Georges of Collins Street lives on
A Collector, a History Society and a Camera Club
In April, I saw firsthand what local government and community organisations can offer us. I attended an extraordinary event celebrating the iconic Georges store, which graced the Paris end of Collins Street, Melbourne, from 1883 to 1995.
The event, headlined “Georges Remembered”, featured the collection of Justin McLean. Justin not only worked part-time at Georges but also came from a family that appreciated style and elegance. With the benefit of lovingly preserved clothing purchased from Georges by his mother and aunt, and items he purchased when Georges closed down, he began his collection. It has since grown to more than 900 items!
It was hosted by the Balwyn Historical Society, filmed by Camberwell Camera Club as part of their “Capture for Community” initiative and was held in the elegant Chandelier Room of Hawthorn Arts Centre.
So, it was a big day out in the Boroondara City Council area of Melbourne.
The event: Georges Remembered
Why did I call the event extraordinary? It was because it was so multifaceted and informative. It was also highly personalised by the enthusiastic presenters and the nostalgic audience (it attracted almost 200 people and was booked out for months in advance), all of whom wished Georges was still here.
What were the hallmarks of this event? Well, first there were the video recordings of 1950s music, including Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire”, Perry Como’s “Magic Moments”, Billy Williams’ “Write Myself a Letter”, The McGuire Sisters’ “Sugartime”, and The Platters’ “The Great Pretender”. The idea was for the audience to sing along. Unfortunately, most had forgotten the words!
Then there was the presentation by Justin McLean. It began with a slideshow where the slides moved along every 10 seconds, with commentary to match. There was commentary on the buildings, the staff, the famous house models, the individual rooms of the store, the merchandise, and the exceptional levels of customer service provided to Melbourne’s wealthy.
And there were anecdotes aplenty. Even Boroondara’s Deputy Mayor, Shima Ibuki, who launched the event, remarked that her mother was once persuaded to go on a bushwalk, only to be heard saying, “I’d rather be in Georges”. Justin quoted his own mother as saying, “If you can’t afford the best, buy the best you can afford.” Her solution? To go to the Georges sales!
And then four models, including a young girl, walked the centre aisle “catwalk” wearing real clothes purchased from Georges. The models had even spent several hours upstairs having their hair and make-up done by Justin Teague, a film and television stylist who also works in Balwyn Shopping Centre.
All this was followed by a raffle draw, supported by numerous sponsors from Balwyn Shopping Centre—further evidence of community involvement. Finally, there was afternoon tea with tea, coffee, Georges-style chicken sandwiches, and cakes. It could have been served in Georges’ Regency Room.
My only regret is that it was a one-off event. I would love the Balwyn Historical Society to do it again, but that would be a big ask for a community organisation.
The venue and Marvellous Melbourne
Even the venue was historically appropriate. Georges was setting an elegant precedent for Collins Street in the 1880s—the very same decade that the venue, then Hawthorn Town Hall, was being constructed. It’s no wonder, since the 1880s was the time of the Marvellous Melbourne land boom, when architects were creating buildings like these, both now listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.
But it was a stroke of genius that led Matthew Etty-Leal, President of the Balwyn Historical Society, to choose the Chandelier Room of the Hawthorn Arts Centre (as it is now known) for this event. Yes, there are grand chandeliers hanging from the ornate Victorian ceilings, complementing the feeling of opulence—not only of the era, but also the feeling conjured up by the Georges name.
A link between Boroondara and Georges
While Georges was evolving as a store from high-end drapery and accessories to a high-end fashion destination, Melbourne’s suburbs were changing too. And so were the residential preferences of some members of the George family.
New suburbs like Balwyn, now part of the Boroondara City Council area, were transforming from their former lives as farmlets and orchards, thanks to the introduction of land tax, the arrival of the tram line in Balwyn, and the aftermath of the Depression.
Douglas Gray George, son of one of the founders, William George, became a director and then Managing Director during the 1930s. Like Oliver Gilpin, another member of “retail royalty”, he chose Yarrbat Avenue, Balwyn, for his new home. Unfortunately, he died in 1930, but in 1936 he had commissioned the architectural firm A.S. & R.A. Eggleston, in conjunction with Edna Walling, to design his home and garden. At the time, Edna Walling was the most renowned landscape gardener in Australia.
Originally named Hillsborough, the property now bears the name “Silver Birches”, reflecting a prominent feature of the original Edna Walling garden.
The property is now a significant site within the Boroondara Planning Scheme and has a Heritage Overlay. This is not simply because of its Edna Walling gardens and driveway, or its unique two-storey Georgian Revival house and original garage, but also because of its association with the iconic Georges store. As the citation states: “By 1901 Georges was a ‘favoured spot with most of the smartest people in Melbourne’, becoming an icon of genteel shopping and epitomising the exclusive image of Collins Street.”
Inspired? Here’s what you can do
You wish you’d been there. You’re inspired. What are your options now?
Fortunately, there are a few:
- Visit the Villa Alba Museum, an elegant house from the 1880s which sometimes displays George’s items.
- If you’d like to be advised of a re-run, write to the Balwyn Historical Society and ask to be notified if the event returns.
- Enjoy exhibitions and performances at the Hawthorn Arts Centre (though the Chandelier Room is usually limited to special events).
- Join a history society in your area. Contact the Royal Historical Society of Victoria (RHSV) to find one near you.
- Join a camera club in your area. Contact the Victorian Photographic Society to find your nearest group.
The Camberwell Camera Club
Our thanks to the Camberwell Camera Club for generously providing the photographs featured in this article through their “Capture for Community” initiative, on this occasion, in partnership with the Balwyn Historical Society.
Established in 1953, the Camberwell Camera Club is a long-standing community organisation supporting members and local activities through photography. The club offers a welcoming space for photographers of all levels, with weekly meetings, competitions, special interest groups, workshops, outings, and opportunities to exhibit work or simply enjoy the images of others.
In 2025, they produced an acclaimed book, ‘A Year in the Life of Boorondara.’
I hope this post has inspired you to get out and explore Melbourne! Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to find out more ways to discover (or rediscover) the joy of exploring Melbourne.
