Published on Thursday, 30 June 2022 at 11:04:13 AM
Family affairs mark central Marine Terrace evolution
An excerpt from the new CBD Walk Trails Booklet, released June 2022. Available from the Geraldton Regional Library, Geraldton Visitor Centre and online.
Two local families, the Snell and Rock families, made their mark on central Marine Terrace, from the early 1900s onwards, playing an important role in advancing the early commercial life of Geraldton with their wonderful displays of assorted goods, stationary, books, musical instruments and toys.
Rocks Laneway is named after the prominent family business which stood at this location for nearly 90 years. The original Stationer’s Hall was established by Mr Charles Edgar Snell in the first decade of the 20th century. In 1908 he relocated his thriving business from a site next to the Club Hotel, to a large new shop opposite the Post Office in Marine Terrace. Known as Edgar, Snell actively contributed to the business, civic and sporting life of Geraldton over many years. In 1934 he sold his newsagency and stationery interests to Mr Arthur Paskin Rock (Printer and Publisher of the Geraldton Express, Director of Geraldton Newspapers Limited) and built an adjacent new store he named Snells Bazaar. Offering a wide variety of goods in a new and progressive emporium format, the business prospered under the management of his elder son Bill, until finally being bought out by Coles in 1947.
Image caption: Marine Terrace featuring Snells Bazaar, circa 1938, courtesy of Stan Gratte.
Snapshots is an initiative of the Geraldton Regional Library. For more information, or to donate a historical photo or slide to the Library, contact Heritage Services at the Geraldton Regional Library on 9956 6659 or library@cgg.wa.gov.au
Image number: P 555
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