STEWART DAWSONS CORNERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1989, 20 February 1914, Page 5

STEWART DAWSONS CORNERS.

RISE OF A GREAT' FIRM. The well-known corner in Melbourne, formerly known as "Nicholson's" but for several years past as Stewart Dawson's Corner, has just been sold, the beinj* Mr. Stewart. Dawson, on account of his'firm, Messrs'. Stewart Dawson and Company, the well-known jewellers. The land measures 64 feet in Collins Street, and-!) 2 in Swanston Street, immediately facing tho Town Hall, ami terms trie principal corner in tho "'Block." Tho price paid for tho property has not been stated, but it is understood to be in tho .vicinity of six figures. Built about ,30 years ago, the present buildinfe consisted of eight shops and about. 24 offices. Nearly 30 years ngo Stewart Dawson and Company beenmo lessees of the fourth shop from the cor-ner-on the Swanston Street side; ten y«ars later they acquired tho adjoining shop, and' about 12 years ago Mr, Stewart Dawson was tho successful tenderer for a twenty-one years' building lease. Immediately after, five shops on the corner were remodelled • into tho prose-nt line establishment of Stewart. Dawson and Company, vrho have been in occupation for the last ten years. Continuad prosperity should await Mr. Stewart Dawsen's firm in what is now their own property; and, judging by their past business, history, it is possible that at no very distant date, a new building will occupy this fine site, that will be fittinKi and in keeping with this corner's importance, and, a worthy architectural embellishment to the City of Melbourne. Tho events leading up i.o, and the final purchase of this property by-Messrs'. Stewart Dawson and Company alone, are reminiscent of some of tb* late.. Dr. Smiles's Essays on."Self Helif (or the stepping-stones to success). Apart, however, from the role of self endeavour, there seems to be in business life, hero ond there,, certain magnetic forces at work; one of these in the very successful • business history of . Messrs; Stewart Dawson appears to have been an -almost magnetic power in the acquisition of "Business Corners," for with the excep* '■ tion of Chrjstchurch, their colonial e'stablishnients not only in Melbourne, but in. Dunedin, Wellington, Auckland, and Brisbane occupy the picked corners in each city; while those in Sydney and Perth are on street and arcada corners. The two London establishments of Stewart Dawsnn and Company, however, are not on corners, but in size, fine equipment, and general importance, visitors from this side declare there is nothing to surpaira (or possibly equal) them in the jewellery business in the great metropolis. Mr. Stewart Dawson,'a native, of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, began business in a small way in Liverpool, England, -12 years ago, and a great deal'of his business' success he attribute?" to three essentialsObservation. Thought, and Application!