Anthony Hordern & Sons
Encyclopedia
Anthony Horderns was the largest department store in Sydney, Australia. It was originally established by a free immigrant from England, Anthony Hordern, in 1823, as a drapery shop. A further large mensware store was in upper George Street, and Hordern's also operated one of the largest mail order businesses in Australia.
Several Anthony Hordern's succeeded their founding ancestor, and a huge six storey building was opened by them in 1905, called The Palace Emporium, the main entrance being completely fitted out in imported Italian marble. The massive store was located on the corner of George, Pitt, & Goulburn Streets in the southern end of the CBD. One of their advertising slogans was that they sold "anything from a needle to an anchor". The crest
on their coat of arms
was a budding tree, the motto: "while I live I grow". It appeared above all the store's window fittings and on all their stationery.
By mid 1969, the situation had not improved and the situation was dire. Things had come to a head and drastic action was needed. Waltons launched a bid for the retail operations of Anthony Hordern, whilst Stocks and Holdings Ltd, launched a bid for the massive Anthony Hordern city Brickfield Hill site.
Despite some counterbidding from Buckinghams Holdings Ltd, Waltons succeeded in gaining control of Anthony Hordern and Sons Ltd during late 1969. It's worth mentioning by this time Anthony Horderns had stopped retailing from their Brickfield Hill site. After the takeover of Anthony Horderns by Waltons, the Brickfield Hill site was then sold to Stocks and Holdings Ltd, for $8.5 million dollars. It turned out Stocks and Holdings Ltd were acting for their client, The State Superannuation Trust. It was then leased back by The Superanuation Trust, to Stocks and Holdings Ltd, for retail space. This was completed by Christmas Eve 1969, ending 64 years of retail pioneering and ownership of the building by Anthony Horderns Ltd.
The development of American-style suburban shopping malls during the later 1960s, coupled with fiercer competition in the city, is said to have sealed the fate of the store. Mysteriously, the tree on the Hordern family's estate at Camden, New South Wales
, upon which idea of the crest was based, died soon afterwards. For many years it stood idle, and eventually part of it was made into a car park.
One remaining Horden's shop remained open in Windsor NSW until at least 1986 and included the old glass top display cabinets and a HCF (health Fund) agency in the back corner.
The Anthony Hordern Brickfield Hill site, Palace Emporium was subsequently used by the NSW Institute of Technology (now UTS
) for some years. It (and surrounding buildings) was controversially demolished in 1986 for the infamous 'World Square' development, which remained a hole in the ground for nearly twenty years, before finally being completed in 2004.
Originally, in the early 1980s the buildings new owner, Singaporean based Ipoh Gardens Development, planned to try and save the Anthony Horderns building, but in the end it was found to be too costly after receiving independent advice from the CSIRO, on the state of the buildings concrete and other fittings. Ipoh Gardens, however did refurbish the Queen Victoria Building back to heritage standard.
There are still some legacies left in Sydney, such as the Hordern Pavilion
, Hordern Towers (within the World Square
development), and the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney
in Croydon
of which its oldest building, 'Shubra Hall' was the home of Anthony Hordern III until 1889.
Crest (heraldry)
A crest is a component of an heraldic display, so called because it stands on top of a helmet, as the crest of a jay stands on the bird's head....
on their coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
was a budding tree, the motto: "while I live I grow". It appeared above all the store's window fittings and on all their stationery.
Demise of Anthony Hordern's city store and retailing
By the early 1960s Anthony Hordern and Sons began to accumulate yearly losses instead of profits. By 1965-66, this had become noticeable and restructuring was underway. Most notable were the losses from the Brickfield Hill Flagship store and the Anthony Hordern store in Wollongong. A number of the upper levels of the Brickfield Hill store were closed, as the management of Anthony Hordern's tried to restructure the business.By mid 1969, the situation had not improved and the situation was dire. Things had come to a head and drastic action was needed. Waltons launched a bid for the retail operations of Anthony Hordern, whilst Stocks and Holdings Ltd, launched a bid for the massive Anthony Hordern city Brickfield Hill site.
Despite some counterbidding from Buckinghams Holdings Ltd, Waltons succeeded in gaining control of Anthony Hordern and Sons Ltd during late 1969. It's worth mentioning by this time Anthony Horderns had stopped retailing from their Brickfield Hill site. After the takeover of Anthony Horderns by Waltons, the Brickfield Hill site was then sold to Stocks and Holdings Ltd, for $8.5 million dollars. It turned out Stocks and Holdings Ltd were acting for their client, The State Superannuation Trust. It was then leased back by The Superanuation Trust, to Stocks and Holdings Ltd, for retail space. This was completed by Christmas Eve 1969, ending 64 years of retail pioneering and ownership of the building by Anthony Horderns Ltd.
The development of American-style suburban shopping malls during the later 1960s, coupled with fiercer competition in the city, is said to have sealed the fate of the store. Mysteriously, the tree on the Hordern family's estate at Camden, New South Wales
Camden, New South Wales
-Education:Camden is the location of research facilities for the veterinary and agricultural schools of the University of Sydney. The local government area has two public high schools, Camden High School and Elderslie High School, as well as eight Catholic and three Anglican schools.-Culture:The...
, upon which idea of the crest was based, died soon afterwards. For many years it stood idle, and eventually part of it was made into a car park.
One remaining Horden's shop remained open in Windsor NSW until at least 1986 and included the old glass top display cabinets and a HCF (health Fund) agency in the back corner.
The Anthony Hordern Brickfield Hill site, Palace Emporium was subsequently used by the NSW Institute of Technology (now UTS
University of Technology, Sydney
The University of Technology Sydney is a university in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The university was founded in its current form in 1981, although its origins trace back to the 1870s. UTS is notable for its central location as the only university with its main campuses within the Sydney CBD...
) for some years. It (and surrounding buildings) was controversially demolished in 1986 for the infamous 'World Square' development, which remained a hole in the ground for nearly twenty years, before finally being completed in 2004.
Originally, in the early 1980s the buildings new owner, Singaporean based Ipoh Gardens Development, planned to try and save the Anthony Horderns building, but in the end it was found to be too costly after receiving independent advice from the CSIRO, on the state of the buildings concrete and other fittings. Ipoh Gardens, however did refurbish the Queen Victoria Building back to heritage standard.
There are still some legacies left in Sydney, such as the Hordern Pavilion
Hordern Pavilion
The Hordern Pavilion is a building located in Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on the grounds of the old Sydney Showground. "The Hordern", as it is affectionally known by Sydneysiders, has been an architecturally and socially significant Sydney landmark since its construction in 1924...
, Hordern Towers (within the World Square
World Square
World Square is a large development in the Sydney Central Business District, New South Wales, Australia. It fills an entire Sydney city block, bounded by George Street, Liverpool Street, Pitt Street and Goulburn Street....
development), and the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney
Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney
The Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney is an independent, Presbyterian, day and boarding school for girls in Croydon, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, Australia...
in Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
of which its oldest building, 'Shubra Hall' was the home of Anthony Hordern III until 1889.
Links as sources
- http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/discover_collections/people_places/east/settlers/hordern.html
- http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A040477b.htm
- http://www.gabr.net.au/biogs/ABE0006b.htm