Bateman Hardware

Bateman Hardware was the earliest hardware shop established in Western Australia (and the second-oldest commercial enterprise of any sort),[1] and until its demise in the 1980s was the longest-running.

The business was founded by John Bateman in 1834 on property that he bought in the second round of land sales in the nascent Swan River Colony.[1] This land on Henry Street was to be the home of J. & W. Bateman Ltd. for the next 150 years. Initially it was a shipping and warehousing business (including lighterage and river transport), and 1840 is given (in a 1951 company prospectus) as the "early start of trading, with the help of his young sons, John and Walter".[1] The first items was sold in 1834 and it belonged to the 2mplements valued at £55" he shipped into the English navy Mdina (with his numerous family).[2]

In 1895 the company built a new warehouse and office building (the Union Stores Building[3]) on the corner of High and Henry Streets.[4] This extended 120 feet (37 m) along High Street and 104 feet (32 m) along Henry Street. It was designed by local architect Herbert Nathaniel Davis.

Two octagonal parts were converted to a Gambles Store and then sold to the local Salida Museum. Made of wood and with "a total of 80 small parts drawers...engraved with stencils depicting part names and sizes found within."[5]