Settlement of St JamesPrint Page

The plaque commemorates the early settlement of St. James and marks the original site of the North Eastern Stores built in 1882 and the first George G Coles store in 1910.

The name came from a pastoral station. In 1855 the holder of the Cobram station divided it into two, naming the new portion St James. Later St James was the name given to the local parish. In 1883 the railway line from Benalla, destined to terminate at Yarrawonga, was built as far as St James. It remained thus for three years before being completed.

In 1892 a storekeeper, George Coles, bought a shop in St James and another in Lake Rowan, 6 km eastwards on the road between Benalla and Yarrawonga. Three years later he built a family home in St James. In 1910 his son, George junior, after having worked for several rural and Melbourne retailers, acquired the St James business, which was the genesis of the G.J. Coles and Co chain of variety stores. Coles ‘North Eastern Store’ was in the main street a few doors east of the railway crossing.

Location

Address:	St James Road, St James, 3727
State:	VIC
Area:	AUS
GPS Coordinates:	Lat: -36.269912 Long: 145.894281 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.

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Details

Monument Type:	Plaque
Monument Theme:	Landscape
Sub-Theme:	Settlement

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:	1988

Source: MA