Ink on paper plan, including 4 elevations and site plan. Title block, 'PROPOSED TIMBER FRAMED ASBESTOS RESIDENCE AT 156 KIA-ORA ROAD FOR MR RF WHITHAM'. Building permit stamp from Sutherland Shire on reverse, dated 29/4/54 and endorsed 31/12/61.

Yowie Bay, New South Wales

Grace Bros first began trading in 1885, at 203 George St West. It was established by two brothers, Joseph Neal and Albert Edward Grace. Being near the then business heart of Sydney, Broadway, the business thrived. By 1897, they had built a four storey building on the corner of Bay St and Broadway. By 1906, both the Grace Bros buidings built opposite each other on the corner of Bay St and Broadway had been established. The Graces also started buying offices in London as well as factories in Sydney, exclusively to manufacture Grace Bros merchandise. The establishment of Railway Square as the terminus for many of Sydney's bus, tram and rail lines ensured that Grace Bros at Broadway had a steady trade of commuters.
However changes to Sydney's transport system, allied with the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Depression of the 1930s combined to cause a crisis, which Grace Bros barely survived. However, they were able to establish two suburban stores (Parramatta and Bondi in 1933), which traded well. In 1928, they had already implemented plans to build the Grace Building on the corner of York and Clarence Streets, Sydney. However it was George Street, not York or Clarence Streets, that became the new major thoroughfare, and so the building was not a success.
In 1983, Grace Bros took over the Sydney and country stores of their Melbourne-based counterpart, Myers. Among their acquisitions was the Myers building on the corner of George and Market Streets. Myer (Australia), however, took over Grace Bros later that same year.

Grace Bros Ltd

Australian architecture

Building technology

94/48/3 House plan, paper, made by Grace Bros / Ron and Gloria Whitham, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1952-1961

POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

House plan for Ron and Gloria Whitham's house

Object No. 94/48/3

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