MURRAY BROTHERS - Part 1

William Richard Murray came to Australia with his parents and siblings in 1856, his father J.H. Murray taking up a position of teacher opening the first National School in 1866.   On 29^th April 1876 E. N. Murray, brother of W. R. Murray, opened his hardware business in a small 12’ x 24’ shop. W. R. Murray acquired Charles Tuke’s general store in 1877 opened his own business in Church Street.  In this store the residents were able to purchase “Pianofortes and American Organs on easy terms and sewing machines on time payment, no interest” this was pioneering the field of selling by time payment.  About the same time E. N. Murray, brother of W. R. Murray, opened another hardware and crockery shop on the other side of the street selling hardware and crockery.

In 1884 the brothers join forces - E.N. Murray joining his brother on the site; this was the beginning of the firm “Murray Brothers”.  A furniture section was added to the many other branches of the business. They were importing goods, selling pianos & organs and manufacturing household items like clothes and jams.  At one stage the furniture and jam factories were located in the old Ice Works in Smith Street beside the river. Their progress resulted in Murray Brothers becoming a household name in Parramatta.

Murray Brothers purchased the Woolen Mill from the French family in 1887 for 2000 pounds and operated under the name of Parramatta Woolen Mill.  They installed the machinery acquired from the Byrnes Australian Mill in Granville.  Water from the nearby Hunts Creek was used for scouring the wool which was then dried in the sun, sorted, carded and woven into medal winning rugs and blankets.  Parramatta Woolen Mills won gold medals at Royal Agriculture show in Sydney in 1897, 1898 and 1899 for rugs and blankets. In 1908 Parramatta Woolen Mills won gold medal at Franco-British exhibition for uniforms. In 1911 the mill was sold to A. E. Daking Smith.

Murray Brothers employed over 100 people working in the shop and the various factories also the woolen mills.  The items supplied by these factories were sold in the shop. 

Stay tuned... more in the next blog!