Wests Shops

Statement of Significance

The place represents commercial enterprise in the town of Kondinin,
and a prosperity during the 1920s. The place is an important element in the mainstreet streetscape
and townscape character of Kondinin.

Physical Description

A row of six single storey shops with a single street front verandah. Brick construction
with a separate gable or hipped corrugated iron roof over each shop section. The parapet facade for
each shop forms a continuum with a semi circular pediment. The two end shops have a stepped
parapet with the pediment.

History

James William West came from Keynton (Victoria) in 1903, at the
age of 14 to join three brothers already in the west. Before World War One, West was a Dumbleyung
pioneer, establishing shops in 1912 and 13. After the war, he farmed in partnership with Andrew
Oliver, his mate from the 10th Light Horse regiment, on Tom Collett's former farm, and in 1924 he
purchased J Atkin's farm. In 1919, James West established a shop, behind the now existing shops,
which faced the side lane. The shop was a corrugated iron construction where he operated a Dodge,
Sunshine, Massey Harris, Dalgety, Shell and Queensland Insurance agencies, in addition to being a
sworn valuer. He operated the first motor vehicle agency in Kondinin, and had a considerable property
portfolio.
A shed on the northern boundary of the lot measured about 90 x 45 feet, (or larger!) and was 20 feet
high, with the north and west sides fully clad, and the other sides only clad half way up the walls with
corrugated iron. The structure of the place was salmon gum poles, and the entrance was on the east
side.
The first three shops to be constructed in 1925 were on the west side. The shops were originally
established as the Kondinin Garage (lurtherest west, and the largest), a hardware store combined with
West's office, and a butcher shop. The head mechanic at the garage was Jack Tamlin, and it was run
by West in conjunction with his hardware shop(ironmongers) and agencies, with his office at the back.
The butcher shop was managed for West by Roy Atkinson, and later in the 1930s, Jack Gorringe, and
then Albert and Jack Wignall.
Behind the garage (attached), was a blacksmith shop. Jack Lees blacksmith?
In 1925, JW West became the inaugural Chairman of the Kondinin Roads Board.
Property and development in Kondinin was such that in 1928, West added another three shops to the
then existing three shops, with a balancing larger shop on the east end. From west to east, the new
shops were a car showroom, which became a machinery parts shop from the 30s to the 1950s, the
Bank of New South Wales, which reopened after World War Two as the National Bank, and Roy Cook's
grocery store at the east end. The showrooms has a sliding door for the cars to enter, and had a
comprehensive range of McKay Sunshine machinery parts. The grocery store was also a drapery store
(Stockwell (Whytes??) Drapers), before being a grocery store in the late 1930s, managed by Frank
Baker "Bake", for West
The functions in each of the shops has changed over the years.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact/redeemable
Authenticity: high degree

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.