A.S. Loder’s Store
lleyne Shepherd Loder, Len to his friends, had big plans when he bought the small country store at Uki from Mr C. Ryder in 1914 and eventually, A.S. Loders was the biggest Store between Newcastle and Brisbane.
"Dad came home. “Any mail?” So we handed him the mail. Loder's Store Bill. He’s reading through. “What’s the B…R…A…S?” - Nellie O'Sullivan
Everything came in bulk those days, and young Eric Loder weighed the sugar, dates, currants, sultanas, rice, sago, etc., into brown paper bags. He bottled the Kerosene, methylated spirits, turps etc., from the bigger drums.
Families would send in orders at the beginning of the month and buy enormous quantities such as a bag of sugar (70lb), a bag of flour (50lb), ½ or 1 pack of potatoes, a 7lb tin of syrup called crocky’s joy.
Their order man would ride around the district on his horse to collect orders which would later be delivered by horse and cart. Still, with the advent of cream carriers and the Butter Factory in Uki, most people would send their orders in with the carriers, which would be delivered on the next trip.
After a fire destroyed the Store, the bank, the post office and auctioneers, Alleyne rebuilt on a much grander scale with a residence on top. One room was used by the dentist, Mr Chud Hawkes, who is still famous in the village for terrorising the local children during his weekly visits.
Loder’s Store – a department store in its own right.
The menswear section had clothing from work clothes to suits for men and dresses for women and children. A footwear department sold hobnailed boots to dance pumps. No self-respecting man would go to a dance without his pumps!
These were the days when the grocer removed the biscuits by hand into a paper bag from a large Arnotts Tin; practically everybody used Kerosene for lighting, with tins of “Laurel” kerosene being the most popular. Shellite was a must for the new-fangled petrol iron.
Mr Loder went to England on an extended tour and brought back fine quality chinaware stamped with A.S Loder & Co. “The Busy Centre”. There was even a newspaper – the monthly “Loder’s Store News”.
As motor vehicle ownership increased, Alleyne installed petrol bowsers. The petrol had to be pumped by hand into a glass container on top, holding six gallons. A valve was then opened, and the petrol flowed through a pipe into the tank, so at least you could see what you were getting.
You could even find love at Loder’s.
The shop was equipped with the catapult system where the docket and money would be sent to the cashier, Ella Walmsley, high up in her little nook, and she would send the change back. Lionel Mitchell had an eye for a good sort and slipped chocolate in now and again for Ella. The system clearly worked as Ella and Lionel were married later and lived happily ever after.
Then and Now
