St Barnabas Church c. 1930 Norfolk Island – Pearce Owen (right)
St Barnabas Church c. 1930 Norfolk Island – Pearce Owen (top right)
Shaw Family Overview
Our family is unable to find records confirming SHAW heritage prior to George Shaw senior – there are no Queensland State registrar records of his birth. These records do have gaps though. We have an extract of membership from the National Rifle Association of Australia stating George is “English-born”. Being English confirms the information passed down to us, that we have a relationship back to George Carr Shaw, who gave birth to 14 kids, one of whom was George Bernard Shaw the socialist and writer. We have been told there had been correspondence with GB Shaw and our family.
George senior could not have been born from GE Shaw or any of his brothers such as Robert, as they would have needed to give conception around 59 years of age. We do know that Robert Shaw has no record known of his children, so if he had a son, that son would be in the age range to give birth to George Shaw senr. We don’t know. Some Shaw’s moved from Ireland to England as well. We have no photographs for George senior’s prior family – parent, relatives or siblings, apart from his one son Harold William. We do not know if George senior had brothers and sisters. If he was a linked to William Shaw or Ireland in the family tree somewhere, it could explain some questions we have about why we have a photo of Shaw & Sons in Queen Street, and Mum knowing the Clayfield house.
We also know there was a George Shaw from England, born 1857, wose father was called George. While there is no record of his children available, he could have had a son George born when he was 18 years of age, being our George senior.
There has been confusion around why my father had a photograph of Shaw & Sons (originally William Shaw and Son) as William was from Ireland, not England. Further confusion where the exact date of death matched QLD records of parents William and Mary McCurry, who owned Shaw & Sons, and a wedding present given by Shaw & Sons to George snr. There is also hearsay of someone being in a war, and William having strong disagreement of not wanting him to start a firearms and fishing merchant store. And lastly, that my mother knew the house that William lived in at Clayfield (along with validated visual memories of the house, and of Silverwell House in Kangaroo Point where George senior (great grandfather), Harold William (grandfather), and my father George Robert once apparently owned (not rented) and lived. Therein are the problems even though we cannot verify hearsay. As a result this web page cannot go into the Shaw & Sons history. We also cannot be 100% sure about newspaper or magazine article accuracies, but they likely help on approximate years of events.
As we go back into Brisbane history, it is difficult to locate where our retail shops were occupied. There was much movement between buildings, the historic 1864 fire, and lots – I mean lots of renovation, demolition, and construction works. It seems George Shaw & Co. may have been in a location near City Hall, in Edward Street, and/or Queen Street. Does it matter? We do know the business moved to 194 Albert Street while somewhere during this time George snr retired, Harold took over with others having shares in the business in the 1930’s and my Dad taking over c. 1955, later purchasing all shares, and modernising the retail store by 1966, with a temporary store in Woolloongabba in 1964-1966. Dad included a gunsmith workshop for repairs. This turned out to be a tragedy due to an accident when testing a firearm after repairs.
George senior and son Harold won various shooting and fishing competitions – we have some documentation and photos. As the fishing was “light-tackle” we were never exposed to ocean fishing on larger boats. As kids we fished on spits, creek banks, the beach, and small tinny boats. I recall us walking on sandbanks for yabbies to use as baits, and the times we used worms on hooks. There was minimal use of lures. We saw the change from bamboo rods to fiberglass, and wood or bakelite reels to fiberglass. The fishing took place in areas such as Coolangatta, Currumbin Creek and Bribie, to name a few. Fishing included crabbing. This is why as kids we were in this type of fishing environment. Dad was not a proficient shooter, Mum would not permit guns in the house, so we did not learn shooting, or later archery, even though we were in the retail store’s environment and Dad’s fishing environment. As kids I disliked retail and especially firearms. None of us wanted to continue with the store. George snr had at least 24 medals, including solid gold – all now missing, and various championship wins such as QRA Governor’s Cup, King’s Prize, Bisley, and Club Champion Fishing Cup. I own the small 1901 Bisley cup and forwarded the Governor’s Cup 1902 to the QRA museum (Queensland Rifle Association). I hold the remaining Shaw family photographs, many which I believe are missing, including all loss of negative 35mm film.
When Dad renovated the Albert Street store and included all sports imaginable, the name was changed from George Shaw & Co. Pty. Ltd. to George Shaw Sport’s Store.
In the early 1970’s Dad had been interviewed by newspapers and television on his views around gun laws. I would say he said what others in the industry said, that licensing was not viable for serial numbers, but shooters could be licensed. There had been various shooting murders, so the discussions included a cooling off period. I personally think it is easy to record serial numbers as we now have the technology, and certain types of weapons could be categorised with different regulations even including GPS tracking on certain weapons. If we register our cars, which can become weapons, why not guns, as they inherently carry responsibilities. This has other implications such as education and testing. Why is it freedom to carry weapons without interference, because any freedom requires standards, accountability and responsibility. These things imply awareness, knowledge and skill sets. This is part of what defines freedom. However I don’t know what the current rules are.
The background behind shooting in Australia in the mid-1800’s to early 1900’s was one of an army background, where professional shooting was once recognised more than cricket matches. While people shoot at rifle ranges today, a portion of it is valid like any sport or hobby interest, but for some it may be addictive, hence eating into one’s finance resources. It is hard to know what to say about this. I have my own views on firearms, the treatment of animals (e.g. racing, hunting etc.) and I personally have no agreement with greyhound racing, or ocean fishing that kills large fish with developed skeletons – e.g. marlin and swordfish. I believe a key marker of the overall state of a country includes its treatment of animals. Our upbringing and retail background taught us about quality versus standard – including firearms, pistols and even animal skins. The world’s best animal skins are incredible to see and feel, but I am not supporting this. Once it was “normal” to own animal skins and even animal trophies!
I have put together some reasonable data on the Shaw family and Mum’s side, based on date calculations from archived Trove information, QLD registrations, competition and association information, our own photos and written comments on backs of photos or from Dad, and some verbal comments.
Our family is unable to find records confirming SHAW heritage prior to George Shaw senior – there are no Queensland State registrar records of his birth. These records do have gaps though. We have an extract of membership from the National Rifle Association of Australia stating George is “English-born”. Being English confirms the information passed down to us, that we have a relationship back to George Carr Shaw, who gave birth to 14 kids, one of whom was George Bernard Shaw the socialist and writer. We have been told there had been correspondence with GB Shaw and our family.
George senior could not have been born from GE Shaw or any of his brothers such as Robert, as they would have needed to give conception around 59 years of age. We do know that Robert Shaw has no record known of his children, so if he had a son, that son would be in the age range to give birth to George Shaw senr. We don’t know. Some Shaw’s moved from Ireland to England as well. We have no photographs for George senior’s prior family – parent, relatives or siblings, apart from his one son Harold William. We do not know if George senior had brothers and sisters. If he was a linked to William Shaw or Ireland in the family tree somewhere, it could explain some questions we have about why we have a photo of Shaw & Sons in Queen Street, and Mum knowing the Clayfield house.
We also know there was a George Shaw from England, born 1857, wose father was called George. While there is no record of his children available, he could have had a son George born when he was 18 years of age, being our George senior.
There has been confusion around why my father had a photograph of Shaw & Sons (originally William Shaw and Son) as William was from Ireland, not England. Further confusion where the exact date of death matched QLD records of parents William and Mary McCurry, who owned Shaw & Sons, and a wedding present given by Shaw & Sons to George snr. There is also hearsay of someone being in a war, and William having strong disagreement of not wanting him to start a firearms and fishing merchant store. And lastly, that my mother knew the house that William lived in at Clayfield (along with validated visual memories of the house, and of Silverwell House in Kangaroo Point where George senior (great grandfather), Harold William (grandfather), and my father George Robert once apparently owned (not rented) and lived. Therein are the problems even though we cannot verify hearsay. As a result this web page cannot go into the Shaw & Sons history. We also cannot be 100% sure about newspaper or magazine article accuracies, but they likely help on approximate years of events.
As we go back into Brisbane history, it is difficult to locate where our retail shops were occupied. There was much movement between buildings, the historic 1864 fire, and lots – I mean lots of renovation, demolition, and construction works. It seems George Shaw & Co. may have been in a location near City Hall, in Edward Street, and/or Queen Street. Does it matter? We do know the business moved to 194 Albert Street while somewhere during this time George snr retired, Harold took over with others having shares in the business in the 1930’s and my Dad taking over c. 1955, later purchasing all shares, and modernising the retail store by 1966, with a temporary store in Woolloongabba in 1964-1966. Dad included a gunsmith workshop for repairs. This turned out to be a tragedy due to an accident when testing a firearm after repairs.
George senior and son Harold won various shooting and fishing competitions – we have some documentation and photos. As the fishing was “light-tackle” we were never exposed to ocean fishing on larger boats. As kids we fished on spits, creek banks, the beach, and small tinny boats. I recall us walking on sandbanks for yabbies to use as baits, and the times we used worms on hooks. There was minimal use of lures. We saw the change from bamboo rods to fiberglass, and wood or bakelite reels to fiberglass. The fishing took place in areas such as Coolangatta, Currumbin Creek and Bribie, to name a few. Fishing included crabbing. This is why as kids we were in this type of fishing environment. Dad was not a proficient shooter, Mum would not permit guns in the house, so we did not learn shooting, or later archery, even though we were in the retail store’s environment and Dad’s fishing environment. As kids I disliked retail and especially firearms. None of us wanted to continue with the store. George snr had at least 24 medals, including solid gold – all now missing, and various championship wins such as QRA Governor’s Cup, King’s Prize, Bisley, and Club Champion Fishing Cup. I own the small 1901 Bisley cup and forwarded the Governor’s Cup 1902 to the QRA museum (Queensland Rifle Association). I hold the remaining Shaw family photographs, many which I believe are missing, including all loss of negative 35mm film.
When Dad renovated the Albert Street store and included all sports imaginable, the name was changed from George Shaw & Co. Pty. Ltd. to George Shaw Sport’s Store.
In the early 1970’s Dad had been interviewed by newspapers and television on his views around gun laws. I would say he said what others in the industry said, that licensing was not viable for serial numbers, but shooters could be licensed. There had been various shooting murders, so the discussions included a cooling off period. I personally think it is easy to record serial numbers as we now have the technology, and certain types of weapons could be categorised with different regulations even including GPS tracking on certain weapons. If we register our cars, which can become weapons, why not guns, as they inherently carry responsibilities. This has other implications such as education and testing. Why is it freedom to carry weapons without interference, because any freedom requires standards, accountability and responsibility. These things imply awareness, knowledge and skill sets. This is part of what defines freedom. However I don’t know what the current rules are.
The background behind shooting in Australia in the mid-1800’s to early 1900’s was one of an army background, where professional shooting was once recognised more than cricket matches. While people shoot at rifle ranges today, a portion of it is valid like any sport or hobby interest, but for some it may be addictive, hence eating into one’s finance resources. It is hard to know what to say about this. I have my own views on firearms, the treatment of animals (e.g. racing, hunting etc.) and I personally have no agreement with greyhound racing, or ocean fishing that kills large fish with developed skeletons – e.g. marlin and swordfish. I believe a key marker of the overall state of a country includes its treatment of animals. Our upbringing and retail background taught us about quality versus standard – including firearms, pistols and even animal skins. The world’s best animal skins are incredible to see and feel, but I am not supporting this. Once it was “normal” to own animal skins and even animal trophies!
I have put together some reasonable data on the Shaw family and Mum’s side, based on date calculations from archived Trove information, QLD registrations, competition and association information, our own photos and written comments on backs of photos or from Dad, and some verbal comments.
↑ Go to TitleThis website provides the public with a range of documents and photographs for the Shaw family.
This website provides the public with a range of documents & photographs for the Shaw family.
Best viewed on a laptop/PC
I do not provide ID information around current family members such as birth dates.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mum - Elizabeth Shaw - No QLD records as this is Ireland and Norfolk Island
Jeannie Eliza Nicholson -> Pearce Owen. Mum hand wrote a note saying Jane Nicholson and Alphonso Owen - not sure why.
Married 1931 at 46 years of age (note from Mum)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Alf Owen -> (?)
(2) Elizabeth Emily Owen (Mum) -> George Robert Shaw (Dad)
21st November 1931
-------------------------------------------------------------
(-) Various miscarriages
(1) George Raymond Shaw
(2) Warren James Shaw -> Patrice Felmingham
(3) Laurence William Shaw
Jeannie (Jane) Eliza Owen -> (remarried) Bill Ham. Plumber, and enjoyed boating at Wynnum and/or Lota(?). He owned a motor boat.
Elizabeth Shaw: November 21st 1931; Norfolk Island Citizen left to Australia, East Brisbane age 4.
Schooled at East Brisbane School.
Jeannie: seamstress - her wages at Wynnum supported the household.
Pearce Owen: Singer, Tradesman/Builder (hence roofing), Banana Farmer on Norfolk. Bananas were destroyed by disease - moved to Brisbane.
In Brisbane, as a builder, died of pneumonia.
Jeannie had to move to a smaller rented house at 67 Heidleberg Street, East Brisbane. Mum had to come home after school without her there.
Mum's brother Alf was said to be cruel and abusive. E.g. random wrist burns to Mum. As an adult serious strapping of kids and domestic violence leading to divorce. I confirmed the use of the strap on my only visit to him when he was a few months away from dying with cancer and on oxygen with emphysema. He was defensive. Others in the housing complex were nice to him but they scolded him on his past use of the strap. I suspect he had guilt but no awareness or "tools" within him to admit it rather than him saying it was okay. Died c.2009. He was really happy to see me for the first time since early childhood, at Yepoon. Genetic inheritance was a powerful realisation.
Bill may have met Jeannie during a plumbing job. (One story was that he knew Pearce due to trades work.) He needed a place to store his car, so some houses up the street he used a garage not being used by that home. He needed somewhere to live and stayed in a separate room in Jeannie's house. They later got married. Grandma was older than him, so appears to be for convenience. He had no interest in the kids. After Grandma passed away from cancer in the 60's/70's - we were at Evans Heads caravan park when news came through for Dad to return home - no news of Bill Ham after Grandma's death.
SHAW LINE:
Geo Shaw, Harold Shaw, and Dad lived in Silverwell House at Kangaroo Point.
We never saw George Shaw snr as kids as he passed away in 1953. George owned his shop as George Shaw & Co. George transferred the shop to Harold, but we do not know the arrangements whereby the shop became co-owned with other people via private shares. Dad bought out the shares at some stage and it cost him a lot to do so. Bill Ward in his final years was incredibly upset at how the pension is not enough to live on and regretted selling his shares. It is interesting that George Shaw snr knew many people involved in shooting in Brisbane, with names like Robinson, Whitehead, and others, who were figures in Brisbane retail ongoing. Dad personally knew all the big names in the industry as well. These days people do not meet all the people in their industry face-to-face.
Shops were successful because Brisbane was a large area and developing.
George snr was a champion shooter and fisherman. The firearms shop had firearms, ammunition, fishing gear, even the new mosquito repellent, and I gather some sports goods. The Albert Street shop at some point brought in all types of sports, along with archery, an array of knives, one of which fell in my foot - a double bladed Gerber knife, and more, explosive powder for ammunitions, blank fishing rods and pieces to make them up, telescopes etc.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAW family
We may have a connection to brothers George Carr Shaw, 1814-1885 and Robert Shaw 1816-. George C had one son George Bernard Shaw, the socialist and writer.
--------------------------------------------------
There is no birth registration for George snr in Brisbane, and the National Rifle Association states that George was English-born, as opposed to Australian. This fits well with testimony that there was correspondence with George Bernard Shaw, the famous socialist and writer with lineage to George Carr Shaw. We have no photographs of anyone before George indicating no parents in Australia.
George Shaw -> Evelina Hobbs (married 6th July 1896) George: No Middle Name
Marriage registration: 1896/B/18127
Death Registration: 1953/B/44046 confirms William and Mary McCury above and date of death below.
Born 15th (18th?) March 1875, died 30th June 1953 - No birth or death registration record
I have no documentation showing his middle name or as Robert. Robert is Dad's middle name (below).
Child born 11th Feb 1901 (Harold William) aged 26
Cup to QRA museum. Photo of: Governor’s Cup 1901 aged 26
Photo of: Bisley Cup 1902 aged 27 (min 6 months travel to/from England) – Lee Metford Rifle
National Rifle Association of Australia, membership 1906 age 31
Photo of: Bisley Cup 1907 aged 32. 250 Guineas prize
Photo of: A.F.A. Club Champion Fishing Cup (2 times)
King’s Prize Winner, shot with .303 rifle.
Approximately 24 medals [3]
Opened the business in Edward Street, 1908 aged 33 “George Shaw & Co.” firearms and fishing.
Records also show Queen Street
Transferred business to Harold c. 1930/31.
Died 30th June 1953 aged 78
There were many by the name of SHAW and with the same christian names such as George, Harold, Henry, Albert and so on.
---------------------------------------------------
(1) Harold William Shaw -> Minnie - Florence Minnie Home
Born 11th February 1901, Died 29th January 1971 (no birth record - death in Dad's notes)
Death Registration Details: 1971/B/21111
Married 21st June 1924 1924/B/35023
Registration 1971/B/21111 confirms George and Evelina above
Florence Home (Nana) - Mother: Annie Isabella Home - Event date: 09/12/1900
Event type: Birth registration
Registration details: 1901/B/2111
Marriage article (Harold): https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/20755186?searchTerm=shaw%20%26%20sons
Metropolitan Miniature Rifle Club Union Team – Brisbane (Queensland) 1922 aged 21
Child born … (George Robert Shaw - my Dad) c.1928 aged 27[4]
Business (shared with others) c. 1933 aged 32 [2]
A.F.A. Club Champion Fishing Cup (3 times) inc. 1916, 1917 aged 15 and 16
Died 29th Jan 1970 (or 1971) aged 69/70
----------------------------------------------------
(1) George Robert Shaw -> Elizabeth Emily Owen (as above)
Born c. 1928, died 3rd June 1997 aged 69 (death certificate)
No QLD registrations for birth,marriage,death
George Shaw Sports Store, c. 1936, 194 Albert St, Brisbane (confirmed in Dad's hand writing.)
Building modernisation completed 1965 (confirmed by Dad's notes)
Later a temporary store 30 Logan Rd Woolloongabba (mainly rifles and gunsmith repairs,
while renovating 194 Albert St. - 1964-1966 (Confirmed in Dad's notes)
George Shaw & Co Pty Ltd 1956. Closure approx. 1979.
Worked in the store from 1945, aged 17
Took over business 1955 aged 27, 194 Albert Street [2]
Building modernisation 1965 (temporarily Woolloongabba 1964-66), aged 37
Child born 4th June 1956, Ray Shaw aged 28
Child born 9th June 1958, Laurie Shaw aged 30
Child born 15th Sep 1965, Warren Shaw aged 37
Brisbane Chamber of Commerce (start/finish? but was there in 1967)
Fishing Tackle Wholesaler’s Association of Queensland
Closure of business was in phases:
Robinsons added a sports section 1971
Dad was at the Robinson’s managers conferences 1971, 1972
Dad sold his stock to Robinsons and worked there for a while.
Building sold 1979 to Wallace Bishop
Died 3rd June 1997 aged 69
George snr and Harold competed in fishing competitions even after George’s retirement [5]
[1]
Andrew J. Kilsby, ‘THE RIFLEMEN: A History of the National Rifle Association of Australia 1888-1988’, pages 97, 304
“A new delegate at the meeting was George Shaw. English-born Shaw was one of Queensland’s best rifle shots – he represented Queensland several times in Federal and Commonwealth Match teams, had won the State associations’ ‘Queen’s’ and ‘King’s’ three times in succession from 1899, and represented Australia at Bisley in 1902 and 1907.”
[2]
Dates inferred from ‘Gold and Sports Equipment News, October 1973’:
George Shaw opened the business in 1908, in Edward Street, and nearly 40 years ago he bought and transferred to the existing shop in Albert Street, just around the corner from Queen Street.
And there still is a George Shaw running it. A grandson of the founder, he began working for the company 28 years ago at the age of 17, and took over the management when his father, who in turn had occupied the chair, retired 18 years back.
A sports department was put in when the firm was acquired by the Robinson group in 1971 and it has proved highly successful, but over the years Shaws has been known best as a specialist firearms store.
[3]
Image of c. 24 medals, George Shaw snr:
(See image below)
Other competitions: King’s Prize
[4]
Tue 24 Aug 1937, p24, ‘Worker (Brisbane, Qld:1890=1955’
Trove: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71270482?searchTerm=george%20shaw%20and%20co
FISHING
GEORGE SHAW, JNR., IS PROMISING ANGLER
While spending a holiday at Southport last week, George Shaw, junr., son of Harold Shaw, of George Shaw and Co., displayed unusual dexterity as an angler. Although only nine years "young," George, junr., accompanied by his mother, fishing daily from Tuesley's Jetty, "got amongst them" so consistently that he became the talk of the place. His ability is, no doubt, inbred, as his dad and grandad, George Shaw, senr., have been for years two of the finest "light-tackle" anglers in the
State.
Note: references to Robinsons and Whiteheads go back to George senr, as per this extract as an example:
Dick Richardson, of Robinson's Sports Depot, reports that good sized whiting and squire are plentiful at Wellington Point…
[5]
Tue 21 Sep 1937, p24, ‘Worker (Brisbane, QLD: 1890-1955)’
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71268421?searchTerm=george%20shaw%20and%20co
Note: reference to Robinsons again. The fishing locations include areas visited by George Robert Shaw (my father) after he was married to Elizabeth (my mother). Places such as Bribie, Coolangatta and Currumbin Creek. Typical fishing was light-tackle, (not ocean fishing on boats – beaches were fished though. Included bream, whiting, flathead, crabs (and various other species such as taylor.)
FISHING
GEORGE SHAW GETS A 431b. JEW
Fishing Good at Bribie and Wellington Point George Shaw, of Geo. Shaw & Co., Albert Street, one of Queensland's
oldest and most capable anglers, takes first prize among last week's angling catches. Fishing at his favourite spot, Bribie, he landed a 431bs. jew and just to add variety creeled some squire up to 51bs.
J. (Jonway, of Wellington Point, re ports to Dick Richardson, of Robin son's Sports Depot, that fishing at …
Harold Shaw landed 14 good flathead and 5 bream at Currumbin, and reports that there is every likelihood that fishing at Currumbin Creek will probably be back to its form of a year ago shortly, as the Coolangatta Council is opening up the creek again.
This article shows Dad (George Robert Shaw) was 9 years old in a fishing article, but is George Shaw junr, and his grandfather as George Shaw senr.
We get an idea of the people George Shaw senr. and Harold Shaw knew in this 1937 fishing article, which includes Robinson, and Watson - all names I recall:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71268421?searchTerm=george%20shaw%20and%20co
Notes on Passenger Lists:
QLD encouraged immigration either free or subsidised, to provide trades such as carpenters, mechanics and so on. Many ships departed England - London through the Thames, or Port of Plymouth as examples. As George Shaw senior was English-born c.1857, he would have come to Australia as a single passenger with no family in Australia, have arranged relatives or friends to stay with, have arrived with other family members, or arrived while waiting for other relatives or family. People sometimes came out to arrange things before others came. as a result we cannot trace lineage via passenger lists unless whole families were on the voyage list. Basically we are unable to trace George Shaw's family from the passenger lists. The appropriate record dates (https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/assisted-immigration-1848-to-1912) are 1875 (possibly 1874) to c.1895. There are no dates that match George coming to Australia as a single passenger with an age that works with other events. He would have needed to be aged between childhood to likely 20 years at the latest as he was married at 21. We have no events recorded for pre-21 years of age, before 1896. If George had family who stayed in England, we still can't find a passenger list that works with his name as the primary name on lists. If there were other Shaw's he was related to, the lists don't tell us lineage, and there are over 150 of those passenger lists I would still need to go through. (tba)
He would not have lied about being English-born to the NRA but we still cannot reconcile his date of death citing William Shaw and Mary McCurry as parents who were from Ireland (the Shaw & Sons history).
This website provides the public with a range of documents and photographs for the Shaw family.
This website provides the public with a range of documents & photographs for the Shaw family.
With family documents and QLD state registrations, I don’t see anything incorrect in lineage, except still researching Findlay (Finlay?) Shaw as parent to William Shaw – and still some questions around all the William siblings.
The “Harrods” of Brisbane
ChatGPT: Throughout its history, Shaw & Sons played a significant role in Brisbane’s retail landscape, offering a diverse range of products and services to the community.
Keeping things in perspective, there were other retail stores in the 1900’s. Finney Isles & Co is an example.
1915 Photo of Shaw & Sons in Granite Buildings.
Originally three buildings and three stories high. Moved from one building when 4 year lease finished and then occupied by CBA.
Private > Sergeant > Lieutenanct (and Quartermaster) George Shaw
Shaw was a Pte (a Private in 1902’s Bisley competition – refer historic nra.org.uk: https://nra.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/k1900-1949.pdf)
Later he was a Sergeant (sgt), and in Bisley’s Mackinnon 1907 competition he was listed as Lieutenant (Lt). Refer: https://nra.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/M1900-1949.pdf. He was also at some point a Quartermaster – supplies.
Shaw was in two matches in 1902, and one in 1907. 1902: Match 12, Match 32. 1907: Match 17.
1875 – 1953 Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Bisley (Kolapore) Cup – Still runs today
The Bisley Cup 1902 was a team competition. It was previously held in Wimbledon, England, and moved to Bisley for a couple of years or so prior to this trophy seen above. It would have been a three-month trip in a ship to get there. It was quite normal in the early 1900’s for men to strap their huge rifles over their shoulders, to be in public on their bicycles to wherever they were going to. Women sports also had rifle competitions.
QRA Governor’s Cup
The Queensland Rifle Association Governor’s Cup, is shown here from 1901. QRA was run by the army. Many from the army were shooters. Being a Sergeant and a champion shooter was a big thing in those days, more popular than cricket and well regarded.
George Shaw & Sons – history
Our Shaw family history goes back to George Shaw senior, migration from England or via parents to Australia (not knows at time of writing). From the move to Albert Street in the early1930’s, there are no known public/Internet photos of upper Albert Street up to the 1970’s in circulation. There may be Library archives? Our original first set of photos are now with the Brisbane State Library archives, South Bank, as of June 2022. These can be seen in the “blue” folder called George Shaw Sports Store 1908 – 1979. I will add separate web pages for more photographic content on both Dad’s and Mum’s side of the family. A number of photos are family private.
George Shaw Sports Store
1930’s – 1970’s
Firearms | Fishing Tackle | Archery | Sports
194 Albert Street, Brisbane
George Shaw & Co Pty Ltd
Albert Street 1930’s
The mounted deer neck is of course sad to see. I don’t know what happened to it. In those days there was hunting as a sport, deer and kangaroo skins as a norm for some people. I never liked these “trophies” or the world of hunting, fishing and firearms from the Shaw’s history.
Website Terms & Copyright
This is my personal website.
Content is protected under Australian copyright laws, all rights reserved.
To use any images please contact me. View Terms
George Shaw & Co
The Stores – A Commentary
What I think is interesting is that the lane way beside 194 Albert Street always had the same odious smell regardless of the renovations over the decades. Personally, it was not nice seeing Dad called out from Moggill to the city when the store alarm went off, (metal wires across windows) or Dad falling asleep at the wheel while we yelled at him to wake up. The building was once broken into from the adjoining shop’s attic. The brickwork mortar was like powder in some places. Wallace Bishop later put in steel reinforcing rods to strengthen the building.
Despite the rough times, the thefts and staff abuse of discounts and stock, the store had some good people we really liked and remember very fondly.
Dad had a gun smith workshop. I used to carry repair firearms down Queen Street to Robinson’s Sports store. Later we had to ensure guns had carry cases. Then soon after, of course, no guns allowed. That is how it was then.
I recall when a white painted line was once put on the footpaths to keep people left and right. Unbelievable stupidity, so even as a kid in high school I knew that. And of course we would then get aggravated if someone walked on the wrong side.
In those days hunting was well known and there was nothing wrong with animal skins and trophies, as you can see in the photos. When the store sold we had the deer head at home, but it dripped moisture. I know how amazing the texture and quality of a good animal skin is, because we touched them and saw them as kids, but nowadays it is offensive. When I visited Denver in the late 1990’s I went into a store and immediately knew which was their best buffalo skin and the owner said it was not for sale. They are exquisite to touch, but rarely seen now. It was also normal to have tortoise shells too! We did not have ivory or any such items now, and Mum did not allow any gun collection int he houses we lived in. I am quite sensitive to how badly animals may be treated, and I have a strong dislike of firearms and knives, even though I know quality items if I should see them. When Amart came in from USA, Dad did not know how to compete with them, but years later he said he would have been able to keep the store going with the knowledge he gained about them. Dad had quality products which suggests this could have been part of a unique position. In those days people did not know about consultants and so forth to help businesses.
It is hard to recall childhood memories with Harold Shaw. I recall Dad traveling to/from the Woolloongabba store and the train soot on everything in the area. Dad had lost a sum of money from someone purchasing guns and never paying.
I have various memories of the Albert St shop in the 1970’s and the city activities – such as going to the cinemas – Mary Poppins, Earthquake, Jaws. It was in the shop I played with an IBM golf ball typewriter. We had Bakelite telephones to play with. Up from us was a deli that sold real milk shakes and rocky road, deep fried potato scallops and Chiko rolls with salt. No wonder I loved Ekka pluto pups.
Dad’s store sold firearms, fishing, archery as a new line, ammunition, explosive powder, binoculars and telescopic sights, later pistols that the police purchased, trophies, torches, hunting gear, and knives – big knives. There was a gun smith workshop on the upper floor. Dad tested a firearm in the workshop which failed, and splinters of wood flew out sending Dad to hospital, and Dad then had tinnitus. He could have lost his life. His energy or enthusiasm for the store dropped after that, so it is no wonder he worked for Robinsons. He (legally I have to say allegedly) unfortunately had enemies, lies, humiliation and a large loss of money from his stock not apparently not being paid for (?), or his superannuation given to him. I can only recall the family pain over this and Dad’s failed attempts to find justice.
I always really disliked selling retail, and never understood the selling points customers needed. Dad learnt his detailed knowledge from another person who passed it on. When I was in high school, a double bladed Gerber hunting knife fell off a glass showcase cabinet while I was showing it to a customer. It did not cut my tendon – which is amazing.
The shop bought out Watsons Sports store, and then sold every sporting good you could imagine. I never liked selling retail, and people generally asked questions just to feel comfortable, I think. The previous handover to Harold I think involved the Kingston Brothers around part ownership.
I would like to note that my Dad knew all the key sporting wholesale players in Australia. There is not one person who controlled a major brand that he was not business friends, or friends with, including big names such as Winchester, Tasco, Alvey and more. Dad went fishing with some the big names every year at Fraser Island, piling up the empty beer cans into a pyramid trophy on a table top.
When Dad backed a trailer into the shop laneway he narrowly missed the walls, to load up boxes of trash from the back of the shop. We would burn various records out at Moggill, as they expired after a legal period of time.
My “uncle” Bill, Bill Ward, helped me get my first job in the QLD Government Department of State Works. His shares in the store were bought out. He told me that there was a will written that stated the Albert Street building was never to be sold. That will was never found, and it upset Bill. Bill was deeply upset over the strong constraints of the pension. He had no children from his wife. I used to play their pianola. Uncle Bill divided his inheritance between us three sons, which stopped me from being on the street penniless when I got ill in 2010, so his decision on this was far reaching.
This content is based on limited knowledge and on memories, so again, please take it only for what it is.
Above Top: Harold with my father George, and big fish!YES – No fishing licenses.
Followed by: The two shop windows. The left had a room with a gunsmith workshop, and the right had a small partitioned room with basins for chemicals working on gun barrels etc. and a testing apparatus that was highly dangerous, not by intention, but lack of knowledge in those days.
Above the windows was the attic, incredibly hot. This is where some retail stock was, but mainly old records etc. The mid level of the building had the office, Dad’s manager’s office, retail storage shelving, toilets, eating area, and packing bench.
The concrete stairs went down to the lower retail level, with office at the back behind the sporting goods section, a safe, and small area for throwing out cardboard boxes, then the back of the lane way. Fire regulations were thinner in those days.
Indicative diagram of the gunsmith workshop in the room behind the two windows, noting the attic above the workshop floor:
These layouts would not be permitted today.
Above: views of the laneway in more recent times
A 1901 Trophy
Some notes from my mother Elizabeth Shaw:
Hardware merchants in Queen Street, founded by William Shaw who migrated from Northern Ireland – three sons and 2 daughters:
George (my great grandfather), Albert and Henry, Minnie and Annie.
George married Evelyn in 1893. The company at that time was called Shaw and Sons. George dies 30th June 1953.
George had a son Harold who took over the business. I believe there were shares in the business.
Harold had my father, George Robert Shaw, who purchased all the share at some point.
A quick on the spot photo of myself in January 2025: (Laurie Shaw – Laurence William Shaw – middle son)
Photos of George Shaw Sport’s Store, Albert Street, Brisbane. These images are now with the Brisbane State Library.
Old Photos
When I moved to Sydney, I had no recent photo of my parents. Some time later, before my garage was robbed on school holidays, I found a carton in the garage with an old role of film. It had Mum and Dad’s photo. Most of the other film was damaged.
This does raise the question of storing photos. We all know what it is to lose photos. Printing a photo means that we take time and effort to show that we value a particular image, and that is more likely to survive for our family’s next generation – provided it is not a cheap print. Since the beginning of the 1900’s, my families have used photography, and we have minimal hard copy surviving. Anything that survives the years is special, particularly when given a photo 80 years later.
These photos were handed down to me, from when my Uncle Bill’s father went to Paris in preparation to fight for the war. Notice the spoked ferris wheel. I have seen the buildings along the River Seine, which were still under construction, and the railway line is now covered over.
There are experts in this field who have fine examples of historic photography. Our National Gallery of Australia preserves various styles, some snapshots of scenes at hand, and others of historical significance, such as a pose from a politician, or a fashion statement from a prominent celebrity. These have been among my favourite photographs for many years:
Athol Shmith ‘ Fashion illustration: Maggie Tabberer in Hall Ludlow outfit.’ 1959 gelatin silver photograph.Collection of the National Gallery of Australia
Older style buildings bring back memories of former materials and finishes. Although beautiful, it also brings back memory of controlled mass environments, man as machine. Our corporate lives reflected order, the days we wore ties, and were comfortable in thinking of life long company loyalty. That was an effective strategy. I recall my first government job – what standard ruler and pen I was to use. I have always bought my own pens and unlined paper in the workforce. In my first job as a filing clerk, (one of the most boring jobs in the world) my drunken boss got fed up with me and said I had to do that job for five years before I could progress to the next level, and be a cost order clerk. I resigned. This shocked my parents. It shocked me!
Those were the days when officials showed off their positions of power, carrying bikini tanned girls on each arm, when sexist and racist comments were on display, and when I bought staff their Bex powders at morning tea. Only pies, sausage rolls, and cakes in those days.
My Photography Background
Developing Amazon AWS Technology Skills
l a u r e n c e s h a w
p h o t o g r a p h y & w e b s i t e s
a w s l i n u x s o l u t i o n s
w o r d p r e s s & e m a i l
photographybyshaw logo (click to view)
venus crossing the sun 6/6/2012
