Trade Entrance, Drabbles Hardware, Leura Avenue, Claremont

Drabbles Hardware was a prominent wholesale and retail hardware business in Western Australia, established by Walter Drabble.

In 1890, Walter opened a shop near where Christ Church, Claremont, now stands. He had a few cases of glass and nails as his first stock. Humble as the beginning was, the business grew quickly.

The business was transferred to larger premises at the corner of Bay View Terrace and Diver Street (now St Quentin's Avenue) about 1988 with a larger range of items for sale.

Business continued to increase and in 1903 work began across the street on a new Bay View Terrace premises. The new store opened on the 12 November 1903 and contained a wide variety of products including ironmongery, oilman stores, wallpapers, and picture frames.

By the 1920s, Drabbles had become one of the largest wholesale and retail hardware concern in the state, stocking builders requirements, crockery, glassware, fancy goods, agricultural tools and sporting goods.

Then came the purchase of a large area in Leura Avenue, Claremont, for use for bulk storage purposes and in 1923, larger premises in Bay View Terrace were erected. The building extended back to Leura Avenue, Claremont, with warehouses and yards occupying about two acres of land.

When Walter retired, Drabbles became a company on 1 December 1926 under the name of W. Drabble Ltd. The managing director of the new company was Horace Mercer, Walter's nephew.

The company soon established itself in other districts. In 1931, premises were rented in Milligan Street, Perth, and in 1935 modern premises in Murray Street, Perth, were built. The company then turned its attention towards the manufacture of
shop fittings and leadlights.

In 1936 a branch was opened at Kalgoorlie to cater particularly for the Goldfields trade.

A fleet of trucks delivered to metropolitan sites and to the Claremont railway goods shed for country orders.

Drabble's business changed hands several times until it was eventually taken over by Bunnings, and by the 1970s was owned by the Bond Corporation.

When the Drabble's Building was remodelled in 1977, as part of the Old Theatre Lane development, a solid concrete strong-room took 16 days to jack-hammer out. The project transformed the former laneway and adjacent historic buildings behind the former Princess Theatre and picture gardens into a pedestrian shopping precinct.