The Self family story begins with two sisters, not the brothers. In 1932, Margery and Edna Self took over Mrs Magee’s confectionery shop on Main Road West. They expanded the business by purchasing Mr Hounslow’s petrol bowser. In 1934, the Self family built a new general store at 18 East Esplanade, St. Albans which became the foundation of the future Self Bros Supermarket. The family lived in a house behind the shop. The name Self Bros & Goddard emerged when Bernice Self married Alfred Goddard in 1947. By 1955, the directory lists Self Bros & Goddard Storekeepers and later in 1960 to 1974 as Licensed Grocers. This marks the shift from a family general store to a major grocery business Later years it became the Festival Supermarket and subsequently the St. Albans SUPA IGA Supermarket. This collection of photographs captures the various names the supermarket was known as Self Bros, Foodtown and Festival IGA Supermarket.5657.01 - East Esplanade 18 - Festival Supermarket (Sun Adv 237.3) 1993 Photo 01.JPG 5657.02 - East Esplanade 18 - Festival Supermarket (Sun Adv 237.3) 1993 Photo 02.JPG 5657.03 - East Esplanade 18 - Festival Supermarket (Sun Adv 237.3) 1993 Photo 03.JPG 5657.04 - East Esplanade 18 St. Albans - Self Bros Supermarket (Sun Adv 64.3) 1993 Photo 01.JPG 5657.05 - East Esplanade 18 St. Albans - Self Bros Supermarket (Sun Adv 64.3) 1993 Photo 02.JPG east esplanade, st. albans, festival supermarket, self bros, iga, alfred goddard

The most significant phase in the settlement of St. Albans occurred in the early 1900s when the Closer Settlement board subdivided Overnewton Estate into blocks of 200 to 300 acres and offered these for selection. This attracted the new pioneers' families to the district, such as the McAuleys, Boyds, Andersons, Stevens, Colemans, Griffiths, McRaes, King and others to acquire land along Taylors Road and in the Western part of St. Albans through to Sydenham.The stories in this document are about the families who are directly connected to the above era or came somewhat later, but all have contributed to the development of community. They are stories about transition of St. Albans from a sparse rural district to a number of crowded suburban neighborhoods.Stories About St. Albans Celebrating 125 Years Marion McAuley John Stevens Self and Goddard Jimmy Knowles Isabelle Davidson John Perrett Fred Barlowst. albans, john stevens, self and goddard, jimmy knowles, isabelle davidson, john perrett, fred barlow, marion mcauley

Self Bros began not with brothers, but with two sisters, Margery and Edna Self, in 1932. Their small confectionery shop grew into St Albans’ most iconic supermarket, later known as Self Bros & Goddard, then Festival Supermarket, and today the St Albans SUPA IGA. In 1990, the store was put up for sale again after it was sold to SSW Supermarkets just over two years before in March 1988. SSW then put the store up for auction in July 1992 but it did not sell as it failed to reach the reserve price. Self Bros. went into receivership October 1992. On the 23rd June 1993, a new Festival IGA Supermarket opened in the refurbished store.Self Bros helped establish East Esplanade and Alfrieda Street as a functioning retail strip. Its presence drew foot traffic, which supported surrounding butchers, fruit shops, milk bars, and specialty stores. In early suburban development, a strong anchor tenant often determines whether a shopping strip thrives or stagnates, Self Bros played that role. Like many mid‑century independent supermarkets, Self Bros was a place where locals met, exchanged news, and built social ties. It contributed to St Albans’ identity as a self‑contained suburb rather than a satellite dependent on Sunshine.Picture of building 6873.02 - Self Bros Supermarket 18 East Esplanade 64.3self bros, east esplanade, st. albans

This chamber pot came from the local Parker family. We take indoor flushing toilets pretty much for granted, but in the 18th century the chamber pot was the solution to answering a call of nature for most poorer households. Wealthier people also had chamber pots made from either earthenware or pewter. Prosperous travellers took their pot with them on journeys - public toilets did not exist. Some pots had lids. Bridgwood & Son were established in Lane End around 1795. Sampson Bridgwood took over the Anchor Pottery at the corner of Wharf Street (renamed Bridgwood Street in the 1950s) and Goddard Street in Longton in 1853.A white porcelain chamber pot decorated on two sides with large double pink roses and a blue floral leafed pattern. It has a fluted self pattern around the lower half of the pot, a gold line trim near the top and a decorative fluted handle. The wavy rim is also fluted.'Porcelain Opaque Bridgwood & Son.' is stamped in brown lettering around a manufacturer's shield on the base.bedpans, chamber pots, pots, sanitary equipment