From Our Collections

 

Flavelle Bros. & Company Trading Token

Henry Flavelle joined George Brush in an optician and jeweller’s business, Flavelle and Brush, at 87 King Street, Sydney in 1840.  Towards the end of the decade, the partners moved more towards the jewellery, rather than the optometry end of their business.

Brush left the business in 1850 and Flavelle brought in his brother John.  The new partners moved the business to 203 George Street.  By 1855 the brothers were sufficiently prosperous to extend their premises and open a branch in Brisbane.  It is believed that this was roughly the time that they issued their tokens.

Among the products of their workshops were medals commemorating the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

John Flavelle and his family lived on their estate, Wellbank, at the corner of Wellbank and Flavelle Streets, Concord.   This is now the site of the Concord Library.

 

Similar Posts

  • From Our Collection

    The Blue Bird Sewing Machine Bebarfalds, a retailer of home furnishings and manufacturer of furniture, traded for many years from its landmark location opposite the Sydney Town Hall on the corner of George and Park Streets. They are best remembered for their sewing machines, introduced around 1917, and branded as ‘Blue Bird’ from about 1926….

  • And so to bed . . .

    In better quality late Victorian and Edwardian bedrooms, grand old wardrobes and dressing tables were flanked by fancy chairs and perhaps a small side table. At each side of the double bed would be small matching cabinets. Very important for those times was a place to hide the chamberpot. The essential toilet set of jug…

  • The Armistice and Beyond

    The armistice of 11 November 1918 was celebrated in Concord with fervour. Citizens immediately formed tin-can bands and took to the street and within twelve hours of the news of armistice the Western Suburbs Master Carriers’ Association had organised what was then the largest procession in the history of the Western Suburbs. Beginning at Concord…

  • From Our Library

    THE SQUATTERS GRAB: where it all went wrongBy Wal WalkerSelf-published by William Wallace Walker, 2023. Wal Walker was born in Sydney. He is an economist and has lived ten years in Queensland and several years in the Northern Territory.  Wal has written a detailed book on the dispossession of land and subsequent loss of culture…

Add your first comment to this post