RETAIL

Retail

As in most things relating to Katanning, Frederick Piesse played an important role in the establishment of not only Katanning but also its retail business network.

After following the construction of the Great Southern Railway with he and brother Charles’ mobile store, they set up shop in what is now Katanning. Their first store was located approximately where the Royal Exchange Hotel now sits. Their second store was a single-storey building adjacent to their new roller flour mill. This was later demolished and replaced with a two-storey building. It was later added to and, after Robert Richardson took control, a further wing was added as the business continued to expand. That building still stands today.

A.E. Piesse & Co (Opened 1905)
Later became Katanning Stock & Trading Co (1908)

Katanning’s oldest surviving, still operating, retail business is the Katanning Stock and Trading Co which started life in 1905 as A.E. Piesse & Co. The building (c 1905) in the foreground above still exists although it had a second story added in 1908.

Behind it is the old Great Southern Herald building (which burned down) and the Royal Exchange Hotel. Katanning’s oldest surviving business is the Great Southern Herald which produced its first edition on 5 October, 1901.

Business can be fickle during even the best of times. Imagine what it must have been like during two major world wards and the Great Depression [2] of the 1920s. Many businesses went by the wayside of our history but many did survive. It’s interesting to note how many businesses have come and gone over the years in Katanning. You can see many of those businesses HERE

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Retail

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