey terraces including Hansen's Terrace on Canterbury Road to the west of Union Road.On LHS within the original image is 'Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills'; on the rear in top LH corner in blue biro in Jocelyn Hall's handwriting "J H / spare"canterbury road, geer's grocery store, surrey family hotel, businesses, horse drawn vehicle, hansen's terrace, post card, mr j a geer

The date is approximate. Bill Willaton was a driver for C E Gray & Son, bakers of Canterbury during the 1930s. Tacey's butcher shop (dem) was located at 629 Canterbury Road. Black and white photo of a young boy on a light-coloured horse in vacant land adjacent to Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills. In the background a girl is standing in front of a new-looking paling fence behind which can be seen local landmarks. On the right is Hansen's Terrace; on the far left part of the Surrey Hall can be seen and in the middle ground the rear of McNeill's Family Hotel (Surrey Lodge), Dartnell's corner and the side of the post office.tacey's butchers, horse-driven vehicles, hansen's terrace, surrey hills post office, surrey lodge, mcneill's family hotel, surrey hall, william willaton, bill willaton, surrey hills, canterbury road

This site was later occupied by Mitton's pharmacy. James Henry Pollard appears on the 1903 electoral roll as a painter in Canterbury Road (in one of the buildings that made up Hansen's Terrace.)The Union Road shops are covered by a City of Boroondara Heritage Overlay. This particular shop has changed very little with some alteration to the upper storey when it was repurposed for residential dwelling.Black and white photo of James Henry Pollard's shop at 139 Union Road, Surrey Hills in 1930. It is a 2 storey brick building with 2 glass display windows either side of the door and a corrugated iron roofed verandah supported on 3 posts. Above is a dwelling with 2 sash windows and an interior balcony within an arch. A wooden paling fence adjoins on the left. The side of the building and the front pediment carry advertising for the business. From this it appears that James Henry Pollard was an insurance agent for Guardian Assurance Company as well as being a house painter and decorator. There is a deciduous tree in the front of the shop.businesses, shops, mitton's pharmacy, guardian assurance company, union road shops, james henry pollard, painter, decorator

In the foreground is Dr Blakie's first surgery, later the Police Station, then a Service station. Behind and to the left are the two railway station buildings. On the horizon and in front of the pine trees is 'Montalto', home of the Hansen family, later Dr Box (demolished). Two storey terrace of shops in front of this is Hansen's Terrace. In centre, note smoke from steam train. On corner of Guildford Rd is a Gas Lamp. The first trees have been planted in Union Road and are protected with stout wood surround.Black and white photograph of a view of Surrey Hills. Written on the bottom left hand side "SURREY HILLS - FROM THE NORTH". In the foreground are two trees on the right hand side before a view leading up the hill. dr blakie, police station, hansen terrace, dr box, montalto, guildford rd, gas lamp, union road

Frederick John Ambler was an upholsterer. Married Beatrice Annie Martin in 1897. Fred was born in Essex, UK in 1873. The Amblers has a large family: Gordon Frederick William (1898-1910); Malcolm George (1900-1965); Daisy May (1904-1904); Leon Verde (1904-1904); Garnet Leslie (1904-1904); Ruby Isobel (1906-2004); Hector Leon (1909-1994); Sylvia Beatrice (1912 - ); Daisy May (1914-2009); Ronald Edward (1915-1990); Jean Mavis (1918-2001) plus Dorothy (dates not known). Residence: 1900-1914: 59 Sunbury Crescent; 1914-1950): 362 Canterbury Road (residence and workshop) in the Hansen's Terrace. Fred died at home (362 Canterbury Road) on 27 December 1947. He is buried in Box Hill Cemetery - M-201-0035 along with his wife. Beatrice's parents lived at 18 Lorne Parade, Surrey Hills. Black and white formal portrait of Fred Ambler in a dark suit."MRS. D. CARLSON / 1/80 WATTS ST/ BOX HILL NTH / 898 3621" Separately "FRED AMBLER" Also stamped with the photographer's details.frederick john ambler, 362 canterbury road, 59 sunbury crescent, mrs beatrice annie ambler, miss beatrice annie martin, fred ambler, box hill cemetery

Frederick John Ambler was an upholsterer. Married Beatrice Annie Martin in 1897. Fred was born in Essex, UK in 1873. The Amblers has a large family: Gordon Frederick William (1898-1910); Malcolm George (1900-1965); Daisy May (1904-1904); Leon Verde (1904-1904); Garnet Leslie (1904-1904); Ruby Isobel (1906-2004); Hector Leon (1909-1994); Sylvia Beatrice (1912 - ); Daisy May (1914-2009); Ronald Edward (1915-1990); Jean Mavis (1918-2001) plus Dorothy (dates not known). Residence: 1900-1914: 59 Sunbury Crescent; 1914-1950): 362 Canterbury Road (residence and workshop) in the Hansen's Terrace. Fred died at home (362 Canterbury Road) on 27 December 1947. He is buried in Box Hill Cemetery - M-201-0035 along with his wife. Beatrice's parents lived at 18 Lorne Parade, Surrey Hills. Small black and white square portrait of Fred and Annie Ambler against a paling fence."ANNIE & FRED/ AMBLER/ D. CARLSON / 1/80 WATTS ST/ BOX HILL NTH / 898 3621" Also stamped with "2241" plus "ALPHA / PHOTO SERVICES/ BOX HILL"frederick john ambler, 362 canterbury road, 59 sunbury crescent, mrs beatrice annie ambler, miss beatrice annie martin, fred ambler, box hill cemetery

Percy Henry (Harry) Pledger (1884-1954) and Eleanor Elizabeth George (1888-1963). They married in 1908 in St Peters, Paddington, London. Percy was a tailor in Barnet, Middlesex and the family migrated to Australia in 1923, arriving in Brisbane on 11 December 1923. They settled in Surrey Hills. Percy had a tailoring and later knitwear business at 418 Canterbury Road, almost opposite Alexandra Avenue (? also at another time in Hansen's Terrace in Canterbury Road). The family was musical. Their children were: Son Percy who joined the staff at Allan’s Music House and rose to become their chief accountant. He also taught and played the violin in a number of orchestras. (See individual entry for him - SH1207) Daughter Jessie married Arthur John Marston Bate (1906-1994) in 1941; he was born in Birmingham and his father was also a tailor. Arthur gained BA and MA from the University of New Zealand. He was also primarily a musician, but worked in theatre, broadcasting and teaching in New Zealand and at the State Theatre in Melbourne and the ABC. He was a pilot during WW2 (SERN 255363), rising to the rank of Flight Lieutenant and also a RAAF Chaplain. Jessie and Arthur lived in Hawthorn, Ashwood and Mount Waverley. They are buried in Box Hill Cemetery (CE-213-0029) along with daughter Christine Elizabeth. Stanley Bertram Pledger, along with Harold Sydserf, assisted Stan's brother Percy to establish the Surrey Hills Musical Club in the 1920s . It soon increased to 12 or 15 members, giving 4 concerts a year. They combined with the Surrey Hills Dramatic Society to produce operettas. In time the group expanded to a total of 30 players and became the Camberwell Symphony Orchestra. Stanley Bertram Pledger (1912-1996) is listed in electoral rolls at a number of addresses around Surrey Hills: 1927 - 36 Suffolk Road; 1940s - Essex Road; 1977 - Burwood. All entries consistently give his occupation as manufacturer and it is assumed that this was with the family business. He retired to Kiama, NSW.A black and white photograph of a couple standing in the rear garden. The lady is wearing a short sleeved, knee length dress and the man is wearing long trousers held up by braces and a short sleeved shirt.clothing and dress, tailor and knitwear, (mr) percy henry pledger, (mrs) eleanor elizabeth pledger, (mrs) nell pledger, (miss) eleanor elizabeth george

Nell Pledger - Eleanor Elizabeth George (1888-1963) was the wife of Percy Henry (Harry) Pledger (1884-1954). They married in Paddington, London in 1908. Percy was a tailor in Barnet, Middlesex and the family migrated to Australia in 1923, arriving in Brisbane on 11 December 1923. They settled in Surrey Hills. Percy had a tailoring and later knitwear business at 418 Canterbury Road, almost opposite Alexandra Avenue (? also at another time in Hansen's Terrace in Canterbury Road). The family was musical. After leaving school son Percy joined the staff at Allan’s Music House and rose to become their chief accountant. He also taught and played the violin in a number of orchestras. (See individual entry for him - SH1207) Jessie married Arthur John Marston Bate (1906-1994) in 1941; he was born in Birmingham and his father was also a tailor. Arthur gained BA and MA from the University of New Zealand. He was also primarily a musician, but worked in theatre, broadcasting and teaching in New Zealand and at the State Theatre in Melbourne and the ABC. He was a pilot during WW2 (SERN 255363), rising to the rank of Flight Lieutenant and also a RAAF Chaplain. Jessie and Arthur lived in Hawthorn, Ashwood and Mount Waverley. They are buried in Box Hill Cemetery (CE-213-0029) along with daughter Christine Elizabeth. In the 1920s Stanley Bertram Pledger, along with Harold Sydserf, assisted Stan's brother Percy to establish the Surrey Hills Musical Club. It soon increased to 12 or 15 members, giving 4 concerts a year. They combined with the Surrey Hills Dramatic Society to produce operettas. In time the group expanded to a total of 30 players and became the Camberwell Symphony Orchestra. Stanley Bertram Pledger (1912-1996) is listed in electoral rolls at a number of addresses around Surrey Hills: 1927 - 36 Suffolk Road; 1940s - Essex Road; 1977 - Burwood. All entries consistently give his occupation as manufacturer and it is assumed that this was with the family business. He retired to Kiama, NSW.A black and white photograph of a lady dresses in a fur coat, and standing on the pavement with buildings in the background.alexandra avenue, canterbury road, union road, surrey hills, knitwear business, streetscape, (mrs) eleanor elizabeth pledger, (mrs) nell pledger, (mr) percy pledger, (miss) eleanor elizabeth george

The post office opened at this location in 1912. It was demolished in 2000. Post office history in the area: Until 1883 when the railway came through to Surrey Hills, this was essentially a rural community of scattered farms. Land subdivisions soon occurred along the railway line and limited postal services followed soon after, although a ‘permanent’ home for the post office was two decades away. George Sim Junior is acknowledged as our first postmaster; he opened a post office on 1 October 1884 in his father’s general store at 619-621 Canterbury Road, a few doors down from the Surrey Hills Hotel on the corner of Union Road. Over the next 20 years, the Surrey Hills Post Office moved several times into temporary, shared accommodation – in 1889 into Woodhead’s Corner Store at 364 Canterbury Road; then in 1895 to No 376, Hansen’s Exchange Building, part of Hansen’s Terrace (demolished) and in 1901 to 109 Union Road, on the corner of Windsor Crescent. Following Federation in 1901, the new Commonwealth Government established the Postmaster-General's Department to provide postal services to the nation. Many of the post offices constructed in the following years reflected a growing sense of Australian pride and nationalism. It was 1914 when building commenced on the ‘purpose-built’ post office at 609 Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills. Described as “a polychromatic Federation Freestyle building”, it served as the local post office for nearly 85 years until sold by the Commonwealth Government in c1999, after which the post office moved to the current, less prominent site at 100 Union Road. For nearly 10 years under private ownership, the building was successfully adapted for use as the base for two businesses, Gargoyles and Dragons and later the Surrey Sculpture Studio, and fortuitously the historic integrity of the building was maintained. However although renovated in the 1990's, structurally sound and of historic significance, it was not protected under local or commonwealth heritage legislation and was demolished soon after sale. This is an early image of a demolished building which should have been protected. In 1991, when the City of Camberwell conducted a heritage study, (which still informs the basis of the City of Boroondara’s heritage guidelines for this part of the municipality,) the post office was owned by the Commonwealth Government. As such, it could not be considered for heritage listing by the local authorities. Some years later, the Commonwealth and Australia Post rather belatedly recognized not only that post offices have heritage and social value, but also that the architecture of post offices as community buildings is important. A heritage management scheme was developed for the buildings they own or control under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999. Unfortunately, the Surrey Hills Post Office had been sold and demolished before this was finally enacted in 2004. Black and white image, perhaps from a post card, of Surrey Hills post office at 609 Canterbury Road. The building is flanked by a picket fence. There is a woman, a dog and a man in front of the entrance. The man is in uniform - possibly a postal employee.post offices, canterbury road, businesses, surrey hills post office, surrey sculture studio, gargoyles and dragons

Percy Alfred William (1910- ), Stanley Bertram (1912-1996) and Jessie Eleanor (1915-2008) were the children of Percy Henry (Harry) Pledger (1884-1954) and Eleanor Elizabeth George (1888-1963). Percy was a tailor in Barnet, Middlesex and the family migrated to Australia in 1923, arriving in Brisbane on 11 December 1923. They settled in Surrey Hills. Percy had a tailoring and later knitwear business at 418 Canterbury Road, almost opposite Alexandra Avenue (? also at another time in Hansen's Terrace in Canterbury Road). The family was musical. After leaving school son Percy joined the staff at Allan’s Music House and rose to become their chief accountant. He also taught and played the violin in a number of orchestras. (See individual entry for him - SH1207) Jessie married Arthur John Marston Bate (1906-1994) in 1941; he was born in Birmingham and his father was also a tailor. Arthur gained BA and MA from the University of New Zealand. He was also primarily a musician, but worked in theatre, broadcasting and teaching in New Zealand and at the State Theatre in Melbourne and the ABC. He was a pilot during WW2 (SERN 255363), rising to the rank of Flight Lieutenant and also a RAAF Chaplain. Jessie and Arthur lived in Hawthorn, Ashwood and Mount Waverley. They are buried in Box Hill Cemetery (CE-213-0029) along with daughter Christine Elizabeth. In the 1920s Stanley Bertram Pledger, along with Harold Sydserf, assisted Stan's brother Percy to establish the Surrey Hills Musical Club. It soon increased to 12 or 15 members, giving 4 concerts a year. They combined with the Surrey Hills Dramatic Society to produce operettas. In time the group expanded to a total of 30 players and became the Camberwell Symphony Orchestra. Stanley Bertram Pledger (1912-1996) is listed in electoral rolls at a number of addresses around Surrey Hills: 1927 - 36 Suffolk Road; 1940s - Essex Road; 1977 - Burwood. All entries consistently give his occupation as manufacturer and it is assumed that this was with the family business. He retired to Kiama, NSW.A black and white photograph of two young men and a young lady standing in a garden setting. The men are dressed in suits whilst the lady is dressed in a short sleeved, knee length summer dress.canterbury road, surrey hills, pledger's knitwear, alexandra avenue, canterbury, victorian symphony orchestra, violinist, clothing and dress, mr percy alfred william pledger, mr stanley bertram pledger, miss jessie eleanor pledger, mrs jessie eleanor bate, mr arthur john marston bate, surrey hills music club

Ref: Mr & Mrs J Davies, Greensborough - Alfred Davies took over this store in 1904. He lived with his wife, Lucretia and 5 children above the store. His son Cyril recalled sleeping on the corner balcony on hot nights. Alfred Davies was a strong Temperance man and gave up the store when clients pressured him to collect their beer from the hotel opposite and deliver it with their grocery orders. The pharmacy moved across the road to this corner in 1936 when acquired by Dartnells. The corner shop in Woodheads building was a store and other businesses over the years. The "Druggist" on right, in Hansen's Exchange building, was established in 1889. From 1910 Percy Cathcart conducted the pharmacy there until 1936 when he was joined by Vic Dartnell, his cousin. In 1940, Vic transferred the business to Woodheads corner. His son John followed as a pharmacist until his daughter Amanda became the pharmacist. After the Dartnell family sold the business, the pharmacy continued in a similar manner as a compounding pharmacy and retained 'Dartnell' in its name.This documents the importance given to celebration of the British Empire in the Surrey Hills area in the first half of the 20th century. It also documents the earliest centre of business activity in the area with 2 major sets of dual occupancy residential and retail terraces - the Woodhead buildings and Hansen's Exchange, the later set of terraces having been demolished c1971.Sepia photo of the corner of Canterbury and Union Roads in 1906 or 1909 festooned with flags and lanterns for Empire Day celebrations. On the SE corner is Alfred Davies grocery store with advertising signs for Rosella jams and Southern Seas soap. There are people standing on a balcony above the Rosella advertising sign. Other adults and children stand in the street and there is a cab outside the draper's further east in Canterbury Road. On the opposite corner to Alfred Davies is a druggist and on the north-west corner is McNeil's Family Hotel.mcneil's family hotel, empire day, festivals and celebrations, grocers, pharmacists, alfred davies, businesses, woodhead's buildings, john woodhead, percy cathcart, hansen's exchange, hansen's folly