Historical information

Hannah Lloyd's Railway General Store, circa 1917-1920.

The store was located just south of opposite Arthur Street at present-day 929-937 Main Road. Note various signs for Electrine Candles, Baker, Cadburys Cocoa, Cadburys Chocolate (in window) and Refreshment Room (faded).

This store was the first shop in the present-day Eltham shopping precinct built in 1902 by Luther Haley who operated it from 1902-1917 when it was purchased by Hannah Lloyd and became known as Lloyd’s Railway General Store. Hannah operated it from 1917 to 1920. It then went through a succession of six owners until Eric Staff purchased it in 1939. It remained in the Staff family where it became locally known as Staff’s until Ray Staff sold it in 1965 and it was demolished and replaced with a new a self-service grocery, restaurant and electrical repair shop, the basis of which remains today. The grocery store was the Eltham Big Star Food Centre.

To the left of the store one can just catch a glimpse of Edward Gadd’s Coach Building shop situated next door

A more extensive history is available on our website at ThrowbackThursday: Eltham Big Star Food Centre, Main Road, 1966
https://elthamhistory.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/throwbackthursday-eltham-big-star-food-centre-main-road-1966/



Edited version of print/digital file sourced from State Library of Victoria: Title: Lloyd's Store, Eltham, [Vic.] [picture]. Date: [ca. 1916-ca. 1922] Description: 1 photographic print : gelatin silver ; 6.6 x 10.8 cm. Copyright status: This work is out of copyright Terms of use: No copyright restrictions apply. Identifier(s): Accession no:H86.93 Subjects: Eltham (Vic.) -- Buildings, structures, etc; Victoria -- History -- 1901-1922; Gelatin silver prints Index terms: Shops; Victoria Notes: Title inscribed in ink on verso. Photographer unknown. Undated, date range provided by donor. Contents / Summary: Looking across street towards weatherboard store with porch at doorway, signs painted on front of store read: Electrine Candles. Source / Donor: Gift; Mrs. Nancy Graham; 1986.

Physical description

Copy of sepia photograph