The Myer store at Orange was for many years called The Western Stores. In 1970, crowds gathered outside the store on Summer Street to await the arrival of Queen Elizabeth II. Myer to close Wollongong, Orange department stores Myer Orange store closure: history and future The Myer store at Orange, which is about to close and be renovated as other shops and businesses, has always been at the heart of the city's retail and public life. The building tells the story of more than 150 years of commercial growth and architectural change in the growing NSW regional city.It is a story of business renegades, hidden facades and facelifts and the installation of the city's first escalator. The weatherboard building of the original Dalton Bros store in Summer Street, Orange during the mid 1850s. Myer has announced plans to close its department store in Orange in January 2017.However, a development application has been lodged for a revamp, which would see a number of smaller businesses housed within the historic premises.
Orange and District Historical Society member, Ross Maroney, has dedicated much of his life to documenting the history of the city's commercial district and its architecture."The beginnings of that store go right back to the beginnings of Orange," Mr Maroney said. "That business under different names and owners has been there as long as Orange has." The Dalton Bros store in Summer Street, Orange, circa 1860s. In 1854 James Dalton established a general store, built of weatherboard, on the site next to the town's Post and Telegraph Office. Mr Maroney said the modest building took two years to finish due to a shortage of nails and bolts. "He [James Dalton] actually was a bit of a renegade because most businesses were over in Byng Street; he decided he'd build his business in what became Summer Street."[It] really changed the whole centre of the town and made that the main street."In 1858 James' brother, Thomas, joined him to establish the Dalton Brothers enterprise, while their half brother, Michael, joined them years later.
The Dalton Bros store, circa 1870. This structure remains to today and forms the eastern end of the present Myer building. James Dalton became the town's mayor in 1869 and went on to establish other prominent buildings around town, including the Duntryleague mansion."James wanted to let everyone know how successful his business was," Mr Maroney explained.The current brick building, that dates from around 1870, has had numerous modifications to accommodate growth in business. The two Dalton Bros buildings in 1873. The laneway in between was later incorporated into the one larger building. By 1873 a second Dalton Bros building was built on the western side to store surplus and reserve stock. Horse-drawn carts would deliver goods through the laneway between the two buildings.As the business further expanded, in 1895 the Daltons joined the two buildings over the laneway, creating the grand facade that remains today."You can actually see that it was originally two buildings," Mr Maroney pointed out."
The rows of windows on the second and third floor, on each side, are different."Around the turn of the century the Dalton partnership was dissolved. Horse-drawn carts compete with cars in busy Summer Street, Orange, in the 1930s. The post office can be seen in the middle of the streetscape with The Western Stores/ Edgleys business to its right. With its interior now lit with electric lighting, in 1928 the business was taken over by Western Stores and Edgleys. Small goods were sold out the back and a car park established on the southern side to accommodate the increasing amount of customers with motor vehicles."All sorts of people went through this business working there over the years. It's a little like a smaller version of the Electrolux [fridge] factory that's just closed," Mr Maroney said. Interior view of the shoe department at The Western Stores, Summer Street, Orange 1960. The Western Stores offered a wide range of products from groceries to furniture.Mr Maroney recalled seeing the odd politician visit the store's cafeteria."
On occasions you used to run into a fellow; Billy McMahon and his wife and their children used to stop there on their way to some country properties," he said. The first operating escalator in Orange, at The Western Stores building in 1960. By 1960 the first escalator operating in Orange was installed inside the building. "Unfortunately it only goes up, you've got to walk down the stairs to come down," Mr Maroney chuckled. The Grace Bros store in Orange, 1988. By 1961 The Western Stores had merged with Farmer and Company, later becoming a subsidiary of Myer.For the next two decades the building was dramatically overhauled."It was covered by a modernistic flat covering that stretched the whole width of the building above the awning," Mr Maroney said. "You only knew from old photos that it was actually a facade full of windows." The Myer store in Orange, May 2016 In 1986 the building's owners requested old photographs from the historic society to help restore the original facade to its former glory, revealing the original rendered masonry and ornate windows.
"They did a very nice job of restoring the front of the building," Mr Maroney said.The redevelopment plans that have now been lodged by the building's owner will retain the original facade."I'm hoping it can certainly be retained and serve some new use, some new purpose, or several purposes," Mr Maroney said."It is a magnificent building in our streetscape."WEEKLY FEATURED Minecraft Mini-Figure Netherrack Series 3 ID: 1062975 Play Go My Tea Set 20 Pcs ID: 1024087 Birthday Card Assortment ID: 1036459 BeyBlade Burst Spryzen ID: 1095280 The LEGO Batman Movie The Joker Notorious Lowrider 70906 ID: 1097515 Five Nights At Freddy's Blind Bag ID: 1091190 WEEKLY FEATURED Blaze Die Cast - Vehicle Assortment ID: 1092773 Matchbox Cars ID: 1025560 Hot Wheels Car Culture Assortment ID: 1084917 The Zelfs Lil Zelf Blind Bag ID: 1083611 Kan-i Tee Ball Set ID: 1005409 Disney Planes My First Model Kit Assortment ID: 1091755 WEEKLY FEATURED DP Palace Pets Magic Lights Pets ID: 1094785 Minions 10" Tumbling Minion Stuart ID: 1083247 Peppa Pig Holiday Jumping Holiday Peppa ID: 1075655 Scooby 2 in 1 Mystery Machine Torch ID: 1096318 Thunderbirds Are Go Thunderbird 2 Plus Thunderbird 4 ID