By NICOLE WILLIAMS
IT IS the end of an era as Berwick’s oldest family business closes the doors on its hardware business.
Members of the Loveridge family have been active members of the Berwick business community since the first store opened in 1888.
As years have gone by, the business has seen many changes, although it has been a solid figure as Loveridge’s Mitre 10 on Kangan Drive for decades.
The Loveridge family will close the Mitre 10 store but keep a ‘bare bones’ garden supply business.
Harry Hutchison, president of Berwick Village Chamber of Commerce, said was sad to see an ‘institutional’ like Loveridge’s close.
“It is a real shame they are closing,” he said.
“Many people are going to miss them.”
Mr Hutchison said it was also a concern that a longstanding independent business was forced to close.
“The fact we are losing a well-established business is a greater concern, rather than just losing another hardware store,” he said.
“It is a sign of the time that the independents are going it tough.”
Alfred and Emma Loveridge opened the first Loveridge business in Peel Street Berwick in 1888 as a hardware/drapery/grocery store before moving into High Street in the 1920s.
In the 1960s a new hardware store was built on High Street in addition to the drapery/grocery story – although this side of the business was phased out in the 1970s.
A new timber yard was built in the mid-1970s, which included a drive through service centre extending between Peel Street and Wilson Street.
Loveridge’s is now located on Kangan Drive, where it was established as a Mitre 10.
The Loveridge family will close the Mitre 10 store but keep a ‘bare bones’ garden supply business.
The business conducted the daily mail run to Harkaway for nearly 40 years and the Loveridge family also operated the general store at Upper Beaconsfield for almost 40 years until 1979.
The first fire attended by the Berwick Brigade was to the Loveridge’s store after an old tarpaulin caught fire, and James ‘Ford’ Loveridge (son of Alfred) was among the firefighters.
Len Ward, who worked for Loveridge’s for 18 years, said he had many happy memories of the business and said he would be sad to see it close.
“It was good, everyone was treated as family,” he said.
“I grew up knowing the Loveridges from when I was only three years old.”
So it is no surprise that Mr Ward had such a long association as an employee, from 1968 and 1985.
He worked in the timber yard and did the businesses deliveries and pick-ups for 13 years, when ‘Ford’ Loveridge was at the helm.
