OBITUARY: 'MISS GILCHRIST'


A pioneer in the field of retailing passed away on 23 June. "Miss
Gilchrist", as she was known, was the sole proprietor of the wool,
haberdashery and schoolwear store that bore her name in Maroubra for
62 years. For several generations, Gilchrist's was a household name
serving grandparents, their children and their children's children.

If you were looking for a special ball of wool or anything in the
haberdashery line it was a well known catch cry that "if you can't get
it at Gilchrist's then you can't get it anywhere!" Alhtough she didn't
have the largest quantity of knitting wools in Australia she had the
largest range.

Miss Gilchrist was a pioneer in her field, she was a woman way ahead
of her time. She entered business before the second world war when for
a woman to enter business, on her own, was almost unthinkable. Banks
and some businesses refused to deal with her because she was a
woman. Some banks wanted to grant her a loan, but only if her brother,
would act as guarantor. But Miss Gilchrist did it on her own. In 1938,
prior to the outbreak of World War II, Gwen Gilchrist opened her
business in rented premises at 208 Maroubra Road, Maroubra. She opened
the business under her maiden name Gilchrist. "Gilchrists" was to
become a household name for several generations, serving the broader
community for the next 62 years. To have survived these early,
difficult years and to have continued to flourish for such a lengthy
period of time stands as testimony to her remarkable life.

Back in 1938, just starting out in business, Miss Gilchrist would stay
up late at night, helped by some friends, making hats and knitting
garments to add to her meagre stock for sale. To make ends meet she
sublet a window in her shop to a young man, also embarking on his
career, as a watchmaker and jeweller. Several years on into the war,
Miss Gilchrist married the young watchmaker and jeweller, on one of
his periods of leave from duty. During these war years she and her
friends served cups of tea to soldiers on leave- word grew and the
numbers of soldiers coming for tea grew. In return Gwen and her
friends were given valuable food rations.

Even though she was married Miss Gilchrist maintained her maiden name
for business purposes. This was particularly unusual for her time and
caused her dersion from some segments of the community. After her
first child was born in the 1950's she visited her local butcher who
inquired after the baby. The butcher addressed her by her maiden
name. The butcher's offsider, overhearing this, refused to serve any
such "hussy" in the shop.

Over the years Miss Gilchrist built up a loyal following in the local
community and beyond. At one time Gilchrist's was trading out of 3
shops. Her fame spread far and wide especially in the wool
industry. Phone and written orders were taken for wool from all over
Australia as well as internationally.

During her many years in business Miss Gilchrist was supported by her
wonderful staff. In an era where women were still in the minority in
the workforce Miss Gilchrist employed many women, many of whom were
part-time with families of their own. Many of these women worked for
Miss Gilchrist for 20-30 years. In all of her 62 years in business
Miss Gilchrist had only two managers to help run the business. One of
these managers, Miss Mackinnon worked for Miss Gilchrist for 28 years,
the other the first man to enter her employ, Mr Brown for a further 21
years.

Miss Gilchrist's retirement finally came on the 30th of June 2000,
prompted, in part, by the introduction of the GST. In Gilchrists, even
in 2000, everything was handwritten, all receipts were handwritten,
the cash register that Miss Gilchrist had purchased somewhere in the
early 1940s still registered your sale in pounds, shillings and
pence. There was always a chair downstairs for the elderly or frail to
sit on. All the books were done by hand. And business was conducted on
good will.

As the 30th of June 2000 approached, the media recognised that a
pioneer in the field was leaving, that it was the end of an era. The
Sydney Morning Herald published her story on page 2 in May 2000, and
the network media followed - in June 2000 Miss Gilchrist was feted on
Channels 7, 9 and 10. The State Archives in the Mitchell Library
approached her and she and her shop are now part of our State's
records to be accessed by future generations.

Miss Gilchrist is survived by a son and a daughter and 3 grandchildren.