Historical information

This photograph depicts the interior of the Coles Variety Store within Bentleigh's Centre Road shopping precinct in 1956. Signage represents the pre decimal currency era. The Record Bar advertises the availability of standard and microgroove vinyl records.

Significance

In this era, the Centre Road Bentleigh shopping strip provided consumers with access to many of the major retail outlets and provided for a wide range of shopping needs. By the 1960s, Chadstone Shopping Centres (opened 1960) and Southland (opened 1968) had been established which created changes to the way in which people shopped.

Physical description

Black and white photograph of interior of Coles Store in Centre Road, Bentleigh displaying prominent signage predating decimal currency. Other signage includes the Coles Record Bar indicating the sale of standard and microgroove vinyl records.

Inscriptions & markings

Handwritten in blue ink: Coles Bentleigh Sep 1956 B
Black printed text on white round adhesive sticker: 202
Handwritten in red ink: 80%