Newcastle ‘The Store’ Milk Token – One Pint
$5.00
35 in stock
Description
The Store One Pint (of) Bottled Milk aluminium token, circa 1950-1960’s. These tokens were left out for the milko rather than money that may have been stolen. The milko automatically knew how many bottles of milk to leave. Token measures approximately 33mm x 20mm. Each token will come packaged as seen in second image.
Known to locals simply as ‘The Store’, the Newcastle & Suburban Co-operative Society was founded in 1898 and grew to become the largest retail co-operative in the Southern Hemisphere. Despite boasting nearly 100,000 members in its 1970s heyday, it struggled against modern supermarkets and closed in 1981.
Early Beginnings and Growth (1898–1940s)
-
- Foundation: Established on June 8, 1898, after a public meeting at the Post Office Hotel in Newcastle.
- The First Shop: Started with just 33 members, £33 in capital, and a rented terrace at the corner of Hunter and Florence Streets in Newcastle West.
- The “Divvy”: Operations were based on British co-operative models. Members bought goods and received a profitable share of profits known as the “divvy”.
- Industrial Boom: Following the opening of the BHP Steelworks in 1911, the co-op’s membership skyrocketed. By 1942, its massive bakery in Newcastle West was producing 62,800 loaves a week.
Peak and Expansion (1950s–1970s)
-
- Massive Scale: By 1974, ‘The Store’ had grown to 98,000 members, which represented approximately one in every four families in the Hunter region.
- Vast Services: It operated 15 retail stores and 11 service stations. Beyond groceries, it ran a credit union, health and funeral funds, a travel agency, a barber shop, and sporting clubs.
- Acquisitions: In 1964, the co-op absorbed the successful West Wallsend Co-operative Society.
Decline and Closure (1980s)
-
- Market Pressures: By the late 1970s, increased shopper mobility (via the family car) and tough competition from retail giants like Woolworths and Coles severely impacted their profits.
- Closure: After 83 years of service to the Hunter community, ‘The Store’ went into liquidation and closed its doors on April 10, 1981.
Legacy and Archives
-
- History Project: The rich history and legacy of the co-op have been extensively documented by the University of Newcastle Cultural Collections
- The Store has been converted into Newcastle’s Light Rail tram junction with apartment towers being built above to complement the commercial precinct around the tram junction.
