Duranillin Store

Statement of Significance

The building is notable as the first store in Duranillin/Moodiarrup district- an area isolated by distance and poor roads until the 1950’s. It has long been the hub of the Duranillin townsite for the supply of food and other goods, the provision of telephone and postal services and more recently as a liquor outlet. A long term proprietor, K.B. Thompson, was a notable district personality.

Physical Description

Situated in the Duranillin townsite opposite the railway siding. It is the site of the original building constructed in 1917 and burned to the ground in 1923 (1). The first building consisted of one room and was constructed using weatherboard cladding with an iron roof. The current building consists of a front section facing the road comprising the store with living quarters at the rear. The original counter and shelving at the back of the shop was replaced by more modern shelving and a counter at the front of the shop in 1987 when Nick and Jenny Hosking and Rosemary and Phillip Della took over the store. Rosemary and Philip Della then sold their part of the store to Nick and Jenny in 1989. Nick and Jenny sold the shop to Jenny, George and William (Bill) Shepardson in 2006.

History

Ken, or K.B. as he became known, came to Duranillin, in 1929, with his wife, (Biddy), to take over the local store, which he had purchased from Oliver Ryan. The store was dependant on the railway for the transport of goods and was a busy shop when the train came in. Ryan had leased the shop previously to Roland Stewart and later, Alec Young. The original proprietor Lewis Hibble used to travel out from Darkan once a week, bringing goods in his vehicle. He built the first shop, on the site of the present store. During Roley Stewart’s tenure, and while the hall was being built, the shop burned down. In about 1925 Ted Nordstrom rebuilt the store, for Oliver Ryan. (Just prior to this Nordstrom had built the Moodiarrup Hall) In November 1938, K.B. Thompson conducted the district’s first ‘off-shears’ sale in the ‘Glenorchy’ yards in conjunction with Dalgety & Co. 1570 sheep were yarded for this inaugural sale. Ken Thompson later expanded the store, which included the local telephone exchange. Mrs Thompson was a double certificated nursing sister, and residents of the surrounding district consulted her on their ailments in the early days. The year 1979 saw public tribute, for fifty years of community service, paid to Mr. & Mrs. K.B. Thompson in the Duranillin Hall. In the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June, Kenneth Barry Thompson was awarded the British Empire Medal in recognition of his services to Australia Post and to the people of the district. “K.B.’, as he was affectionately called, was presented with his medal by the Governor, Sir Wallace Kyle, in a ceremony at Government House (6). In 1987, the local Council honoured Ken Thompson by conferring on him the title of Freeman of the Shire of the West Arthur. This honour was the first ever bestowed on a local resident and was indicative of the widespread respect he had gained. Ken, whose wife had died a few years previously, left Duranillin later in the year, to live with his sister in Kalamunda until his death in 1989. Ken Thompson had bought the Post Office and store in 1929 and, with his wife, had run the telephone exchange for fifty years. Duranillin telephone exchange became automatic in August 1979, being one of a number to change from the manually operated system at that time

Integrity/Authenticity

Modifications: Major rebuild undertaken in the early 1950’s by Wally Higginson. Extent of original fabric: Most

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Last Update