Gordon's White Arcade

Gordon's White Arcade opened on Wednesday 4 June 1913 in Brisbane Street, opposite St Paul's Church of England. They opened with a 14 day - 10% discount sale, including 1 shilling table and 6 pence table.

Charles J. Gordon, a longtime employee of Hanby & Dangerfield  purchased their hardware and ironmongery stock to start his own business. Gordon had been managing this section of the business for Hanby & Dangerfield for many years. Apparently Hanby & Dangerfield who were plumbers and gasfitters, wanted to divest themselves of their hardware and general trading retail arm and concentrate more on plumbing activities. Having sold the business to Charles Gordon, Hanby & Dangerfield moved into premises in Ellenborough Street behind the North Star Hotel. A fairly close or congenial relationship seems to have existed between the two firms as Hanby & Dangerfield customers were still able to access the plumbers by going through the White Arcade. 

In the beginning stock sold in the White Arcade included: vases, framed pictures, brooms, glassware, teething rings and baby rattles, and enamel kitchenware. 

After approximately 7 months as sole proprietor, Charles Gordon shifted Gordon's White Arcade further down Brisbane Street towards East Street, two doors from Cribb & Foote's grocery department and near Martoo's.  The new shop opened on Wednesday 28 January 1914. By 1916 Gordon's White Arcade's inventory included: padlocks, alarm clocks, window fittings, seeds, biscuit barrels, shaving soap, and tools.

A 1918 block map shows A.B.C. Bank on the corner of Bell & Brisbane Streets, with The City Pharmacy of Allen & Minnis next door, then Gordon's White Arcade next to them. On the East Street side of Gordon's White Arcade, A. W. Bugler had his hairdressing and tobacconist premises in a building that was shared with W. Brookman's billiard saloon. At this time,  Whitehead's photographic studio is located across Brisbane Street, opposite the White Arcade.

It was revealed in October 1926 that Mining & Hardware Supplies Ltd. had bought Gordon's White Arcade and that Charles Gordon was remaining as manager. The White Arcade business and stock are absorbed into the firm of Mining & Hardware Supplies (99 Brisbane Street) and they are co-located in the same building.   In 1928 other businesses in the building included: W. Parkinson (auctioneer), W. Marsh & Son (florists), Londy Brothers' Cafe Australia, and John Hunter & Sons (bootmakers).