Arthur Barnett (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Barnett was a New Zealand
businessman, and founder of the Arthur Barnett chain
of department stores, the leading department store in Otago.
, Barnett was the son of William Barnett, an auctioneer, and one of eleven children. Among his siblings was Matthew Barnett
. He attended Albany Street School and Otago Boys' High School
, leaving after his fourth form year. He became an apprentice draper, working for A. & T. Inglis and later Fyfe & Cummings. At the latter firm he met his future wife Ethel Frances Reid. They married at St. Paul's Cathedral
on 31 October 1900.
. His brother Matthew, a successful bookmaker in Christchurch
, guaranteed a £900 loan to get the business going. His shop grew, largely on the strength of Barnett's skills at advertising his business. Within ten years, he had moved to larger premises and annexed two adjacent shops to create one of the South Island
's largest stores. Around the same time, he trademarked an image of himself as a small jockey sitting astride a galloping Clydesdale horse (nicknamed "Can't stop") as a logo for his store. Eventually, the business was the leading department store in Otago.
Barnett's public profile rose alongside that of his business, and during World War I
he put his skills to fundraising, with carnivals and parades which amassed many thousands of pounds. He also played a leading role in the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition
of 1925. By this time his business occupied half a city block and had a staff of around 100.
Barnett continued to organise public and charity events, overseeing a picnic for 10,000 children as part of the 1940 celebrations for the New Zealand Centennial and raising funds for the World War II
war effort. The latter included organising a major funds drive for the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association
which saw him made an honorary life member of the organisation. He was also involved in organising for the Otago centennial in 1948.
Barnett's efforts both as an entrepreneur and a philanthropist saw him awarded an OBE
in 1951. After the death of his wife the same year he gradually withdrew from active life, leaving the store in the hands of his sons Jeffrey and Arthur, Jr.
. He was cremated two days later.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
businessman, and founder of the Arthur Barnett chain
Arthur Barnett (department store)
Arthur Barnett is a Dunedin, New Zealand-based department store operator. Established in 1903 by Arthur Barnett the store first began as a drapery for men and boys, progressing over the years to become one of Dunedin's most successful department stores.The 1924 Arthur Barnett building designed by...
of department stores, the leading department store in Otago.
Early life
Born in DunedinDunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, Barnett was the son of William Barnett, an auctioneer, and one of eleven children. Among his siblings was Matthew Barnett
Matthew Barnett (bookmaker)
Matthew Frank Barnett , also known as Mat Barnett, was a bookmaker and philanthropist from Christchurch, New Zealand. In his retirement, he became well known in lawn bowls. He donated the statue of James Cook in Victoria Square to the city...
. He attended Albany Street School and Otago Boys' High School
Otago Boys' High School
Otago Boys' High School is one of New Zealand's oldest boys' secondary schools, located in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. It was founded on 3 August 1863 and moved to its present site in 1885. The main building was designed by Robert Lawson and is regarded as one of the finest Gothic revival...
, leaving after his fourth form year. He became an apprentice draper, working for A. & T. Inglis and later Fyfe & Cummings. At the latter firm he met his future wife Ethel Frances Reid. They married at St. Paul's Cathedral
St. Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin
St Paul's Cathedral is the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Dunedin, in New Zealand and the seat of the Bishop of Dunedin.-Location:The Cathedral Church of St Paul occupies a site in the heart of The Octagon near the Dunedin Town Hall and hence Dunedin...
on 31 October 1900.
Professional life
In 1903, Barnett opened a small shop in George Street, DunedinGeorge Street, Dunedin
George Street is the main street of Dunedin, the second largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. It runs for two and a half kilometres north-northeast from The Octagon in the city centre to the foot of Pine Hill. It is straight and undulates gently as it skirts the edge of the hills to its...
. His brother Matthew, a successful bookmaker in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, guaranteed a £900 loan to get the business going. His shop grew, largely on the strength of Barnett's skills at advertising his business. Within ten years, he had moved to larger premises and annexed two adjacent shops to create one of the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
's largest stores. Around the same time, he trademarked an image of himself as a small jockey sitting astride a galloping Clydesdale horse (nicknamed "Can't stop") as a logo for his store. Eventually, the business was the leading department store in Otago.
Barnett's public profile rose alongside that of his business, and during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he put his skills to fundraising, with carnivals and parades which amassed many thousands of pounds. He also played a leading role in the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition
New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition (1925)
The New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition was a world's fair held in Dunedin, New Zealand from November 1925 until May 1926 which celebrated that country and the South Seas...
of 1925. By this time his business occupied half a city block and had a staff of around 100.
Barnett continued to organise public and charity events, overseeing a picnic for 10,000 children as part of the 1940 celebrations for the New Zealand Centennial and raising funds for the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
war effort. The latter included organising a major funds drive for the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association
Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association
The Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association, often referred to as the Returned Services' Association but best known simply as the RSA, is one of the largest voluntary welfare organisations in New Zealand and one of the oldest ex-service organisations in the world.Wounded soldiers...
which saw him made an honorary life member of the organisation. He was also involved in organising for the Otago centennial in 1948.
Barnett's efforts both as an entrepreneur and a philanthropist saw him awarded an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1951. After the death of his wife the same year he gradually withdrew from active life, leaving the store in the hands of his sons Jeffrey and Arthur, Jr.
Death
Ethel Barnett died on 2 July 1951. She was cremated the following day. Barnett died on 10 February 1959 aged 86 years after suffering a stroke earlier in the year at his beach house in WarringtonWarrington, New Zealand
Warrington is a small settlement on the coast of Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated close to the northern shore of Blueskin Bay, an area of mudflats north of Dunedin and is administered as part of Dunedin City. Warrington is 3 km from State Highway 1 linked by Coast Road...
. He was cremated two days later.