Many of you will have heard of the Caris Brothers Jewellers that used to be in the Hay Street Mall in Perth, but did you know the business started in the Goldfields?
Some years ago I was contacted by Lloyd Caris, he asked if I could help him with his family history as he was living in England. He only had a small advertisement for the jewellery shop they ran but he knew no more than it was on the WA Goldfields. His Grandfather and his brother were the original ‘Caris Bros’
Caris Bros Shop, 71 Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie c 1915
2018
The above building is still there, but unoccupied. You can see the black tiles at the bottom of the window’s which are the original ones you see in the older photo. If you look closely you can see the reflection of the photographer in the door.
Lloyds grandfather, Stanley Caris, was first set up in business under his own name but by 1897 he had been joined by his brother, John Dove Caris. The shop was in Bayley Street Coolgardie.
Western Australia Post Office Directory 1897
Stanley married Annie Ridley Rewcastle on the 1st April 1896 at St Andrew’s Church, Coolgardie. They were both 22yrs old. Stanley gave his address as Lindsay St, Coolgardie but Annie gave her address as Gateshead, Northumberland England. Her father was Henry French Rewcastle, Colliery Manager and her mother was Margaret Ramsey. Stanley gave his father was John Dove Caris, Jeweller, and his mother Rebecca Kennedy.
Lloyds father, Stanley Dove Caris, was born in Kalgoorlie in 1900, there were two other children born, Aydon Gordon Caris in Perth 1905 and Margaret Constance Caris in 1898 in Perth.
Stanley’s Brother John was married to Mary Murtough (not in WA) and they had a daughter, Kathleen Mildred, born in Perth.
By 1905 the brothers had shops in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie and Barrack Street, in Perth. The following advertisement also says London, this branch was run by Lloyds Great Grandfather. The following article shows that the brothers sold the businesses in 1924.
Western Argus 13 December 1904
Daily News (Perth, WA: 1882 – 1950), Thursday 2 November 1933, page 11
CARIS BROTHERS JUBILEE
This year Messrs Caris Bros Ltd. is celebrating their golden jubilee, it being just 50 years since their establishment. Throughout the whole of the period, the name of Caris Bros has been favourably known as standing for all that is best in jewellers quality goods. The business, which was purchased by Mr. George Ledger in 1924, has made rapid strides, and flourishing branches are at Kalgoorlie and Bunbury. In Perth, too, the store has been gradually extended. Caris Bros will celebrate their golden jubilee with a more than a usually attractive sale, opening tomorrow.
Western Argus 7 Apr 1903
This photo was sent kindly in by OFH reader Yolanda. The box was found among the possessions of her mother and is probably from one of the Perth Shops.
Moya Sharp
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My mother was born in Perth in 1909 and moved to Kalgoorlie / Boulder in around 1914 with her family. Her father joined the Light Horse in 1917 and served in the Middle East. He returned to Kalgoorlie after the war to try and restart his life.
The family broke up and eventually my mother moved with her mother and siblings to Perth and got a job in the Caris Bros Perth jewellery store.
I will be in Kalgoorlie 28-30th August with my wife Julie Janson who is giving a book talk at the Library on the morning of Thursday 29th August at 10.30am.
Perhaps we could meet there.
Hi Michael I will indeed try to get to the library and hopefully meet you.
That would be great
Hope to see you there
Julie just gave an author talk today in Albany and tomorrow in Denmark.
Hi Moya,
We have left a copy of the book in what we hope is your letter box. Enjoy.
Julie Janson
Hi
I have a watch in a Caris Brothers case. It was my grandfather’s and it was purchased in Kalgoorlie around 1939
G/day Brett,
Your Caris bros watch is it a wrist watch?
G/day Brett, is it a wrist watch or fob
Greetings Moya,
It appears Caris Bros. must have also sold clocks, as I have a leather-bound, silk lined carriage clock box (unfortunately empty). It must have been from the time just after the London shop opened as the words “& London” have obviously been added to the original printing.
Regards,
David Traynor
Yes indeed they also branched out into things like jewellery boxes and yes clocks.
Hi,
I have a caris brothers wall clock i can tell its very old in excellent condition.id love to know its history and age the face reads caris brothers perth i would describe it as an office clock is this of any interest cheers
mark browne
I’m able to remember Caris Brothers in Kalg and In my time I had cause to use the clock/ watchmaker- repairer above Caris Brothers in Hay Street Perth and his name was Hugh Whitwell an Englishman-Indian. A nicer man you would never meet and was free with his advice to a very amateur clock repairer from Kalgoorlie- Esperance over many years. Not too sure where he is today and maybe long gone but he was a friend as well as a very helpful man and I think was still above Caris Brothers after they departed as he kept doing work from his Claremont home for many years. Keep up the great work Moya.