Colour Photograph of McArthur's Shoes Store Hargreaves Mall April 2001.photograph, streetscape, mcarthur's shoes store hargreaves mall

Dr Michele Matthews has been a local and social historian for nearly three decades since she first used correspondence held by the then Bendigo City Council for her Honours thesis. She is an ardent advocate for the use of local history records to tell Victorian and Australian history from a grassroots perspective. Michele’s MA thesis, ‘A forgotten “Father” of Federation: Sir John Quick 1852‑1911’ (2003), and her PhD thesis, ‘Survivors, schemes, Samaritans and shareholders: the impact of the Great Depression on Bendigo and District 1925‑1935’ (2007), both drew heavily on Bendigo and district records. Michele Matthews Collection: PHD Research - Article "Old Docket unearth fascinating Bendigo History" from the Bendigo Weekly Friday Nov 03 2006 Collectors' Corner by Leighton Rawlings This item includes the following document: 8672.90a Colour photo of a Stillwell's Docket 1934 - Scanned from the article 8672.90b The article, "Collectors' Corner – Old Docket Unearths Fascinating Bendigo History" by Leighton Rawlings, uses a 1934 Stilwell's invoice as the starting point to explore the history of one of Bendigo's best-known family businesses. It explains that old documents such as invoices provide valuable historical records, offering insight into the businesses and communities of earlier generations. The featured invoice originated from Stilwell's Ironmongers and Complete House Furnishers, which operated from 281, 283 and 285 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo. The store occupied a prominent location in what is now the Hargreaves Mall. The article notes that the site has since been occupied by other retailers, including McArthur's Shoes and Sanity Australia Music Store. Research into the Stilwell family reveals a long association with Bendigo spanning approximately nine generations, dating back to the Victorian gold rush of the mid-1800s. According to family records compiled by Neville Stilwell, Fred and Ernest Stilwell established the hardware business around 1907–1908. Over the following decades, the business expanded beyond hardware into crockery and furniture before changes in ownership saw Lewis Stilwell assume control after Ernest became ill around 1930. The business successfully endured the economic hardships of the Great Depression and continued operating throughout the Second World War. During the late 1940s and 1950s, however, the rise of chain stores prompted the company to shift its focus away from traditional hardware towards building materials, tools and paint. This change eventually led Neville Stilwell to establish Stilwell's Discount Paints, reflecting the family's ability to adapt to changing market conditions. The article also provides a personal insight into Neville Stilwell, describing him as an enthusiastic amateur radio operator who constructed a large aerial at his home to support his hobby. As the original business declined, trading ceased in the early 1960s, and the property was sold in 1961. Despite this, the Stilwell name continued through Stilwell's Paint and Colour, located at the corner of Mitchell and Mollison Streets, where the family's reputation for quality products and customer service endured. The article concludes by noting that there is much more history associated with the Stilwell family than could fit within the column. The author expresses appreciation to Neville Willmott, the current proprietor of Stilwell's Paint and Colour, for his assistance in providing historical information and helping compile the article. A reproduction of the 1934 invoice accompanies the story, illustrating the historical document that inspired the feature.bendigo, michele matthews collection, stilwell's hargreaves street