Tauranga dressmakers, milliners, drapers and tailors moments in history

Before Pae Korokī and Papers Past, the New Zealand Room librarians would note topics of interest in an alphabetised card catalogue, this is their selection of dressmakers, milliners, drapers and tailors stories from the Bay of Plenty Times and other sources.

See also: Ams 141: Records of Tauranga Drapers Association

• Andrew Gilmore moments in history
• Munro, Jessie, 1888- (Person)

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Chronological listing:

1870s-1890s

 

Douglas Banks Collins, managing director of Charles Hartley Drapery Ltd. dies aged 60. Bay of Plenty Times, 23 January 1880.

 

John Phillips:

• New store and residence to be erected on Cameron Road adjoining the one on which Captain Tait intends to build a new house. Building being put up by Mr J. Phillips, one of the last batch of arrivals on the Lady Jocelyn. Bay of Plenty Times, 15 March 1881.
• Cameron House, Drapers, halfway between Spring Street and Elizabeth Street. John Phillips proprietor, Bay of Plenty Times, 18 August 1881.
• Retiring from business. Bay of Plenty Times, 3 October 1889.

 

Bee-hive new drapery store and millinery on the corner of Durham and Spring Streets. Mrs Lee. Bay of Plenty Times, 16 March 1882.

 

Lee Lewis:

• Intends to open grocery and provisions business and sell drapery at below cost. 28 November 1878.
• Draper, grocer etc, The Strand. 3 December 1878.
• Advert for draper, importer and jeweller. 12 December 1878.
• Draper of Vanity Fair giving up storekeeping to start a business in connection with money lending and bill discounting etc. Bay of Plenty Times, 6 November 1880.
• Mr Lewis Lee, with characteristic enterprise, has opened again in general drapery and fancy goods line, in premises adjoining the Bay of Plenty Butchery. Bay of Plenty Times, 18 June 1881.
• Giving up drapery business on The Strand. Bay of Plenty Times, 29 April 1882.

 

J. McAuley, Manchester and Glasgow House:

• Wharf Street, retiring because of ill health. Selling Drapery, Grocery and Room Paper stores. Bay of Plenty Times, 31 January 1885.
• Clearing sale of clothing and drapery at Manchester and Glasgow House, Wharf Street. Proprietor J. McAuley. retiring from business. Bay of Plenty Times, 17 July 1886.

 

T. Stuart is to open drapery store in Horne and Reeds building, Strand, tomorrow. Bay of Plenty Times, 1 June 1888.

F.J. Bright opened a tailoring business on The Strand. Bay of Plenty Times, 26 February 1894.

Mr J. Wright given up dressmaking in favour of Miss Polton etc. Bay of Plenty Times, 16 March 1894.

T. Stuart has added dressmaking to his business. Miss Polton to take charge. Bay of Plenty Times, 28 March 1894.

 

1900s

Mr Joshua Wright, proprietor of The Temple of Fashion has died aged 44. Bay of Plenty Times, 4, 5 and 10 January 1900.

Mrs M. Wright of Hillsdene has disposed of drapery to Mr Thomas Taylor. Bay of Plenty Times, 12 October 1900.

Temple of Fashion (Mrs M. Wright) will be open in a few days. Bay of Plenty Times, 21 June 1901.

W. Dowling opened a tailoring business on The Strand, next to Mr King's, the hairdresser. Bay of Plenty Times, 12 May 1902.

Temple of Fashion, has been sold to T. Stuart by Mrs J. Wright. Bay of Plenty Times, 22 July 1904.

Miss Jessie Munro has commenced business as a dressmaker in premises lately occupied by Miss R. James, Wharf Street. Bay of Plenty Times, 5 April 1907, p. 3.

H.T. Castaing, draper on The Strand, to retire from his business. Bay of Plenty Times, 6 December 1907.

Mrs Watson, late of London, has commenced business as a milliner at her residence, opposite Mr Gilmore's Store, Cameron Road. Bay of Plenty Times, 5 March 1909.

H.T. Castaing disposed of his business to H.W. Carstens. Bay of Plenty Times, 15 November 1909.

Old established drapery business of T. Stuart purchased by H. Bateman. Bay of Plenty Times, 21 November 1910.

A.E. Price bought Carsten's 'Melbourne' drapers. Bay of Plenty Times, 30 October 1911.

Miss Jessie Munro, dressmaker, Elizabeth Street. advertisement in Bay of Plenty Times, 13 May 1919.

 

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A selection of historic images of draperies and dressmakers in Pae Korokī:

 

H. Bateman's drapery business on the Strand, Tauranga, taken over from T. Stuart in 1910. Left to right: Maud Rimmer, L. Berridge, Henry Bateman.

Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Photo 99-1150

Bert Rawles draper's shop on the corner of Wharf Street and The Strand. c. 1910.

 Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Photo 99-1155

Hartley's store on the corner of The Strand and Wharf Street, Tauranga.

Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Photo 99-1179

Staff standing outside of Charles Hartley, The Leading Draper, on the corner of The Strand and Hamilton Street, c. 1936.

Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Photo 16-196

Black tape from Robert Forshaw's tailoring business, Tauranga, 1930s-1940s.

Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Ams 351/2

Economic Cash Drapery & Bargain Store c. 1940s

Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Photo 99-802

Women's Page. M for Milliner. Published 24 November 1965.

Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Photo gcc-11598