Historical information
After the extension of the Railway line from Caulfield to Mordialloc 1880's the shopping centre moved from the Tucker Rd end to around the East Brighton (Bentleigh) Station area of Centre Road. A variety of shops, forges, estate agents, Coles' and Fossey's variety stores, a Hoyts picture theatre, butchers, traded in Centre Rd.
Crofts was one many grocery stores along the strip. Crofts Stores was established by Archibald Crofts (1875-1942) as a single grocery store in South Melbourne. It eventually expanded to include 137 branches throughout Victoria, trading as Crofts Stores.
The Lees family had established a Seedling Nursery in Thomas St that has continued until the land sold 2018 for housing development.
Significance
Crofts Grocery Store was one of the shops in the Centre Road Bentleigh shopping strip that were established after the arrival of the train line 1881
Physical description
Black & White photograph of 3 men outside Crofts Grocery Store 395 Centre Rd Bentleigh c 1937 Mr Jack Lees is centre.
Inscriptions & markings
Handwritten information
Subjects
- crofts grocery store bentleigh,
- lees jack,
- mordialloc railway line,
- centre road bentleigh,
- smith j l,
- smith mary ann,
- stanley helen,
- smith vic,
- smith harry redvers,
- chaff cutter,
- horse drawn carts,
- toll gates brighton,
- motor cars 1900,
- steam engines,
- early settlers,
- bentleigh,
- parish of moorabbin,
- city of moorabbin,
- county of bourke,
- moorabbin roads board,
- shire of moorabbin,
- henry dendy's special survey 1841,
- were j.b.,
- bent thomas,
- o'shannassy john,
- king richard,
- charman stephen,
- highett william,
- ormond francis,
- maynard dennis,
- market gardeners,
- vineyards
