Thames (NZ): DANBY's SHOE STORE

Danby's Shoeshop, was one of the best known businesses in the town, for many years. A place full of boxes, all carefully arranged. Assistance was immediate and the fitting would begin to find the right shoe. Essential for all the nurses who bought their regulation shoes from the shop for decades. Danby's was but one of the many shoe shops that served  the town.
 
Some other names of bootmakers, shoeshops and shoe factories since 1930 were/are:

Alan Motion Bootmaker, Boots N All, Country Shoes, Danby's Footwear, Danbys  Shoe Store Ltd, Davies Bootmaker, Donnelly Bootmaker, Eyecatcher Shoes, Ezywalkens, Hannahs, Harrisons Shoe Store, Lockie Bootmaker, Lyn & Lesley Brunton, McPhail & Ganley Ltd, Shoe Machinists Ltd (Moores Footwear Factory).

HISTORY OF DANBY's SHOE STORE:
1871: Mr William Ford Danby established his Saddler and Shoe business In Pollen Street.
Mr John Danby (son of William) took over the business.
1881: Saddlery Department discontinued.
1891: Premises damaged by fire, business continued in repaired premises.
1919: Mr John Danby retired, business operated by sons Wilfred and Stan Danby.
1928: New two-storey building erected on same site.
1937: Howard Danby (son of Wilfred), joined the firm.
1951: Partnership dissolved and new company registered.
1954: Mr Wilfred Danby retired.
1955: Walter Danby (son of Stan), joined the firm.
1967: At the time of the Thames Centennial, grandson's of the original owner (Stan and Walter Danby were still working at Danby's - at that stage 95 years of service for Danby Shoe store in Thames. (Source: Thames Goldfields Centennial 1867-1967)

Above: Early View of Danby's store (Source: Thames & the Coromandel Peninsula by Z & J Williams)

Below: The Danbys store today. (Source Google Maps)



 

Further information:

Mr William Ford Danby died 27 October 1884. Buried at Shortland Cemetery, Thames.

Below: Obituary from New Zealand Herald, 30 October 1884, Page 6