Pambula Supermarket, formerly Eric Coorey's Rural Distributing Store, Pambula:

Item details:

Current status*:	Unlisted. Formerly included on Schedule 6 of the 2002 Bega Valley Local Environment Plan.
Name of item:	Pambula Supermarket.
Former name/s:	Rural Distributing Store.
Item type:	Built
Item group/collection:	Commercial
Item category:	Shop
Street number:	19
Street name:	Quondola Street
Suburb/town:	Pambula
Local Government Area:	Bega Valley Shire
Property description:	Lot 14, DP 777556
Owner category:	Private
Current use:	Supermarket.
Former use/s:	Grocery and general store with attached residence.

* Refers to the site's inclusion in Schedule 5 of the Local Environment Plan.

Quondola Street, Pambula showing the original Rural
Distributing Store prior to destruction by fire in 1931.

Significance:

Statement of significance: The site of the present day Pambula supermarket has been associated with commercial retail activity for many years, and is reputed to have been amongst the earliest in the town sold for such purposes, giving it a significant level of social importance to the local community. It is now the only such facility in the township where once there were five or six general stores at any given time, making it an important tangible indicator of the impact of contracting populations and improved transport methods. The previous use of the building as a residence as well as store indicates the changing work and living practices of individuals and families involved with commercial activities. The significant association of the building and business with Eric Coorey, "Syrian" hawker turned general store keeper is important as an indication of the changing work practices and opportunities available to immigrants living in rural Australia after the turn of the 20th century. This is only added to by his involvement with numerous local community groups and his commitment to contributing to the maintenance and development of the town. The style of the building and materials used are unusual in the Pambula township streetscape and are reminders of changing styles used in and materials available for building activities in the 1930s and ‘40s. This is reinforced by its vicinity to the old Australian Bank of Commerce building, itself also a unique element in the Pambula streetscape, but vastly different in style and materials to that of the supermarket. The structure also provides a tangible reminder of how disasters such as fires can irrevocably alter the streetscape. Despite this, however, the awning does reinforce the veranda-lined streetscape that is a common element in Pambula’s main street precinct, whilst the scale of the building is very in keeping with that used throughout the township.    Particularly because of the wells and use of portion of the building for residential accommodation, the back yard may also yield some archaeological potential.

Level of significance:

Local.

Rural Distributing Store C. late 1950s.

Description:

Designer:	Probably Bernie Koerber.
Builder:	Bernie Koerber.
Physical description:	Single storey asbestos fibro sheet building with corrugated iron gable roof showing some decorative battening. Modern aluminium framed windows and automatic sliding door to the left at the front have replaced the original layout, which consisted of two windows which stood on either side of timber framed panelled double doors featuring two-paned windows at the top. The plain awning supported by thin timber posts appears to be quite similar to that which originally protected the front of the building. When originally constructed, a portion of the building was devoted to residential area, but today the entire building is devoted to the supermarket and associated storage area.
Physical condition:	Not physically inspected but appears sound.
Construction date/s:	1934/35;
Modifications and dates:
Further comments:

Eric Coorey's Rural Distributing Store C. late 1950s.

History:

Historical notes: From early in Pambula’s history there has been a store located on this site and according to an unnamed source, was said to be the first in Pambula to be sold for shops. From January 1907, the building on the site was occupied by John Kennedy as the Sydney Stores. In 1922, his son joined him in the business. In December 1931, a fire broke out in the building, destroying the original building then occupied by Eric Coorey’s general stores. The Eden Magnet reported: “By a fire which occurred at Pambula in Sunday night, the building known as Kennedy's Store was destroyed.” A "Syrian" (probably Lebanese), Mr. Coorey had reportedly commenced his business activities as a hawker before moving into the premises in Quondola Street on a permanent basis. After the fire, the site remained vacant until 1934 when he contracted local builder Bernie Koerber to erect the present structure. In 1935, a dispute was heard in the Bega District Court between Mr. Coorey and Mr. Koerber over the building contract, Koerber claiming payment for the balance due and Coorey cross-claiming on the grounds that the work had not been finished on time. The Judge found in favour of Mr. Coorey. Through his business, Mr. Coorey was renowned for his community mindedness, and always willing to donate goods for worthy causes. He was also very involved with the Pambula Progress Association. Nonetheless, despite running a successful business and being so involved in community affairs, Mr. Coorey was, for much of his life, unable to read or write. Kevin Wilks, son of one of the Pambula Public School Principals, recalls his father teaching Mr. Coorey to read and write during the evenings. Mr. Wilks said that this enabled him to develop an even stronger business. For a period after the Grand United Oddfellows Lodge was dissolved, Mr. Coorey utilised their club rooms further up Quondola Street for the drapery portion of his business and in 1934, he opened a branch drapery outlet in nearby Eden. His window displays became a popular talking point for local residents and the Rural Distributing Store was also popular with local sleeper cutters because, unlike other general storekeepers, Eric Coorey was willing to make grocery deliveries to their camps. Wells located at the rear of the building were reputed to be amongst the best in the district, although their exact location is unknown today. It is also uncertain as to whether they date back to the earlier Kennedy business or if Mr. Coorey had them constructed. Since Eric Coorey’s construction, the building has been continually occupied first by general stores and then later, their more modern counter part, supermarkets. Among those who have operated the business have been Allan Gill, the Hopkins family, the Davis family, Mark and Lauren Souris and the Olsen family.

Detail of the front of the Rural Distributing Store, C. late 1950s, showing door and window features.

Themes:

Australian theme:	New South Wales theme:	Local theme:
3: Developing local, regional and national economies.	Commerce – Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services.
3: Developing local, regional and national economies.	Forestry – Activities associated with identifying and managing land covered in trees for commercial timber purposes.
3: Developing local, regional and national economies.	Technology – Activities and processes associated with the knowledge or use of mechanical arts and applied sciences.
3: Developing local, regional and national economies.	Transport – Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements.
4: Building settlements, towns and cities.	Accommodation – Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.
8: Developing Australia’s cultural life.	Domestic life – Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.
9: Marking the phases of life.	Persons – Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups.

Blank receipt from Eric Coorey's Rural Distributing Store.

Application criteria:

Historical significance SHR criteria (a)
Historical association significance SHR criteria (b)
Aesthetic significance SHR criteria (c)
Technical / Research significance SHR criteria (e)
Rarity SHR criteria (f)
Representativeness SHR criteria (g)
Integrity:

Heritage Listings and reports:

Schedule 6, Bega Valley Shire Council Local Environment Plan, 2002

Urban design Guidelines for Pambula Commercial Area, Suzannah Plowman for Bega Valley Shire Council.

Information sources / bibliography :

Brown, Stella, pers. comm. Eden Magnet George, Allan, pers. comm. Munn, Chappie, pers. comm. Pambula Voice Plowman, Suzannah, for Bega Valley Shire Council, Urban design Guidelines for Pambula Commercial Area. Whelan, Betty, pers. comm. Wilks, Kevin, pers. comm.

Author and date:

© Angela George. All rights reserved.

April 2015.