White’s Corner, Gloucester

Archibald Joseph White, prominent townsperson, Shire Councillor and District Coroner was found dead in a hut on his grazing property at Bundook in 1939. He had died of a heart attack soon after arriving there, he was just 54 years old. As a youth, A J White had trained as a baker and when he came to Gloucester with his wife in 1913 he started a bakery. He later disposed of the bakery and bought a butchery in 1925 which he passed to his son.¹ In 1922, with his brother-in-law Thomas Hampton,² White bought Section 2 Lot 4 situated on the corner of Church and Denison Streets.³

In 1930 White built a new brick shop on the lot to be occupied by Garner’s Cash Stores. The design took advantage of the Church Street frontage by installing large display windows along the length of the building and a large display window in Denison Street. The shop entrance was on the corner as it is today.⁴

Ellen Garner had taken over her husband’s business when he died in 1926, along with raising six children.⁵ In January 1930, her business caught fire and was completely destroyed. While she was insured it was not to full value.⁶ This was when White built the shop especially to house her store.

Ellen Garner became a highly successful businessperson and in 1938 she was able to rebuild and return to her original place.⁷ At the same time, Arthur and Amy Hazelwood opened their drapery and mercery business in White’s Building.⁸ The Hazelwood family bought the store and continued to run the business for decades afterwards.⁹ In 2019 Hannaford Stock and Land operate from the corner shop.

Author: Janine Roberts