A TRANSFORMATION

Southland Times, Issue 20014, 30 October 1926, Page 5

A TRANSFORMATION

BROAD SMALL’S NEW PREMISES OLD THEATRE ROYAL NOW A MORERN SHOP. (Published by Arrangement.) The saying that “The Old order chaugeth and giveth place to New” has never been more truly exemplified than in the wonderful change which has been made in the premises of Broad Small, Ltd. It is hard to realise that the old Theatre Royal once stood in the place of this modern structure. The older members of the community will remember the building wfien it was known as “Sloan’s Hall” and later as The Theatre Royal, but possibly a brief history of the building, and also the firm, will be interesting to all.

The building was originally brought over from Melbourne and erected in Dee Streetin 1863, and was known as The Exchange Hall. About 1878 the building was bought by Sloan Bros, and was then named Sloan’s Hall, and known later as The Theatre Royal. Many will remember the old Theatre and the old plays and concerts given there. The shops were occupied at various times by Moller and Company, Young and Company, Thomson and Strang, C. Tulloch, A. Anderson, S. Levy and others. In 1903 the building was bought by Broad Small and Company and has been occupied by them ever since. It is indeed difficult to reconcile the present structure with the old one, and when that outstanding landmark, the solid cast-iron tower was taken down, it must surely have been a regret to the older ones to feel that another link with the past had been severed. The firm of Broad Small and Company was founded in 1890 by Mr C. J. Broad, who shortly after took as partners Mr Maurice Thompson and Mr J. 11. Small. Business was commenced in Dee Street in a small shop under Lewis’s verandah. In a few years the firm’s trade had expanded so rapidly that larger premises were necessary and a move was made to Esk Street. Business was carried on here for ten years and in 1903 the opportunity was taken of purchasing The Theatre Royal, and converting it into a Hardware and Furnishing Establishment. This served its purpose admirably for many years. On the conversion of the firm into a Limited Liability Company, it was decided to embark upon a large scheme of alterations, in order to make the building quite modern and right up-to-date. The firm, whilst regretting the unav< f able inconvenience to their many patrons which the alterations would cause, felt that the final results would more than compensate for the disarrangement of shopping facilities. The building is now nearing completion and it is wonderful the difference that has been made. Mr E. R. Wilson has been the architect; and Messrs A. J. Ball, Ltd., the contractors. The front of the building is quite outstanding, being of Red Brick with Cornices, letterings and decoration of White Cement. The verandah is a flat roof one, finished with fibrousplaster cement. The facings around the windows are of Bluff granite, and the whole appearance of the front is very pleasing and makes it one of the finest shop fronts in Invercargill. Special attention has been paid to the lighting, and by allowing plenty of daylight into the shop, practically no artificial lights are required. The front will have three large windows covering a total frontage of 72 feet. One window is given over to Wallpaper, the second to Hardware and Crockery and the third to Furniture. All the windows are beautifully fitted out with Oak panelling. The ground floor covers 7,325 square feet, and carries General Hardware, Builders’ Ironmongery, Crockery and Glassware and is splendidly laid out with stands and show-cases, which, by the way, were made in the firm’s own factory. The old shop on the south side has’ now become part of the main building and is the wall-paper department in whicn the firm specialises. It will have a large window, 14ft wide, and spacious and comfortable showroom. Beyond this are carried the stocks of wallpaper, paints, brushes and all pointers’ requirements. A stair leads up to another showroom for displaying Tile Grates, Ranges, Baths, etc. Branching off from this is another stair leading to the second floor. This covers an area of 7,500 square feet and is given over entirely to Furniture and Furnishings, Carpets, Rugs and Linoleums. This part is particularly well-suited for this class of trade as it has windows on each side and a glass front, so that all furnishings can be matched in perfect light. Two small rooms are fitted up for displaying Bedsteads and Bedding respectively. The ceilings of all departments are finished with Cornell Board, painted white with mouldings and boxings of figured Red Pine, giving a very artistic effect. The walls are finished in some sections with white plaster, and in others with Cornell Board.

It is a building that is a credit to Invercargill and it is no exaggeration to say that there is no finer Hardware and Furnishing establishment in New Zealand. Messrs Broad Small, Limited, have made all these improvements with a faith in the future of Southland and with a feeling that their policy of “SERVICE AND SATISFACTION,” coupled with this modern establishment, will meet with the approval of the shopping public. It will give them great pleasure to show anyone over their premises, and they extend a cordial invitation to all to visit “THE PREMIER STORE” on the opening day, Thursday, November 4.