POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Nameplate for Richards clothing shop

Object No. 2009/79/2

This brass nameplate, 'F.V. Richards', hung next to the Richard's clothing shop located at 53-59 Rowe Street, Sydney. Operating from 1923 to 1973, the shop was well-known for its range of fine British clothes for men and women. From humble beginnings in a single-roofed shanty in a remote mining town to a prosperous modern store selling comprehensive range of fine clothing, in its more than 85 years of operation F.V Richards and Co., known simply as Richards, was a retailing success story. Its trademark store in Castlereagh Street on the south-eastern corner of Rowe Street, built in 1925, had a frontage of only 17 ft (5.18m) but a depth of 92ft (28.04m) down Rowe Street. Frank Clune in his book, Saga of Sydney (1961) remarked that the building of 7 storeys high was said to be the world's tallest building relative to its narrow frontage. Always a family owned and operated business, and selling quality brands such as Aquascutum, Pringle, Ballantyne, Simon Ackerman, Daks, Braemar, Jaegar, Dorville, and Hardy Amies, Richards stood the test of time and fickle fashion trends to target customers who appreciated fine quality and very English-style clothing. They prided themselves on dedication to customers' needs, which was demonstrated by much loyal repeat business. Many people today still have something they bought years ago from Richards. Fred Cassidy recalled, in 2001, that 'Sometimes I saved up my pounds, shillings and pence and when I had enough money, I would perhaps go and buy myself a handkerchief or a tie from Richards which was about the extent that I could afford from there.' Bill Richards remembered in 2005, that they tried to stay in Rowe Street, but that as demolition and development continued, deep trenches all around left their tall and very narrow building precariously isolated, forcing them to leave. (ABC Hindsight, August 14, 2005)