J S Battye Library of West Australian History Private Archives – Collection Listing

MN 1332 Acc 1906A, 4785A; 4171A, 6096A, 6971A

BOANS LTD, 1895 -1986

Brothers Harry and Benjamin Boan left their store in Broken Hill, NSW in the gold rush days of the 1890s and opened a department store in Wellington Street, Perth, in November 1895. The Boans’ paid £42 for each foot of frontage when Wellington Street was little more than a swamp.

In 1906 the property was extended along Wellington Street, and in 1912 extended through to Murray Street. In 1918 its name was changed to Boans Ltd. The elevators and famous marble staircase were installed in 1936. It was during the 1930s that Harry Boan was joined by his son, Frank.

In 1958 the company opened the first department store, known as the Waverley Store, outside the city, on the Albany Highway, Cannington. A store was opened in Bunbury in 1960 and in Morley, on the site of W.A.'s first shopping centre, in 1961. In 1962 the mezzanine floor was added to the city store. A store at Cottesloe followed in 1964, Albany in 1966 and Melville and Innaloo in 1967.

By 1969 Boan’s despatch centre dealt with 1000 orders a day - the Perth City store having a very well patronised grocery department. No order was considered too small to deliver. At this time the company was the largest private employer in WA with 2467 employees, 1873 being in the city store.

In 1985 Boans Ltd was taken over by the Melbourne based Myer Emporium Ltd., with the name “Boans” retained, however, the store names later changed to “Myer”. On 12 April 1986 the city store closed and the building was demolished, but not without public outcry. The new Myer Emporium was built on the same site, as part of the Forrest Chase development.

The Papers The records were deposited with the State Archives by Mr F. Larter in February 1971 (ACC 1906; photocopies), Mrs Y Fletcher on 24 May 1994 (ACC 4785A), J B Morrison, Managing Director, Boans Pty Ltd in May 1983 (ACC 4171A), and from unknown source (ACC 6096A), from Mr?Ms? Mizon in November 2007 (6971A)

Holdings = 1.90m

Access The J S Battye Library provides access to original material. In some situations, this may not be possible and alternative formats such as microfilm, microfiche, typescripts or photocopies are supplied for researchers’ use. Where alternative formats are available, these must be used.

MN 1332 1  Copyright SLWA 2004 J S Battye Library of West Australian History Private Archives – Collection Listing

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Summary of Classes

ACCOUNT BOOKS MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES AGREEMENTS MEMORANDA APPEALS MINUTE BOOKS BANK STATEMENTS MINUTES BIOGRAPHIES MISCELLANEOUS CASH BOOKS NEWSPAPER CUTTINGS CATALOGUES ORAL HISTORIES CERTIFICATES PAMPHLETS CORRESPONDENCE PHOTOGRAPHS DIARIES POEMS FILES POSTERS FINANCIAL RECORDS PRICE LISTS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PROGRAMMES GUIDE/INSTRUCTION BOOKS REALIA INVITATIONS RECEIPT BOOKS JOURNALS RECEIPTS LEASES RECORDS LEDGERS SALARIES AND WAGES BOOKS LEGAL PAPERS SCRAPBOOKS LETTERS SOUND RECORDINGS LISTS TITLE DEEDS VISITORS BOOKS

ACCOUNT BOOKS 4171A/1 27 October 1938 – 27 August 1940 1 Vol 4171A/2 OSM 1 August 1946 – 28 May 1958 1 Vol A J Department – Weekly figures 4171A/3 2 March 1951 – 12 July 1956 1 Vol 4171A/4 13 July 1956 – 24 October 1963 1 Vol Purchase Stock Book orig. 4171A/5 OSM March 1927 – February 1935 1 Vol

AGREEMENTS 4171A/6 17 July 1905 – 10 June 1918 1 Vol Agreements Book for staff, Boan Bros 4171A/116 14 June 1940 Hire and payment agreement for goods, with Ruby Anne Anderson

APPEALS

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4171A/119 July 1930. Hand-made brochure, relating to the raffle of a dining suite, donated by Boans, for the Lord Mayor’s Unemployment Fund appeal

BANK STATEMENTS 4171A/7 1941-1945 Bank Statements from The Bank of Australasia Boans Staff Patriotic Fund

BIOGRAPHIES 4785A/9 n.d. Biography of Harry Boan and the story of Boans from John Spatcher. Includes list of sources, including interviews.

CASH BOOKS 4171A/8 12 November 1920 – 27 December 1923 4171A/9 4 March 1938 – 2 November 1939 Includes short diary entries 4171A/10 23 November 1945 – 22 May 1947 Includes short diary entries Patriotic Fund 4171A/11 3 April 1940 – 22 August 1945 Boans staff

CATALOGUES 4171A/12 n.d. Newest design lace curtain 12 pages 4171A/13 n.d. Latest designs in lamps 1 Fol

4171A/114 1915 Boans Family Catalogue 4171A/115 MISSING 1918 Boans Family Catalogue

CERTIFICATES 4171A/14 March – April 1946 Security Loans Certificate – 2 copies 4171A/15 October – November 1946 Second Security Loans Certificate – 2 copies 4171A/16 1965-1966 Charity Award – Legacy in Western Australia 4171A/17 23 February – 25February 1977 Sales Training Certificate 4171A/18 Certificate of Merit – Miss Crowning Glory presented by Torchbearers for Legacy Inc

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6096A/1 1982 87 years of retailing, Boans

CORRESPONDENCE 4785A/1 1966 - 1986 Correspondence in relation to mail orders and contributions by staff in relation to book about "History of Boans" by R. Fletcher etc.

DIARIES 4171A/9a 4 March 1938 – 2 October 1939 Includes short diary entries at top of pages 4171A/10a 23 November 1945 – 22 May 1947 Includes short diary entries at top of pages

FILES 4785A/2 1933 - 1957 File containing the "Boans" Service for Christmas 1933 and Merchandising Lectures etc 4785A/3 1986 File about Frank Boan 4785A/4 1986 - 1989 File of customers and staff comments received by phone and mail. Includes extract from Daily News 22 November n.d. about Boans

4785A/5 1943 - 1984 File concerning War Times at Boans 4785A/6 1956 - 1969 File of Staff / References 4785A/7 1984 - 1986 File of Boans 30 Year Club which covered staff and ex staff names and addresses 4785A/8 1965 - 1987 File in relation to Merchandise Control. Includes letters about discounts, legacy luncheon " Prosperity by Propaganda" by R.C. Fletcher, slogans to be used for Christmas and General and various notes and drafts 4171A/19 1963, 1975 Promotions Father Christmas bookings to hospitals, orphanages, schools 4171A/20 May 1976 Rates advertisements in the West Australian 4171A/21 Home Service Division

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Staff, job specifications, training etc including pamphlets, circulars etc 4171A/22 1940-1941 Patriotic Fund Letters from organisations requesting donations, charity, balls etc, receipts, balance sheet 4171A/23 1941-1942 Patriotic Fund Letters from organisations requesting donations, charity, balls etc, receipts, balance sheet 4171A/24 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945 Patriotic Fund Letters from organisations requesting donations, charity, balls etc, receipts, balance sheet

FINANCIAL RECORDS 4785A/10 1957 - 1984 Boans Limited Prospectus; advice to Boans Shareholders; Statement by Boans Limited and various letters etc 4785A/11 1957 - 1972 Cash and Entry of 1 day's takings showing Decimal Currency Changeover Feb 1966

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 4171A/25 31 August 1971 Boans Sporting and Social Clubs 2 copies Statement of Receipts and Payments 4171A/26 January – February 1972 Boans Sporting and Social Clubs Comparison Statement

GUIDES/INSTRUCTIONS BOOKS 4171A/27 17 November 1936 Instructions to Employees of Boans Ltd, Perth 2 copies 4171A/28 [1946] Instructions and Hints to Staff – Boans Ltd 2 copies 4171A/29 [1967] Instructions and Hints to Staff – Boans of Perth 2 copies 4171A/30 n.d. Instructions and Hints to Staff – Boans of Perth 4171A/31 n.d. Store Rules, Boans Ltd 2 copies 4171A/32 n.d. Store Rules, Boans of Western Australia 4171A/33 1965 Bairds; Employees Handbook

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4171A/34 n.d. Georges and You – Instructions to telephonists 4171A/35 n.d. Floor Superintendents’ Guide Book – The Myer Emporium Ltd 4171A/37 12 December 1974 Notice – Transfer of Store Manager 2 copies 4171A/38 1962 Western Australian Employees Federation Inc Extract from Government Gazette (No. 56) with amendments attached

INVITATIONS 4171A/39 1936 Autumn – Winter Fashions 4171A/40 1966 Sporting and Social Club

JOURNALS Advertising booking Space in Newspapers 4171A/41 March 1955 – November 1958 1 Vol 4171A/42 December 1958 – September 1962 1 Vol 4171A/43 September 1962 – February 1966 1 Vol 4171A/44 OSM March 1966 – March 1968 1 Vol 4171A/45 OSM February 1970 – February 1971 1 Vol 4171A/46 OSM February 1971 – March 1972 1 Vol 4171A/47 OSM March 1972 – June 1973 1 Vol

Motor Vehicles 4171A/48 1937 – 1946 1 Vol 4171A/49 1932 – 1942 1 Vol Lynas Motors Limited

Records of Work Weekly Deliveries and Overtime 4171A/50 OSM 8 September 1938 – 18 November 1954 1 Vol 4171A/51 OSM 6 January 1955 – 29 December 1955 1 Vol 4171A/52 OSM 5 January 1956 – 27 December 1956 1 Vol 4171A/53 OSM 3 January 1957 – 24 December 1957 1 Vol 4171A/54 OSM 2 January 1958 – 31 December 1958 1 Vol 4171A/55 OSM 8 January 1959 – 31 December 1959 1 Vol 4171A/56 OSM 7 January 1960 – 31 December 1960 1 Vol 4171A/57 OSM 5 January 1961 – 30 December 1961 1 Vol 4171A/58 OSM 4 January 1963 – 31 December 1962 1 Vol 4171A/59 OSM 3 January 1963 – 31 December 1963 1 Vol 4171A/60 OSM 9 January 1964 – 31 December 1964 1 Vol

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4171A/61 OSM 7 January 1965 – 30 December 1965 1 Vol 4171A/62 OSM 6 January 1966 – 29 December 1966 1 Vol 4171A/63 OSM 5 January 1967 – 4 January 1968 1 Vol 4171A/64 OSM 11 January 1968 – 2 January 1969 1 Vol 4171A/65 OSM 9 January 1969 – 31 December 1969 1 Vol 4171A/66 OSM 7 January 1971 – 30 December 1971 1 Vol

LEASES 4171A/67 29 June 1938 Transfer of Land Act, 1893 – Kyran Brennan to Brennans Boulder Limited

LEDGERS 4171A/68 OSM 1922 - 1927 Monthly Sales 1 Vol

LEGAL PAPERS 4171A/69 1947 – 1952 Includes Summons for theft, statements regarding 6 Fol charges returned for not being honored

LETTERS 4785A/12 20 September 1973 Letter from Carousel Merchants Association (Inc) to Mr R. Fletcher 4785A/13 24 April 1979 Letter re explosion of bomb at Innaloo

LISTS 4171A/118 12 March 1943. Souvenir of the First Annual Dinner to members of the staff who have completed 30 years continuous service with the firm. Lists names, years of service and signature of each person listed 4171A/119 11 October 1941. List of signatures, headed, “Thanking you and God speed and quick return”

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES 4171A/70 22 May 1930 Certificate of Marriage, Perth, Western Australia between Edward Casey Francis and Kathleen Marie Brennan

MEMORANDA 4171A/71 1974 – 1975 Memos to staff 12 Fols

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MINUTE BOOKS 4171A/72 November 1935 – November 1942 Boans Social and Sporting Club – Book 1 4171A/73 December 1942 – April 1949 Boans Social and Sporting Club – Book 2

MINUTES 4785A/14 1972 - 1973 Minutes from Western Australia Week Council. Includes menu of Foundation Day Dinner on 4 June 1973 with signatures etc

MISCELLANEOUS 4171A/74 1929 – 1955 Souvenirs, fans, badges, stickers, Boans Social and Sporting Club dance tickets, paper bag, sick visiting book

NEWSPAPER CUTTINGS 4171A/75 2 November 1895 - The West Australian Also includes 2 photocopies of page 1 from The Barrier Miner, April 19, 1890 and December 18, 1890 4171A/76 14 March 1899 The West Australian 4171A/77 9 October 1902 The Morning Herald 4171A/78 2 April 1914 The Daily News

4171A/79 12 September 1936 No title 4171A/80 14 December –15 December 1931 Daily News 4171A/81 15 December 1931 West Australian 6096A/2 12 Sep 1954 The Sunday Times

4171A/82 1 June 1956 Industrial News p3 and p4 4171A/83 29 December 1967 Daily News. Front page and p2, titled ‘Mr Frank Boan dies at age 61’ 4171A/84 n.d. The West Australian – Profile ‘Frank Boan’ 4171A/85 n.d.

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No name, articles ‘Plaza will become part of Sydney Life’ written by Chris Anderson The Western Mail – Christmas 1919 p13 The Western Mail – Christmas 1928 p2 The Western Mail – Christmas 1928 p75 The West Australian – 6 September 1958 p9

ORAL HISTORIES Oral histories from Acc 4785A are filed in the Battye Library Oral History Collection. Cassette Tape - T. Morris and T. Urquhart

PAMPHLETS 4171A/86 n.d. Handwritten, titles “A Few Remarks About Tea” with compliments of Boans Bros, Perth

PHOTOGRAPHS Photographs from Acc 4785A are filed in the Battye Library Pictorial Collection 4171A/89 1951 Photograph of Boans Ltd, in colour 4171A/90 June 1961 Boans Store, Bunbury in black and white 4171A/91 n.d. Store, in black and white

POEMS 4785A/15 n.d. Poem to Alf Moore and to Alex Millard by Robert Fletcher.

POSTERS 6971A/2 CHARTS Two photocopied newspaper advertisements, mounted

Appreciation to Boans’ staff for war service

29 May 1883 One painting “Remember Jehovah Rophi”, signed May Seidel

PRICE LISTS 4171A/92 November 1926 Boans Limited, grocery and provision price list 4171A/93 4 September 1946

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Christmas Parcel of Food packed and posted by Boans to England, standard list parcels

PROGRAMMES 4171A/94 April 1916 Railway Queen Carnival, Afternoon Tea and Concert held in Boans Bros Tea Rooms 4171A/95 October 1941 YMCA War Service Appeal, Grand Variety Concert, held at Perth Concert Hall, by Boans 4171A/96 February – April 1974 Promotional programme at Innaloo Shopping Centre

REALIA 6971A/1 Small bull-dog clip with circular disc “for your 3.5cm dia. BOANS dockets”

RECEIPT BOOKS 4171A/97 1939 – 1943 Includes staff permit to leave store

RECEIPTS 4171A/98 1903 Receipt issued by Boans Brothers 4171A/99 1941 – 1943 Bundle of receipts

RECORDS 4171A/87 Loose pages includes companies, policies and administrative structure, job specifications instructions, reports and charts 4171A/88 1920 – 1971 Includes correspondence, receipts, newspaper cutting, valuation of land

SALARIES AND WAGES Weekly Salaries and Wages Book, by department 4171A/100 27 February 1913 – 13 March 1915 1 Vol 4171A/101 11 March 1915 – 6 March 1919 1 Vol 4171A/102 15 March 1917 – 6 March 1919 1 Vol 4171A/103 13 April 1919 – 1 December 1921 1 Vol 4171A/104 6 December 1923 – 17; December 1925 1 Vol 4171A/105 22 September 1927 – 27 September 1928 1 Vol 4171A/106 4 November 1928 – 15 June 1933 1 Vol 4171A/107 9 May 1935 – 5 November 1936 1 Vol 4171A/108 OSM 12 August 1937 – 14 April 1938 1 Vol

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4171A/109 21 September 1939 – 12 June 1941 1 Vol

Weekly Salaries and Wages Book, Alphabetical 4171A/110 25 November 1927/26 April 1928 1 Vol

Factory Wages Book 4171A/111 12 January 1922 – 29 November 1928 1 Vol SCRAPBOOKS 6096A/3 OSM 18 Aug-11 Jun 1953 Boan Bros Great winter sale begins on Saturday; Boans museum 4171A/112 1949-1951 Comprises newspaper cuttings 6096A/4 OSM Jan 1951-19 Oct 1954 Boans museum 6096A/5 OSM 19 Oct 1954-31 Aug 1957 Boans museum 4785A/16 OSM 1970 Scrapbook of 75th Anniversary of Boans. Includes photographs, fan, tea towel, publicity 4785A/17 OSM 1963 - 1973 Fashion Hall Scrapbook

SOUND RECORDINGS 6096A/6 OSM n.d. Challenge across the counter (training resource), Part 1&2 (33 1/3 rpm) 6096A/7 OSM 15 Aug 1963 Boans staff training repeated no. 1 side (33 1/3 rpm) 6096A/8 OSM 6 Feb 1964 Boans staff lecture, side 1&2 (33 1/3 rpm)

TITLE DEEDS 1906A OSM Title deeds and transfers relating to the site Photocopies (Wellington Street-Murray Street, Perth) on which Boans store was built from 1895; biographical information relating to the site owners 1863-

VISITORS BOOKS 4171A/113 3 October 1955 – 26 September 1967 1 Vol 4171A/117 n.d. “Sick visiting book” on front cover. Lists surname, initials. Also has a column with letter abbreviations (this could be the department where the named person was employed?), the same column includes a number (this could be named person’s age?)

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