This area is Lot 6 & 7 Sec. 1 of the Township of Morwell and was burned out in the 1890 major fire. The site was cleared and in 1890 a two storey brick building was constructed on site containing six shops and residences.
No. 168 This became one of the local chemist shops for many years. Chemists – Brown; Poynter; Dixon; Hickes; Milner; Wigg. In 1988 it became a food premises – Smyth; Muir; Crackles Carvery; Don Louie’s Pizza; and now Toppt Pizza.
No. 170 This shop became the office of J.B.Hoyle, well known insurance agent and other agencies. In the 1920s it was a jewellery shop – Brunette, and later Harold Butler who closed the shop in 1942 to join the army and opened again in late 1945. Ken Cook followed in the 1980s and closed in 1991. Viva Shoes 2004 – 2010 then the Ladies Hairdresser – Laura’s Cut and Colour.
No.172. In the 1920s Mr Ham, saddler shop on site until Lawson Tailor moved in and occupied the shop until 1979. Later occupants were Mike Sydney, Music; ‘Aussie Girls’ and ‘Pro-Tek’ Computers. In 1994 ‘Subway’ opened and is still on site (2020).
No.174. In the 1930s Harding, a Tailor, occupied this shop until Michael Guss opened in 1942 and continued until closing in 1953 and moving to No. 232 Commercial Road.
‘Waltham Trading’ was on site in the 1960s and in 1970 Davies & Moller opened after moving from No.156 and closed in 1997. This shop is now (2020) part of the newsagency at No 176.
No.176 This store has been a newsagency from the 1910s These were – Bruton; Hadley; Evans; Vernon & McGill; McGill & Anstee; Anstee; & Armstrong; Vikins; Watt & Dalton; Burgess.
In 2005 major damage was caused to the building by a deliberately lit fire. The Burgess family had to operate from another site until it was repaired and they moved back in May 2006 and still operate today (2020). The first floor has been used by a number of other businesses – Elder – Berwick, Dentist; Ray Morgan, Hairdresser; ‘Geo Laurens’ Debt agency; ‘Valley Education Suppliers’.
No. 178.This store has had many different occupants, mainly food sales from the 1930s – Stewart; Batten; Allen; Vickers; Jordan; Wright; Starkey; Dickson; Pepper; O’Neill; Sykes; Harris; Skogli; Oliver.
Morwell Market and Invisoria Asian Shop was the last to occupy this site.
Fire damaged the building in 2005.This building and No. 180 was demolished in Jan. 2013. It still remains a vacant block to this day – 2020.
No. 180. In the 1930s it was known as the ‘Paradise Café’ and run by A. Neal. In the 1940s it was known as ‘Central Café’ and run by the Cripps family, parents of Winsome Cripps Olympic games runner.
Later it was a delicatessen – Wilkinson; Baker; and in 1964 Tom D’Alia ran a greengrocer shop until 1990. Others operated different businesses until a fire destroyed the building. It was demolished along with No 178 in Jan. 2013.
No.182. In the 1910s Rowell & Sons ran a tailoring business and in 1925 G. Church had a grocery business. Other grocers were Oliver Bros. and later Ted Nash until the shop was purchased by Cox Bros. in 1958 and operated for a few years. In 1967 Dunlop & Son opened a butcher’s shop which operated until 1990. ‘Klassic Auto Parts’ opened in 1991 and later it was ‘Valley Pawn Brokers’. In late 2000 ‘Viva Shoes & Bags’ moved to this shop and are still operating (2020).
