In 1937 when Cecil Robert (C.R.) Christmas commissioned the well known Brisbane architect Horace Driver to design his substantial new home would he have thought that nearly 85 years later it would still be standing providing the same street character when first built. The large timber wooden door with wrought iron bracket hinges are still a feature today. The black and white photograph from the Better Homes feature in 1937 provides a good comparison of then and now. C. R. Christmas was the Queensland general manager for Woolworths stores. In 1937 they were establishing themselves in Brisbane and regional centres. In 1953 when C. R. Christmas retired there were 30 Woolworth stores in Queensland.
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Tuesday 13 July 1937, page 17
BETTER HOMES
A LITTLE BIT OF ENGLAND
The striking home of Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Christmas in Adelaide Street, Clayfield, is one that has attracted a gqod deal of attention since its completion recently. Apart from its commanding position set well back on excellent grounds, the mellow atmosphere of the old English country house brings pleasant pictures of rural England to the mind of the passer by.
There are many interesting features in the external design, and one that first impresses the visitor is the rugged entrance porch of early Norman character which is earned out in multi-coloured porphry with concentric receding arches.
An electric push-button bell seems out of place here, but in these days of 20th century bustle and noise the old world hand bell or heavy wrought knocker would be just out of the question from the practical point of view. Sheltered within the mellow stonework is a stout wooden door with typical wrought-iron bracket hinges lighted at night from a wall lantem. Another feature of interest is the chimney of arrised brickwork, which has its base in stucco work rising from the main wall. Terminating in a corbelled pot effect, it is surmounted by a plain top, which contrasts with the colourful roofing plan. Dormer windows and half-timber breaking through the general design here and there give this fine home a delightful effect. The architect was Mr. Horace Driver.
C. R. Christmas Retires
Brisbane Telegraph (Qld. : 1948 - 1954), Tuesday 7 July 1953, page 2
CHAIN STORES HEAD RETIRES
A man who conducted 30 stores throughout Queensland with the motto "The customer is the most important person" retired today.
He is Mr. Cecil Robert Christmas, for 23 years Queensland manager of Woolworths Ltd. Today he recalled the growth he had seen since he came here in 1930 when Brisbane was a small town, and Woolworths had only three branches trading in the State at Queen Street, the Valley, and Ipswich. The firm, which had no connection with the American Woolworths, was founded by a brother of Mr. Christmas, the late Mr. H. P. Christmas. Before joining the firm in 1930 Mr. C. R. Christmas had experience here in 1913 as representative of a southern wholesale firm, and again in 1918 when he conducted his own business as repre-sentative of various southern overseas firms. An Anzac, with service in Gallipoli, Egypt and France, and winner of a Military Medal, Mr. Christmas in 1922 was appointed manager of a Sydney wholesale ware-house. Mr. Christmas will now make an overseas trip, partly for pleasure and partly to further the business interests of his son. This afternoon the staff of the 30 Woolworth stores throughout Queensland made a presentation to Mr. Christmas. Tomorrow night, the Australian manager (Mr. T. Kelly), branch managers and executives of the company will make a presentation at a dinner at Lennons. Last week directors of the company made a presentation to Mr. Christmas at a dinner at Usher's Hotel, Sydney.
The Christmas Name and Woolworths
The Woolworths Australia Group was first started by Cecil Robert's older brother H. R. Christmas in Sydney. The following internet links provide good reading on what we know today as the Woolworths Group. It all started in Sydney's Imperial Arcade on December 5 1924 when Harold Percival (Percy or H. R.) Christmas opened his Woolworths Stupendous Bargain Basement store.
https://kiamalocalhistory.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/christmas-came-from-kiama/
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/christmas-harold-percival-percy-5591
The Woolworths name through the Christmas family business has become part of Australia's retail history. The company has moved with the growth of Brisbane and suburban shopping trends. Initially a city store where shoppers came into shop they moved with the trend to suburban shopping as Brisbane's growth spread out into the suburban areas.
Suburban Shopping Growth
Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Friday 30 January 1953, page 5
NEW SHOPS TO MEET GROWING SUBURB TRADE
HUNDREDS of Brisbane housewives are are now shopping in the suburbs.
And chain stores are moving into suburban shopping centres to cater for the new trade. BCC Stores will open their 18th branch in city and near-country areas at Ashgrove today. The new store is on the Ashgrove tramline and a the terminus for buses serving the fast-expandinig Oakleigh area. Retailers spokesmen said yesterday that two other big Brisbane chain-store organisations were believed to be looking for vacant sites in the area. Several new shops and a service station have been built along Waterworks Road, Ashgrove, in the last three years. The Commonwealth Bank will soon begin construction of a new branch office there BCC's managing director (Mr. C. A. Fraser) said yesterday that retailers were doing a public service by opening shops in developing suburbs. Housewives can do most of their shopping near home he said. Out-of-town stores ease car and pedestrian congestion in the main city area.
14 More stores
Mr. C. R. Christmas, Woolworths State manager, said his firm planned at least 14 more stores in Brisbane and country centres. They included branches at Stones Corner, Nundah, Redcliffe, Nambour, Charters Towers, Toowoomba, and Atherton. He said the high cost of tram and bus fares was making it difficult for people to come into the heart of the citv to shop. Brisbane's suburban shopping centres were developing like those in Sydney and Melbourne. They would ease city parking problems.
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