Georges workwear and country outfitters on William Street for sale

A renowned Rockhampton business run by the same family for nearly 125 years will be auctioned off next month.

Catherine George the general manager and trustee of Georges Workwear and Country Outfitters.

What started as a horse-drawn wagon in 1899 has become on of Rockhampton’s most loved businesses, but a new chapter is about to written in the books of Georges Workwear and Country Outfitters.

Georges has been owned and run by Rockhampton’s George family for almost 125 years, but that will soon change when the family-owned and run business goes to auction next month as the current general manager and trustee, Catherine George, looks to the next chapter of her life – retirement.

Georges Workwear and Country Outfitters was established by Catherine’s grandfather, Elien George, in the turn of the 19th century, when colonial soldiers were leaving to fight in the Second Boer War and Queensland and other states were still colonies.

Times have changed and so has their stock, with Georges these days offering a number of well-known workwear and western clothing brands such as King Gee, Bisley, RM Williams, Ariat and Akubra.

Elien moved to Australia at the age of 20 from Latakia in Syria and started Georges with just his horses and a wagon, going around to communities in Central Queensland.

From there, the first Georges store was set up on the corner of Alma and Derby Streets.

“They lived there as well so that’s where my dad grew up, on top of the shop, from there Dad opened a store on this site, where the car park is, in 1948,” she said.

The sale of George's Workwear and Country Outfitters will mark the end of an era for Catherine George whose grandfather began the business in 1899.

“It will be 125 years next year, so that’s a long time to maintain a business and be successful and generate an income, not just for the family, but the staff as well.”

Catherine said the whole family had worked in the shop, serving the fourth and fifth generations of some of the original customers.

The current Georges building the community knows and loves was built in 1996, just three years before the store celebrated its milestone 100 year anniversary.

“They (the customers) are almost like family because they’ve been associated with the business for decades, it’s really quite a special aspect of the business,” she said.

“The George family has always been a people-oriented family. Dad would go for a walk and bring home extra people for dinner and my mother wouldn’t even bat an eyelid.

Georges Workwear and Country Outfitters.

“In the morning he’d park his car and go and say good morning to the people at the deanery across the road at the Bishop’s offices and then he’d come back and have half a dozen people that he’d rounded up off the street and bring them in with him.

“I think he (her dad Alec) was genuinely interested in people… it’s really quite amazing because not a day goes by where someone isn’t telling me a story about Dad.”

Catherine said the business has always tried to stock products that suit the Central Queensland climate.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on quality merchandise and try to cater for different people from the worker to someone who just needs a good pair of RM boots,” she said.

At 72 years old, Catherine has decided it’s time to “bow out” and retire, and with no-one else in the family able to take the business on, she’s made the difficult decision to sell.

She said one of the things she would miss the most was the customers.

“I think the last day walking out of here will feel like having my arm ripped off,” she joked.

“All our customers are great and I’ll miss them incredibly because you hear so much of their lives, trials, tribulations and celebrations and that is really quite special.

“Even just the banter that goes on; you hear from people who travel two or three hours to town to do their shopping and combine their medical appointments with jobs for mum to do and for dad to do while they’re in town, they’ll let us know what they have to pick up and go off and meet back here late in the afternoon before they head home.”

Georges Workwear and Country Outfitters.

Catherine said if her grandfather, Elien, and father, Alec, could see the store now, they would be proud of the business it had become.

Georges Workwear and Country Outfitters is listed through Elders Real Estate.

The listing says the sale was a “rare” opportunity to acquire a locally owned and supported businesses of its calibre, with the potential for growth.

Georges Workwear and Country Outfitters will go to auction at the property at 88 William St at 11am on Wednesday, October 25.

Private inspections can be arranged by contacting agents Virgil Kenny or Emily Hindley.