Historical information

According to an advertisement in the Wodonga & Towong Sentinel on Friday 22 August 1913, James Frank Gerrard, formerly of Wangaratta, purchased a bakery owned by Mr. E. B. Atwood. The premises had been built in 1905. In approximately 1920 he was joined in Gerrard’s Bakery by his son James Frank Peter Gerrard who is depicted in this image.

In 1923 James Sr became a traveller for Messrs W & P Smith North Eastern Flour Mills in Wangaratta, Victoria. His son continued to operate the bakery until 1925 when it was sold to T. S. Jones from Euroa. The premises continued to function as a bakery run by a succession of proprietors including F. Blackwell, P. J. Hide and the Birrell Brothers.

In 1964 the premises and three neighbouring businesses were demolished to make way for Wodonga Home Furnishers. This building in turn was demolished in 1998 to facilitate the realignment of Elgin Street and High Streets.

James Sr. and his wife Annie had a family of 12 children. He continued to work for W & P Smith until two years before his death in December 1944, in his 80th year. Their family included two other sons, Leslie Frank Sinclair Gerrard, who for some time ran a Watchmaker and Jeweller’s business in Wodonga and Charles Francis Alexander Gerrard who operated a Hairdresser and Tobacconist shop, also in Sydney Road, Wodonga.

James Frank Peter Gerrard, pictured in this image, continued to live in the Albury-Wodonga area. He operated a variety of businesses including a wood yard and a taxi and bus service operating between Albury, Wodonga and Tallangatta. He died in Albury on 3rd December 1954.

Significance

This image is significant because it documents an early businessman in Wodonga.

Physical description

A black and white image of a man holding a loaf of bread. His baker's cart is in the background.

Inscriptions & markings

On side of cart:- J. F. GERRARD, BAKER