This collection includes selected items relating to Gowing Brothers, known as 'Gowings.'
John Ellis Symonds (JES) Gowing' opened a drapery shop in 1863 in Crown Street, East Sydney. He then formed a partnership with his brother Preston and in 1868 the brothers opened a Mercery and Glove Depot at 318 George Street Sydney. The business grew and in 1870 a new mercery warehouse was opened at Edinburgh House, 344 George Street Sydney. A second City store was opened 20 years later at 498 George Street.
Gowings retailer evolved from specialising in ladies’ gloves and silk umbrellas to menswear, becoming a gentlemen’s outfitters. In the late 1890s and the move toward Federation prompted Gowings to promote Australian products.
The new flagship building, constructed in 1929 on the George Street site became a local landmark, being Sydney’s highest building at the time, and the first steel construction in the CBD.
Another City store was opened at Wynyard in 1996, affectionately nicknamed the “Blokeatorium” and for a while it was successful. Stores at Oxford Street, Darlinghurst and Hornsby followed. In 2000 the Gowings family relinquished control of the retail business to an independent listed company G Retail.
Gowings tried to innovate but failed to stay viable. The Oxford Street and Hornsby stores closed in 2005 and the George Street store closed its doors in January 2006 after 137 years of retailing. Later that year the Wynyard store was also closed.
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