“We are here to stay!” declared Callile Abraham Yarad and his son Michael Callile ‘Mick’ in this 1933 advertisement of their store’s opening. Having bought the stock of Bulmer’s Store, the advertisement boldly states that it is their intention to establish a permanent business in Taree.1 Over 85 years later, Yarads is an institution and is now being run by the family’s fourth generation.2
Born in Lebanon in 1877, C. A. Yarad emigrated to Australia with his siblings before settling in country Queensland. After years of hard work Callile and his family prospered and eventually moved to Sydney for a better future.3
In 1933 Callile and Mick established C. A. Yarad & Son’s drapery business in Taree. Mick purchased the business in 1936 and began trading as Yarads.4 Disaster struck in October 1940 when fire swept through the store destroying the stock and building.5 To start again Mick partnered with his brother Dr Fred Yarad to erect a modern brick building consisting of three shops fronting Pulteney Street and a family residence upstairs. Yarads opened in one of the shops and the others were let out.6
In 1956 Mick’s sons John and Bruce took over the business.7 They embraced change and undertook several stylish shop refits. The store was described internationally as ‘the Most in Modernisation’.8 The business was also the first to introduce beachwear to the region. In 2007, Michael (Bruce’s son) and Jo-Anne (John’s daughter), took over the business and now manage stores in Taree and Forster.9
Author: Janine Roberts
References:
1 Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of NSW, 16 December 1933, 9.
2 Manning Great Lakes Focus, i118, 2016, p 37. This story was written in 2018.
3 St George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, 358-359.
4 Northern Champion, 12 September 1936, 7.
5 Wingham Chronicle, 5 November 1940, 4.
6 Northern Champion, 25 April 1942, 2; NSW Land Registry Service Vol-Fol: 4459-201.
7 Manning Great Lakes Focus, Yarads Story, unknown date, p 33.
8 Kimberley Webber & Ian Hoskins with Joy McCann, What’s in store? A history of retailing in Australia, Powerhouse Publishing: Sydney, 2003; Manning River Times, 16 August 1961, 1.
9 Manning Great Lakes Focus, i118, 2016, p 37.
