Nock & Kirby was a Sydney-based retail store trading in hardware and general household goods.

Nock and Kirby building, George Street, Sydney

History edit

Nock and Kirby began as a partnership of Thomas Nock and Herbert Kirby in 1894.[1] It became a limited liability company in 1906.[1] It had a subsidiary, Beard Watson.[2][3][4] It had investments in Outboard Marine Australia Pty. Ltd. and in a brick manufacturer, Zacuba Pty Ltd.[5]

Two Nock & Kirby demonstrators, "Joe the Gadget Man"[6][7] and "Handy Andy", employed from about 1950, became household names through their appearance in ads and TV shows.

All stores were changed to BBC Hardware following acquisition by Burns Philp in 1983.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Forbes, George (1 December 1923). "FIFTY YEARS IN GEORGE STREET Story of Messrs. Nock and Kirby, Ltd". The Daily Telegraph. No. 13, 723. Sydney. p. 13. Retrieved 31 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b "Nock and Kirby Ltd (1906–1983)". Guide to Australian Business Records. Archive Research Consultancy. 2006. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Nock & Kirby Revalues". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 May 1960. p. 14. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Nock & Kirby Revaluation". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 May 1960. p. 14. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Nock & Kirby profit up 3.6pc in half-year". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 May 1976. p. 18. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  6. ^ "TOP MEN HERE FOR STORE SHOW". The Biz. No. 2890. New South Wales, Australia. 25 October 1961. p. 9. Retrieved 31 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ Downes, Tom (21 September 2011). "Remember when Plenty in store in golden era". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney, Australia. p. 60. Retrieved 31 May 2019.