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Biographical Dictionary - Coorow, Carnamah, Three Springs


Surname

Eva Rebecca ENGLISH / COWDEROY

Born 1889 in Kirkstall, Victoria, Australia [54]
Daughter of John Thomas ENGLISH and Sarah CLARKE [54]
Married Albert Patrick COWDEROY in 1913 in Victoria, Australia [54]
She and her husband resided in Bunbury in 1913 and 1914, in Greenbushes 1916-1924 and then in Perth [6] [50]
Arrived with her husband in Fremantle, Western Australia on the Gorgon on 20 November 1921 following a trip to Indonesia [70]
She and her husband departed Fremantle on the steamship Hobsons Bay and arrived in Southampton, England on 6 July 1924 [204]
     Their last address during their visit to England was at 7 Lothbury in the City of London in London, England [203]
     They departed London on the steamship Moreton Bay on 23 September 1924 and arrived in Fremantle on 24 October 1924 [70] [203]
In May 1927 she purchased the general storekeeping business and premises of L. Scott WYLIE at 2 Macpherson Street, Carnamah [4]
Following the purchase she and her husband shifted to Carnamah to run their new general store [4: 21-May-1927] [19]
General Storekeeper and Proprietor of Cowderoy's Stores in Carnamah from May 1927 to August 1929 [4: 21-May-1927, 31-Aug-1929]
     In 1927 the store specialised in an assortment of millinery, drapery and footwear in all lines, styles and sizes [4: 18-Jun-1927]
     Also sold groceries, medicines, hardware and all general requirements in 1927 [4: 18-Jun-1927]
     Her first advertisements in The Irwin Index newspaper included "Shop where Quality and Price is Right" [4: 18-Jun-1927]
     The store was telephone number Carnamah-4 in 1927, 1928 and 1929 [4: 18-Jun-1927] [60]
     Initially operated the store from its original premises before having a new store erected next to the old one [4: 21-May-1927]
     In February 1928 construction of their new store building "was rapidly proceeding" [9: 17-Feb-1928]
     A 'Surprise Party' of locals descended on their new shop on 23 April 1928 for a house-warming [4: 12-May-1928]
     In 1929 employed the services of contractor DOUST of Perth to add on another two new shops to their premises [4: 2-Nov-1929]
     Their shops were located at 2 Macpherson Street which is the south east corner of Yarra Street and Macpherson Street [P4]
     Entrance into the new store was right on the south east corner of Macpherson Street and Yarra Street [P22]
     In 1929 sold clothing, groceries, hardware, crockery, and household requirements [4: 1-Jun-1929]
Attended the wedding dance for Alexander J. F. BROWN and Clara V. BERRIGAN in Carnamah on 28 August 1928 [4: 8-Sep-1928]
During February 1929 she underwent a slight operation to her throat at Saint Omar's Hospital in Perth [4: 23-Feb-1929]
Attended the Carnamah Cricket Club's Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on 2 April 1929 in a dress of black crepe de chine [4: 27-Apr-1929]
Attended the Carnamah Football Club's Ball on 18 May 1929 in black satin trimmed with blue and blue shoulder flower [4: 25-May-1929]
In June 1929 sold her storekeeping business in Carnamah and leased its premises to George STODDART [4: 15-Jun-1929, 6-Jul-1929]
     Employed the services of local auctioneer Rupert LAFFAN to conduct a clearing sale of their household furniture and effects [4]
     The clearing sale was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday 3 August 1929 and items sold included a Neumeyer piano, fancy table, [4]
     polished jarrah extension dining table, polished jarrah suite, leather chesterfield, easy chairs, shadow tissue suite, six oak chairs,[4]
     oak wardrobe, cabinet gramophone, sewing machine, two dark oak bedsteads, bedroom suite, quantity of linoleum, kitchen safe, [4]
     kitchen table, kitchen dresser, wicker chair, chest of drawers, cement wash tubs, lady's cycle and a large selection of sundries [4]
     The newspaper advertisement for their clearing sale concluded "The furniture is of high quality and has been in excellent care" [4]
     Also for sale was their Morris Cowley car in good order, which was reported as an opportunity to support British made goods [4]
     She and her husband then left Carnamah for "a well earned break" [4: 6-Aug-1932]
Following their departure George STODDART ran the store under the name of "Stoddart's" in 1929 and 1930 [4: 31-Aug-1929, 19-Jul-1930]
     In July 1930 George STODDART sold the storekeeping business to Stanley L. HIDDEN [4: 19-Jul-1930, 9-Aug-1932]
     Stanley L. HIDDEN operated as "The Corner Store" from her premises in Carnamah from 1930 to 1932 [4] [5: 15-Jul-1932]
She and her husband spent a few days in Carnamah on a business visit in October 1929 [4: 26-Oct-1929]
Departed with her daughter Joyce from Fremantle, Western Australia on the steamship Esperance Bay en route to England [204]
     They arrived in Southampton, England on 19 January 1930 and proceeded to Savoy House on the Strand in London [204]
     Later resided at 41 Royal Crescent in the London suburb of Kensington before departing Southampton on 29 October 1930 [203]
     Departed Southampton, England on the Esperance Bay and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on 27 November 1930 [63]
Resided at 39 Claremont Avenue in the Perth suburb of Claremont in 1931 and 1932[3]
Along with her husband and their assistant returned to Carnamah in mid July 1932 to re-open their store [5: 22-Jul-1932]
     Stanley L. HIDDEN vacated their premises - either the reason they returned or their return the reason he moved out [4] [5]
     She and her husband once more ran their general store in Carnamah under the name of "Cowderoys" [5: 22-Jul-1932]
     General Storekeeper and Proprietor of Cowderoy's Stores in Carnamah 1932-1945 [5] [60]
     They re-stocked the store with drapery, millinery, mercery, clothing, boots, shoes, crockery and hardware [5: 22-Jul-1932]
     The store was telephone number Carnamah-18 from 1933 to 1945[60]
Advertised their business in the Schedule of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Show in 1933 [13]
     "Cowderoy's Store (The Big Corner Shop) Carnamah (Right Opposite the Railway Station)" [13]
     "We Specialise in all General Drapery and Men's and Boy's Mercery" [13]
     "Large range of Boots and Shoes for Men, Women and Children. Special Lines in Golf Footwear" [13]
     "Stationary, Fancy Goods, Hardware and Furniture - Big Stocks of Quality Goods in all Departments at Reasonable Prices" [13]
     "At Cowderoy's, Carnamah. Tel 18 -- The Cheap Store -- Tel 18." [13]
Made a donation to the Carnamah branch of the Country Women's Association in 1932 to help them purchase premises [5: 2-Sep-1932]
Attended the "Gimlets" Annual Picnic on Sunday 18 September 1932 on Richard BATTY's farm in Carnamah [5: 23-Sep-1932]
     Donated one of the Prizes for the Gimlets Picnic and at the picnic came 2nd in the Guessing Competition [5: 23-Sep-1932]
Had an account with Carnamah blacksmith, wheelwright and motor mechanics Henry Parkin & Son in 1933 [53]
She and her daughter Joyce were the recipients of a Surprise Party held in Carnamah on Friday 5 January 1934 [5: 12-Jan-1934]
     The party, including games and supper, was organised by their friends to bid them goodbye before they left for England [5]
     She and Joyce drove from Carnamah to Perth on Sunday 7 January 1934 and left for England on the Strathaird the next day [5]
     She was accompanying her daughter Joyce to England, where Joyce was to pursue her dramatic studies and take up stage work [5]
     They arrived on the steamship Strathaird in London, England on 9 February 1934 [204]
     Following their arrival their address was 41 Royal Crescent at Denmark Hill in the London suburb of Kensington [204]
After accompanying her daughter she appears to have remained in England for almost two years [5: 12-Jan-1934, 6-Dec-1935] [63]
     Her last address during that time was 64 Caldecot Road in the London locality of Denmark Hill [203]
     Departed London, England on the steamship Maloja and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on 19 November 1935 [63]
     Arrived back in Carnamah on Saturday evening 30 November 1935 [5: 6-Dec-1935]
After spending a vacation of just over a month in Carnamah she left for Perth by train on Friday 3 January 1936 [5: 10-Jan-1936]
     Departed Fremantle, Western Australia on the steamship Strathaird and arrived in London, England on 7 February 1936 [204] [5]
     Following her arrival and before her departure her address was 41 Royal Crescent in the London suburb of Kensington [203] [204]
     41 Royal Crescent was the same address she had resided at during her visits to England in 1930 [203]
     Departed London on the Orcades on 9 October 1937 and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on 9 November 1937 [63] [203]
     After three months departed Fremantle on the steamship Largs Bay and arrived in Southampton, England on 11 March 1938 [204]
     Resided at Templebardy at 16 Saint Martin's Avenue in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight, [204] where she owned a house [P352]
     Departed Tilbury, England on the steamship Largs Bay and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on 20 December 1939 [63]
After an absence away from Carnamah returned in August 1944 to again take charge of her store [0: image 04274]
In 1944 her store was headed with large letters reading 'COWDEROYS' and in smaller print 'Department Stores' [0: image 04279]
She had her shop in Carnamah and a drapery shop at 102A Stirling Highway in the Perth suburb of Nedlands in 1945 and 1946 [5] [6]
During the second week of April 1945 and the third week of May 1945 she paid travelled to Perth on business [5: 13-Apr-1945, 25-May-1945]
Travelled from Carnamah to Perth by train on Monday 11 June 1945 [5: 15-Jun-1945]
Conducted "Cowderoy's Stores" in Carnamah until 1946 when she leased the store to Noel W. NICHOLLS [51] [60]
At the time of her husband's death in 1947 they were living at 6 Prowse Street in the Perth suburb of Guildford [45]
Resided at Broadway in the Perth suburb of Nedlands, and later at 12 Baird Avenue in the Perth suburb of Nedlands [3] [6]
Departed Montreal, Quebec, Canada on the steamship Express of France and arrived in Liverpool, England on 30 April 1949 [204]
     Following her arrival in England she once again resided at 16 Saint Martun's Avenue in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight [204]
     Departed Southampton, England on the steamship Washingtonand arrived in New York, USA on 19 December 1949 [222]
     Her intended address in the United States of America was 55 Sheridan Avenue in Mount Vernon, New York [222]
Departed Fremantle, Western Australia on the Dominion Monarch and arrived in Southampton, England on 27 December 1950 [204]
     Following her return to England she resided at 24 Queensborough Terrace in the London suburb of Bayswater [204]
     Departed Southampton, England with six pieces of baggage in cabin class on the steamship America on 5 April 1951 [204] [222]
     Arrived on the steamship America in New York, United States of America on 12 April 1951 en route to Canada [222]
Prior to her death she lived and worked in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada[P307]
In 1953 her address was care of Diane's Millinery at 4439 Dunbar Street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada [3]
Mother of Joyce and Leila [P307]
Died 4 June 1953 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada [P307]
During the 1954-55 financial year her shop premises at 2 Macpherson Street, Carnamah were sold to Stanley L. ASHDOWN [3]
She also owned a vacant block next to the shop, at 6 Yarra Street, which was sold in the same year to Norman W. REYNOLDS [3]


From The Irwin Index newspaper, Saturday 21 May 1927:
"A recent arrival in Carnamah is Mrs. E. Cowderoy, who has taken over the proprietorship of Wylie's store from Mr. Wylie who is shortly to open a General Motors Showroom. The store passed into the hands of Mrs. Cowderoy on Monday last and, although she intends to run all the old lines, Mrs. Cowderoy is going to pay particular attention to drapery, millinery and boots and shoes. Mrs. Cowderoy is herself a milliner, and will be prepared to accept orders for hats made to measure. The present quarters in Wylie's old store are only temporary, and in a very short time new premises will be erected on the corner block right opposite the Carnamah railway station. Next week Mrs. Cowderoy will receive a special consignment of new season's goods, which will be the latest of Perth fashions in millinery, drapery and footwear. Something of the sort has been a long felt want in Carnamah, and we have no hesitation in saying that once the people round about have sampled the quality stocked by Mrs. Cowderoy they will deeply appreciate the ability and cour tesy of a most capable connoisseur."


Reference:  Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Eva Rebecca English / Cowderoy' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 19 March 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/eva-rebecca-english [reference list]




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