OLD CHEMIST'S SHOP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22595, 7 December 1936, Page 11

OLD CHEMIST'S SHOP

RELIC AT ONEHUNGA i HISTORY OF BUILDINGS Known in the early days as the Medical Hall, a wooden building at the corner of Queen Street and Church Street, Onehunga, is probably the oldest chemist's shop in Auckland. According to authorities, it was built about 85 years ago, and, in spite of many changes in ownership, the nature of its business has never altered. The land on which the old shop j stands was originally a Crown grant issued to the father of the late Mr. Thomas Mcßevnolds, one of the Fencibles. The first occupier of the premises was a chemist named Davis. He was succeeded by a Mr. Falwell, who, on the discovery of gold at Thames, sold to Mr. Gillman, and started business in Grahamstown. Mr. Gillman, after conducting a chemist's business for 30 years, disposed of it to a son of tha former proprietor, Mr. Frederick Falwell. Since then several changes in ownership have taken place, but chemist has succeeded chemist with persistent regularity In the Queen Street of Onehunga in 1808 there was a block of shops known to a past generation as the Tea Mart. Among the shopkeepers were Tremaine, Henshaw and Keesing. About 56 years ago this portion of the town was swept by fire and the buildings wore destroyed. The lock-up, which then, as now, adjoined the Tea Mart, was seriously scorched by the flames, which also gutted buildings on the opposite side of the street. A cottage some distance back from the road lino and the old chemist's shop remained. On the site of the old Tea Mart there now stands a solid two-storeyed brick building, the Co-operative Stores. The property was bequeathed to the Onehunga Benevolent Society by the late Mr. J. Canadinc. Adjoining sections then vacant are ivaSv occupied by tho National Bank, Hellaby's, and C'oldicuttfs boot factory, all brick and concrete structures, together with a number of wooden buildings. The land on the eastern side of Queen Street was previously laid out in extensive orchards, but is now closely built on. One old two-storey wooden building, which has been identified as the Bon Marche, is still in existence.