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Sandovers Department Store
Fremantle (1880s–1890s)
The W. Sandover & Co department store was established by William Sandover in 1881, upon arriving in Perth from Adelaide. Located near the corner of High and Mouat Streets in Fremantle, it began as a partnership involving Edward Mayhew, which dissolved in 1885, in favour of a partnership with his older brother Alfred.
At first, the business was modest, combining a pharmacy with a hardware store but it quickly grew into a key supplier of tools, machinery and household goods. Farmers, miners and pearl divers all relied on their stock, particularly as the gold rush of the 1890s brought thousands of new settlers into Western Australia.
By the late 1890s, the company had become a household name, employing over 200 staff and running multiple sites: a wholesale warehouse and a manufacturing works in Fremantle, as well as a large retail store on Hay Street in Perth, which became the company’s showcase store.
Alfred Sandover
William brought his older brother Alfred Sandover over to Fremantle in 1884 from Adelaide, to help him manage the business under a five year contract. Alfred arrived on a 41°C day and swore he would return home following the end of the agreement, finding the dust and temperatures unbearable.
Alfred would go on to steer the company for more than fifty years, expanding its range and maintaining its reputation for service. He became well known in Perth for his leadership, civic involvement and philanthropy, as well as for shaping Sandovers into one of the city’s great department stores. William had returned to England in 1902, leaving the business to Alfred.
William Sandover died while travelling aboard the steamship Ulysses, returning from a visit to Australia on his way back to England. He fell ill shortly after leaving Durban and passed away during the voyage. In accordance with his wishes, he was buried at sea. His death occurred in May 1921 and out of respect, both the Fremantle and Perth Sandovers stores closed for the day.
Fire and Rebuilding (1907–1908)
Tragedy struck in April 1907 when a massive fire tore through the Hay Street premises. The blaze destroyed the four-storey building and threatened surrounding properties, fed by the paints, oils and other stock stored in the basement. Firefighters narrowly avoided an even greater disaster when they removed explosive materials from the site.
Despite the setback, the company recovered quickly. Alfred immediately purchased the business of Drake & Stubbs (formerly Alfred Shaw Limited), a competitor located across the road, and shifted trading there while a new store was planned. By 1908, a grand new building had risen on the Hay Street site, designed by the respected architects Hobbs, Smith & Forbes. With its classical façade and modern layout, the rebuilt Sandovers store became a landmark of Perth’s retail core.
The Harris Scarfe Merger
In 1920, Sandovers was incorporated as Sandovers Ltd. and just a few years later in January 1923, it merged with Harris Scarfe & Co from Adelaide. The new company, Harris, Scarfe & Sandovers Ltd., strengthened the business with additional capital and a wider range of goods. Alfred Sandover remained chairman, a role he continued in until his retirement in 1957 at the age of 90.
006753PD Hay Street, Perth, the south side east from Harris, Scarfe and Sandovers Ltd at no. 633-699, 26 October 1927
(now ENEX100, Hay Street Mall)
This period also saw Alfred make his most lasting contribution to Western Australian sport. In 1921, he donated the Sandover Medal, awarded annually to the fairest and best player in the WAFL. Funded from his own pocket for many years, the medal became one of the state’s most prestigious sporting awards and is still presented today.
Changing Times
Through the middle of the 20th century, the Hay Street store remained a cornerstone of Perth’s shopping scene. It sold clothing, household goods, tools and machinery, even featuring a drive-in trade yard where customers could collect hardware and building supplies directly into their vehicles.
As Perth grew after World War II, suburban shopping centres began to compete with the old city stores. Consumers were increasingly drawn to newer, car-friendly retail hubs closer to home. By the late 1950s, Harris, Scarfe & Sandovers was no longer the dominant force it had once been. In 1959, the company was sold to Electronic Industries Ltd and delisted from the stock exchange, signalling the end of the Sandover family’s control.
Decline and Closure
Although the Sandovers name slowly disappeared from the corporate structure, the Hay Street store continued trading under Harris Scarfe for several more decades. Part of the building was leased to Coles in the 1960s but the main store continued as a department and hardware outlet. By the late 20th century however, the rise of suburban malls and the shifting focus of Harris Scarfe meant Perth was no longer a priority market.
Harris Scarfe went into receivership in April 2001 after auditors uncovered hidden debts of around $50 million. The receivers shut unprofitable stores, cut jobs and slimmed the business down before selling it later that year to Gresham Private Equity, backed by Westpac. The new owners restructured the chain, focusing on its stronger markets in South Australia and Victoria. The rescue saved the brand but it also marked the end of Harris Scarfe in Western Australia, where its last stores closed during the collapse.
Harris Scarfe returned to WA in 2017 with a store at Carousel in Cannington but by the end of 2019, it was back in receivership under Allegro Funds. Over 20 stores were closed in early 2020 before the chain was sold to Spotlight Group, which kept the brand going on a smaller scale.
Heritage and Legacy
The Hay Street building was incorporated into the enex100 redevelopment in 2006. While the interior was demolished to make way for the modern shopping complex, the ornate 1908 façade was preserved and remains a striking feature of the mall. In Fremantle, the original stone warehouse at High and Mouat Street, built in the 1880s, still stands and today forms part of the University of Notre Dame campus.
