A photo of Oliver Gilpin in a cream oval frame

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. Approximately 15cm x 15 cm x 50cm.O. GILPIN / SPECIALoliver gilpin, drapery store owner, 1895, korumburra, gippsland, figurine

stawell

Framed print of full page newspaper advertisement for Dunlop truck tyres, recommended by Oliver Gilpin as tyres for his fleet of trucks

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?

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

Three booklets of the Ballarat School of Mines Past Student's Association. past students, reunions, alumni, a.f. heseltine, norman buley, john adam, william baragwanath, howard beanland, john bickett, guido brelaz, frank brind, lloyd brind, edwin brophy, alfred caldecoat, cyril callister, george callister, peter chatham, john dulfer, andrew elder, robert elsworth, israel flegeltaub, robert kneeshaw, harry kum yuen, james kydd, thomas lakeland, william lakeland, alan ludbrook, harold martell, samuel mayo, frankmoss, herbert moss, james pound, carl schache, eric steane, john sutherland, reville tinworth, gilbert tippett, fred treloar, fred barrow, allan bernaldo, albert davies, arthur davies, lionel davies, alan cutter, jesse hopewood, donald johnston, harold jolly, j. la gerche, fredeick longhurst, gladstone proctor, geoffrey richards, edwin robinson, l.s.smith, percy trompf, harold wakeling, albert williams, frederick allsop, victor millington, l.b. evans, arthur burdekin, harry caddy, donald cameron, william fleay, maxwell gaunt, alan gilpin, robert goodyear, leslie grut, francis horsfall, lionel lambert, olive pye, george rumpfe, ernest siemering, herbert siemering, charles vale, william williams, eric embling, oliver jager, reginald warnock, graham hopwood, assay laboratory, ballarat junior technical school, gladstone procter, f.g. procter

Sixteen theatre programmes from the Royal Princess Theatre: 1) ''A chapter in her life'' with Claude Gillingwater, Jacqueline Gadsen & Jane Mercer - ''Within the law'' with Norma Talmadge. 2) ''Who's Who'' directed by William Anderson. 3) ''The old woman who lived in a shoe'' with Lily Clarke, Fred Heinz, Neal Connelly, Gladys Spencer, Nellie Hornby, Willie Howard, Mary Nuttall, Frank Rossmore, George McGuire, May Bryer, Claud Chevely, Vera Nuttall, Vera Bromley, Dorothea Liddle, Coral Spencer, Ruby May, Irene McGuire, Nellie McGuire, Euston Moloney. 4) ''Splendid Fellows'' with Isabelle Mahon, frank Leighton, Eric Colman, Leo Franklin, Frank Bradley. 5) ''David Copperfield'' with W.C. Fields, Lionel Barrymore, Madge Evans, Maureen O'Sullivan, Edna May Oliver. 6) ''The Gay Divorcee'' with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. 7) ''One Night of love'' with Grace Moore. 8) grand Operettas ''Life at sea'' by the pupils of the Marist Brothers' College. On Saturday, December 16th, 1916. 9) ''John Gilpin'' music by Sr Frederick Cowen. First appearance of the Marist Bros. Boy's brass band with miss Pauline Bindley, Miss Mary Bentley, Miss Vera O'Donnell, Mr. Hector Goldspink, Mr. Tom Pritchard, Mr. Frank Bensen. Wednesday, December 7th, 1910. 10) ''A night at a Maori Pah'' featuring forty full blooded Maoris from the thermal regions of New Zealand. 11) Royal Princess Bendigo eighty first birthday souvenir programme. 31st August, 1955. 12) '' The Merry Widow'' royal comic opera company with Gladys Moncrieff, Arthur Stigabt, Leslie Holland, Lance Lister. 13) ''Grand National Concert'' Tuesday, 17th March, 1925 with Rita Miller, Vera O'Donnell, Percy Blundell, W. Donohue, Donald McNeath, Pat Coleman, Arthur Douglas. 14) 15th Annual tour of the original ''Blind Entertainers'' Monday, September 3rd, 1928. 15) The joy event of the year. 5th annual Paramount week, August 31st to September 5th. 16) Princess Bendigo, programs December 5 to January 4, 1933entertainment, theatre, royal princess