Black and white photograph. Stilwell's Hardware and Furniture Store, Hargreaves Street. Two story building with verandahs, iron lace. Third storey on portion of building. This storey of a different style. Horse and vehicles at front. Bath, horse trough at CF. Inscriptions: on front - 'GP16' on top RHC and top LHC. On back - 'Bendigo Historical Society (Inc)' written in ink top RHC. About 1912? - left upper park of back. Circular stamp 'Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch'. In image 'F&E Stilwell, Furniture Warehouse', 'Stilwell's Ironmongers House Furnishers', 'Hardware Stilwell's Furniture'buildings, commercial, f. & e. stilwell ironmongers

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

Stilwell's Invoice: Cream in colour with Fencing and Barbed Wire, Plough Shares. Lead, Oils and colors. 281-285 Hargreaves St. Bendigo April 6th 1923. Dr. to Stilwell's. General Ironmongers, Complete House Furnishers. Phone 117. Importers of Hardware, Crockery and Glassware, Carpets, Linoleums, &cc. Addressed to Miss L. Bush for 1 drum of Carbide.(used for lamps) Hole in the center of paper. Box 625business, retail, house furnishings, stilwell's furnishers. hargreaves street bendigo

Buff coloured statement. On top of statement 'Mr. C.O. Pieper, Inglewood, dr to Stilwell's, Hargreaves Street, Bendigo, Phone 117' To account rendered 15/9. Green receipt attached to bottom of account, dated 26/5/1937.business, retail, stilwell's furnishers

Advertising material for Stilwell's, Hargreaves Street, Bendigo. 1) four pages summer circular, Season 1937-38 items includes: garden hose, fittings and reels. Lawn mowers, blinds, outdoor furniture and fly doors. 2) Paint or perish! Advertising for various paint brands and wallpapers. 3) article from the Bendigo Advertiser January 1951 titled: the Story of Stilwell's a link with Bendigo's progress.bendigo, business, stilwell

Business flyers for products to improve homes and gardens. Brothers Frederick and Ernest Stillwell opened a hardware and general ironmongery in Hargreaves St Bendigo in 1895. They were later joined by Roy Stillwell. The shop further developed and advertised as selling furniture, home furnishings and HardwareThree flyers for Stilwell's, a local Hargreaves Street Bendigo business, for Fly wire doors, internal house blinds and lawn mowers, Postcard sized flyers for aspects of home improvements. Flyers dated around 1950s.stilwells, window furnishings, flyers

Document, Stilwell's Complete Home Furnishers, Hargreaves Street, Bendigo , Phone 117.Here's a surprise for you---Did you ever hear of anything like this? A Beautiful Lounge Suite for 1 Pound.document, names of bendigo pioneers, stilwells home furnishers

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2001. Customer service: staff of Stilwell's Hardware store in Hargreaves Street: Alan Spencer, George Smart, Bob Kerr, Shirley Johnson, Bill Lea, Joe Miles, Leigh Mann, Peter Meehan and Syd Mellis. Circa 1946. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

MERCHANDISE CATALOGUE - STILWELL'S, BENDIGO. 24 paged catalogue ''The Price of Satisfaction'' - Stilwell's: The Better Store, Hargreaves Street, Bendigo. Catalogue of ''Stilwells' Quality Furniture - dining room, lounge, kitchen & bedroom items ; baby carriages; sea grass furniture; carpet sweepers and stoves etc.; with line drawing of each item. Inside front cover are details re Ordering of goods; inside of rear cover is an index of contents (items for sale) & a list of some of the 10,000 ''other Lines'' that could not be included in the current catalogue (quotes available on request). Also includes two loose pages - one with alterations to the Catalogue (two sides); other is advertising sheet ''Easter is almost here'' (inside wallpapers and outside paint).stilwell, catalogue, furniture

Invoice for Mr D. W. Clarke dated 01/06/1950 ; for various hardware items for £7.14.03. Invoice from Stilwell's ironmongers and house furnishings, 281-285 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo Invoice printed in two colours.business, retail, stilwell's

black and white photo: 2 storey building with 1st storey verandah. Lace balustrade, wooden verandah posts, parapet . F.E. Stilwell IRONMONGERS on shop front. Between storeys, 'Enamelware, cutlery, glassware, F.E. Stilwell, on shop front. Display cabinet shop fronts. Spoon drains . 8 male employees on verandah.. Woman and child at left. Tree with guard. Batchelder / 'gp 15' on back HARGREAVES STREET NOW HARGREAVES MALLbatchelder ?buildings, commercial, f.e. stilwell ironmongers

Collection of approximately 74 accounts, 1925 - 1928, and receipts issued to S. A. Bush from various businesses in Bairnsdale and Bendigo. Invoices from: Hartleys, Mitchell Street, Bendigo. W. Rasmussen, for wood Bendigo Timber Co., Mollison Street and Williamson St. J. Kitchen & Sons Limited, Candle and soap manufacturers Stilwells, House furnishers, William Lunn, Painter, Pall Mall, Bendigo.Hargreaves Street, Bendigo W. McWiliams, wood merchant, 15 Milroy Street, Bendigo. Victorian Railways Commissioners, wood carting H.J. Fraser, A.N.A. building, View Street, Bendigo R.O Henderson, Beehive Pty Ltd., Pall Mall, Bendigo F.C. Cross, Furnishing, Andrew's Building, Hargreaves Street, Bendigo. Albert Bush's Produce Stores, Chaff Mills, Williamson Street, Bendigo. Bendigo Timber Coy. Mollison Street, Bendigo Buckell & Jeffrey, Railway Station, Bendigo C. Button, Carrier, 204 William Street, Bendigo. Furniture packed and stored. (invoice has photo of canvas covered cart. Written on side of cart' Furniture Packed and Stored, The Big Button' . ) W. Irving, House furnishing, 211 Mitchell Street, Bendigo Hartley's Bendigo, Len Shoosmith W. Koska, 297 Williamson Street Albert Bush's Stores, (next St. Paul's Tower) Williamson Street, Bendigo. W.J. Knight, Waggon and Lorry Builder, William Street, Bendigo William Lunn, Bendigo Glass, Pall Mall, Bendigo. Sandhurst and Northern District Trustees, Bendigo Cockings, Drapers, Pall Mall, Bendigo A. Fraser, 178 Carpenter Street, Bendigo W. Irving, furniture store, 211 Mitchell Street, Bendigo Myers, Pall Mall, Bendigo R.C. Eagle, wood merchant, Barnard Street, Bendigo W. McWilliams, wood merchant. W.H Osborn & Co., 130 Williamson Street, Bendigo Campbell & Connelly & Co., High Street, Bendigo H. McWilliams, cartage contractor, 15 Mitchell (?) Street Bendigo. H. Gray, 257 Barnard Street, Bendigo (Singer Sewing Machines) J.D. Allen, 'Whitehall" Sorrento (accommodation 4 weeks) W. McWilliams, for soil and sand.person, individual, bush collection - personal

Brothers Frederick and Ernest Stillwell opened a hardware and general ironmongery in Hargreaves St Bendigo in 1895. They were later joined by Roy Stillwell. The shop further developed and advertised as selling furniture, home furnishings and HardwareStilwell's Invoice: Cream Paper with black and red print, dated 21/12/1948. Invoice No. 2396 1. Importers of hardware, Glassware, Crockery, Carpets & Linoleums. Tel 117. P.O. Box 104. Stilwell's. 281-285 Hargreaves St. Bendigo. Ironmongers. Complete House Furnishers. Please keep these Invoices as Accounts will not be made out in detail. Box 625Pratten Bros. Pty. Ltd. Sydneybusiness, retail, house furnishings, stilwell's

Brothers Frederick and Ernest Stillwell opened a hardware and general ironmongery in Hargreaves St Bendigo in 1895. They were later joined by Roy Stillwell. The shop further developed and advertised as selling furniture, home furnishings and HardwareStilwell's Invoice: Pink paper with black print. Hole in the centre. No. 42 Dated 09/08/1929. 281,283 & 285 Hargreaves Street. Bendigo. Telephone 117. P.O. Box 88. Mr S.A. Bush. Credited by Stilwell's. Ironmongers, Complete House Furnishers and importers of hardware, Glassware, Crockery, Carpets and Linoleums. Invoice for 2 Chair Seats, Tacks. Please keep these Invoices as Accounts will not be made out in detail. Box 625Lamson Paragon Limitedbusiness, retail, house furnishings, stilwell's. s.a. bush

Stilwell's Statement: Monthly Statement Telephone 117. Cream paper with Mr S. A. Bush, 251 View Street Bendigo. Dr To Stilwell's Complete House Furnishers, Hargreaves St Bendigo. Underneath has a logo of a circle with a house. At the bottom it states the terms are Net Cash in 30 days. 10% Interest will be charged on Overdue Accounts. Dated Nov, 1st 1929. Box 625business, retail, house furnishings, mr s. a. bush. stilwell's complete house furnishers.

Brothers Frederick and Ernest Stillwell opened a hardware and general ironmongery in Hargreaves St Bendigo in 1895. They were later joined by Roy Stillwell. The shop further developed and advertised as selling furniture, home furnishings and HardwareStillwells, Hargreaves Street, Bendigo - flyer for paint, varnish and wallpaper; includes prices in pre-decimal currency. Single sided printing in B&W on thin paper. Unknown date of issue.stilwell's, wallpaper, paint

Brothers Frederick and Ernest Stillwell opened a hardware and general ironmongery in Hargreaves St Bendigo in 1895. They were later joined by Roy Stillwell. The shop further developed and advertised as selling furniture, home furnishings and HardwareA 1951 Bendigo Advertiser story on the history of the Stilwell building on the 100th centenary of the city of Bendigo.stilwell, centenary, 1951

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2000. Stilwell's prominent furniture and hardware business on the south side of Hargreaves Street. Courtesy Bendigo Historical Society. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Collection of Merle Bush Ephemera - cuttings, letters etc relating to Bush family; 1. obituary Albert Bush , Bairnsdale Advertiser 6th June 1916; 2. Obit Albert Bush ''Every Week'' (Bairnsdale), June 8th, 1916; 3.Retirement of C R Stilwell, 1899; 4. Balance Sheet (single page handwritten) June 1st 1916; 5.Handwritten details of children born to Albert Bush - 1860 - 1878; 6. Receipt for purchase of ''Villa Abbey Lieux'' (1921) on letterhead of Stan Hall, Furniture New and Second-hand, Hargreaves St. (725 Pounds); 7.signature of A Bush (dated 1851?); 8.receipt for Federal Palace Hotel accommodation October 1902; 9. Receipt for purchase of Ladies cycle 1909 and guarantee; 10. Certificate of Vaccination for Muriel Bush, daughter of A Bush , 1897; 11.handwritten copy of letter regarding appointment of Executor to will (addressed to Albert Bush), September 1905.person, individual, bush collection - personal