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Dimmeys is an Australian discount department store chain. Founded as a gold-rush era drapery "Dimelow & Gaylard's", in rural Maryborough, the business became colloquially known as 'Dimmeys'. In the early 1900s the business name was changed. Over the last few decades the chain evolved from larger traditional Department stores to smaller 'bargain stores' in more locations. As at 2014 the business has more than 40 stores spread across eastern and southern Australia.〔(The Age. 17 December 2013 ) "Dimmeys to go into administration after $3m product safety fine". (Retrieved 7 Mar 2014.)〕 == History == In 1898 the Maryborough business Dimelow & Gaylard purchased an existing drapery business, established in 1853 by Joseph Britten, at a Swan Street, Richmond premises built in 1878.〔(Heritage Victoria ) Victorian Heritage Database. Victorian Heritage Register Number H2184 (Retrieved 7 Mar 2014.)〕 In 1904 the business was acquired in turn by John Jeffery. The Swan St store was extensively damaged in a fire in 1906, though it continued to trade until it was rebuilt entirely in 1907. As part of a 1910 extension the building was topped with a distinctive clock tower, featuring a globe with red glass panels that were internally illuminated after dark, making it visible for several miles. At this time Jeffery also changed the business name to Dimmeys Model Stores, to reflect its high-fashion status. The tower became a landmark in Richmond, and images of it were incorporated into the company logo and marketing. In 1939 the Second World War blackout restrictions meant that the globe could not be illuminated, and as the glass windows had deteriorated they were replaced with copper panels. The store sold a variety of merchandise on the ground floor, and on the first floor were workshops and the mail order service for regional customers. During the 1930s Depression the store began to focus on quality goods at reduced prices. In the post-war period it ceased manufacturing and became a 'bargain store'. The Swan Street premises is listed as having "architectural and historical significance to the state of Victoria" with Heritage Victoria.〔 Dimmeys bought out competitor Forges in 1978, and traded as "Dimmeys & Forges". Forge's was a large retail site operating in the Melbourne suburb of Footscray. The Forges location was sold off to developers in 2009,〔(WA Today. July 14 2009 ) "No discount in sale of Forges landmark" (Retrieved 7 Mar 2014.)〕 and the '& Forge's' was dropped from the business name. The company collapsed in 1996 with A$27million of debts rendering it insolvent and was sold to a consortium, headed by Doug Zapelli.〔(Fairfax Media Archives ) (Retrieved 7 Mar 2014.)〕 In 1997 the Swan Street store's clock-tower and globe was ranked first in The Age newspaper's 'Melbourne Icons' series.〔 The business was the subject of a 2007 book "Dimmeys of Richmond: The rise and fall of a family business" by historian Dr Samuel Furphy.〔(Australian National University ) Reserchers' Publications. (Retrieved 7 Mar 2014.)〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Dimmeys」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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