Manton & Sons Pty. Ltd.

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Manton's (Manton & Sons Ltd.) was a notable Melbourne department store that operated in the early to mid 20th century on Bourke Street. The store specialised in haberdashery, hosiery, mantles, ribbons, corsets, laces, underclothing, millinery, and gloves. Manton's was iconic for its elaborate window and interior displays and advertising.

Manton & Sons Pty. Ltd.

Former type	Public
ISIN	🆔
Industry	Retail
Fate	Aquired by G.J. Coles & Co
Founded 📆	1926 (1926) (as Manton & Paull Pty Ltd)
Founder 👔	William Vaughan Manton Frank Paull
Defunct	1955 (1955)
Area served 🗺️	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Members
Number of employees
🌐 Website	[ ]
📇 Address
📞 telephone

History

William Vaughan Manton (1874-1962) worked in retail around Ballarat in his youth and young adult years. In 1893 he began work for a drapery business, John Snow and Company. In 1912, John Snow and his son, Sydney Snow asked Manton to assist in establishing in partnership, Sydney Snow Limited, a department store that would occupy the corner of Liverpool Street and Pitt Street, opposite Anthony Hordern's emporium in Sydney. William Manton left Snows in 1920 and in 1926 he moved to Melbourne along with Frank Paull who he had met in Ballarat. The two businessmen founded Manton & Paull Pty. Ltd. of that year, announcing the opening of a new department store located at 240-246 Bourke Street, on the same block as Foy's department store. By 1930, the firm ceased trading as Manton & Paull Pty. Ltd. and began trading as Manton & Sons Ltd. from 1932 onwards. Ivor Vaughan Manton (1904-1994) and John (Jack) Manton (1907-1992) would eventually join their father in the business.

Built in 1855, the Theatre Royale was one of Melbourne's first major entertainment venues. In 1934, neighbouring Manton's acquired and demolished the theatre to make way for its own expansion. Completed by 1937, the Manton's department store was a six-storey art deco complex designed by Jazz Age architects Henry William Tompkins and extensions by Harry Norris (of the Nicholas Building on Swanston Street.)

Dulcie Furneaux, fashion buyer for Manton's department store c.1925

A particular feature of Manton's was its haute couture fashion and housewares aimed at middle-class Melbourne citizens. Its slogan 'It's smart to be thrifty' was influenced by American department store icon, Sears, Roebuck & Co. Major competitors of Manton's included Myer, Ball & Welch, Buckley & Nunn, Foy & Gibson (Foy's) and Georges, all of which were located on Bourke Street except for Ball & Welch which operated on Flinders Street and Georges on Collins Street.

Decline and legacy

By the 1950s, Manton's popularity waned and was eventually purchased by G.J. Coles & Co in May 1955 for a reported £2 Million. The store closed in July of that year and went on to become a Coles Variety store (no. 200).

In 1977, the Coles store expanded into the former Hoyts De Luxe Cinema (named The Esquire after 1946) building (built 1915, designed by William Pitt) and covered the facade of both the old cinema and former Manton's store in cladding. 1994 saw the development of the complex once again as it was converted to Target, a discount department store. During the process some of the cladding was removed for a short time to install the Target signage, revealing the once hidden front of Manton's/Coles and the Hoyts De Luxe Cinema.

Today, Kmart, Gloria Jean's Coffees, Monash College, Vintage Cellars, City Chic, Tatts Lottery and other businesses occupy the space.

Existing signs of Manton's include the unaltered Art Deco facade on Little Bourke Street side of the complex. Also of note is a row of glass blocks on the Little Bourke Street footpath outside of the Kmart Centre, with 'Manton Place' inscribed upon them.

Gallery

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  The Target Centre (now the Kmart Centre) on Bourke Street, formerly Manton's department store, pictured in October 2005.

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  The Chinatown precinct of Little Bourke Street in September 2014. The Target Centre (now the Kmart Centre and formerly Manton's department store) can be seen in the distance on the left. Note the unaltered Art Deco facade.

See also

• Department stores around the world
• Sidney Myer

References

This article "Manton's" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Manton's. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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