For Gawler people the name "Essex House" has been synonymous with drapery, general merchandise and fashion since the 1880's and even earlier.
Now the home of H.B. Crosby Pty. Ltd., the name "Essex House" has survived a number of changes of ownership, demolition, alterations and additions -- even "removal" from one side of Murray street to the other.
Originally Essex House was a humble store on the eastern side of the street -- where Victory square now stands.
A drapery business was conducted there for many years, prior to the arrival of Alfred Sheard in South Australia.
Born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England, in 1855, Mr. Sheard was apprenticed in the drapery business of Mr. J. J. Callagan.
Two years later Mr. Callagan was forced to retire from business because of the poor financial economy existing. There was generally severe unemployment and Gawler suffered with the rest of the country.
Mr. Sheard was not discouraged and was hailed as something of a local hero when he took over premises which had been empty for some time, and announced his intention of establishing a new business.
Soon after he purchases premises with a 45 foot 6 inches frontage to Murray street for the sum of 700 pounds. The premises were already known as Essex House, so Mr. Sheard continued to use the name.
Who originally named it is not known -- probably it was one of the former proprietors -- Messrs. Oscar Wehrstedt, H. J. Garrood, E. J. Pittard or others.
From 1886 to 1900 the business flourished -- so much so that Mr. Sheard made extensive alterations and additions. However the enlarged premises were still not large enough for his growing business, and in 1905 he demolished Essex House and rebuilt it on the other side of the street.
At the time he owned two properties -- a boot emporium on the eastern side of the street and a drapery and general store on the western side.
The Bunyip, in June 1905, said the demolition of Essex House "removes an old landmark. It was one of the oldest business establishments remaining."
The article also refers to the fact that about 40 years before this (1865) the premises were three shops -- a butcher, a painter and plumber, and a bookmaker.
In 1908, to quote E. H. Coombe's "History of Gawler," Essex House "is now one of the best business places in Gawler," and the enlarged and improved building "is now an attractive structure."
At that time Mr. Sheard was employing between 22 and 30 hands in the business.
He also gave co-operative (discount) coupons with every purchase and the premises boasted a special ladies' boot fitting room. By 1911 the business had again grown, and the adjoining saddle and harness store premises of J. H. Bassett had been purchased.
Builders were again put to work and Essex House doubled in size, prompting The Bunyip to describe the structure as a "massive pile."
In 1924 Mr. Sheard made the last of a number of trips to England, during which he died in England.
Essex House was sold in 1930 to the late Mr. Henry Burgess Crosby, who was also a draper.
Henry Crosby was born in Adelaide in 1870 and came to Gawler in 1902 where he purchased the general store-keeping business of R. J. Lavis in "Pile's Building", on the corner of Murray and Finniss streets.
He established a successful business there, but sold it after 11 years. In 1917, on the death of E. H. Coombe, he won a seat in Parliament, representing the Barossa electorate.
It was not until 1930, after a distinguished parliamentary career, that he purchased Essex House and re-established the business of H.B. Crosby, which has continued to the present day.
Today the store has many improvements, but none which detract from the "atmosphere" of 80 years ago.
The "Flying Fox" system of cash carriers with 13 "stations" were installed in 1912 and was manufactured and installed by Lamson Engineering Co., of Adelaide, who also made up spare parts for the carriers.
Other improvements was a sprinkler pipe installed along the front of the balcony to keep customers and the front of the shop cool. In hot weather the water was turned on so that it sprinkled the canvas blinds hanging from the balcony.
The "Essex House" lettering standing in relief against the skyline above the store has been the subject of numerous New Year pranks over the years. Gawler people were in the habit of covering the first two letters of "Essex" on New Year's Eve.
The present owner of the store, Mr. Mick Mattei, purchased the store 15 years ago, and has incorporated the former Hamilton's Menswear and Barkleys Menswear into one store. There are now seven members on the staff, including four family members.
Years ago the store used to manufacture its own millinery, but now millinery and footwear is no longer sold.
The famous flying fox has been replaced with modern cash registers and customers are also able to avail themselves of EFTP0S. The present staff still maintain their quiet courtesy in keeping with the traditions of the old store with its high ceilings and historic background.