‘A million ways to remember mother’ was the newspaper slogan used to draw shoppers into Anthony Horderns for their 1963 Mother’s Day Sale. Featured items included: tomboy spotted flannella pyjamas ($4.99) and brunch coat with satin bow ($3.99), chenille nightgowns ($2.99), and swami slip and brief sets. For a touch of elegance why not give mum a rhodium plated marcasite brooches and earrings from ($1.25).
To further encourage spending, a Mother’s Day Lucky Barrel was set up in store. Shoppers placed sales dockets in the barrel for a chance to win £1 ($2) every five minutes. The picture above features two-year-old Craig Lunney, sitting below the barrel which was being set up by employee Mr Childs.
Anthony Horderns began trading in Keira Street, in 1960. It was the first Wollongong store to feature automatic opening front doors and escalators. Described as a drive-in city shopping centre, it featured a lift to rooftop parking for 160 vehicles, a unique feature at the time.
Anthony Horderns was possibly Australia’s largest retail company from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century. Sadly, a takeover by rival retailer Waltons resulted in the Wollongong store’s closure in July 1972. The Keira Street building went on to be used by Norman Ross, then Bing Lee. It was demolished to make way for the Wollongong Central shopping centre that opened in 2014.
Wollongong City Libraries holds over 50,000 photographs of the people and places and events that make our city great. Digital copies of images may be viewed online via the library catalogue.
