Angus and Robertson: Collins St
Business in Melbourne

The Angus & Robertson story began in February 1882, when a young Scotsman named George Robertson started work at a Sydney bookshop just four days after arriving in Australia. All Borders bookstores in Australia were closed, co-incidently, which, reflected the fate of the Borders brand in other parts of the world. The A&R bricks and mortar stores were either sold off, closed or became independent bookstores. In what was regarded to be a challenging year for retail worldwide, 2011 saw RedGroup Retail go into administration, which simultaneously ended and began chapters in the Angus & Robertson story. In 2009 PEP purchased Borders in Australia and New Zealand and the 3 brands came together under the parent company RedGroup Retail. In 2001, WHSmith PLC, a large UK based retailer, purchased A&R. In 2004 A&R and then sister company Whitcoulls in New Zealand changed hands again when they were acquired from WHSmith by the Australian Investment company Pacific Equity Partners (PEP). The next twenty years brought growth as well as more ownership changes, New Zealand's dominant book retailer, including a merger with Bookworld in 1990 and purchases by Whitcoulls Group Ltd, in 1993 and Blue Star Group in 1996. In 1980 the A&R flagship store in Pitt Street Mall, Sydney commenced trading. With this expansion came an enhanced national marketing presence reinforcing A&R as the country's only national bookselling chain. In 1977 the first franchise was opened at Hurstville in Sydney, and by July of that year the company had opened eighteen new franchised bookshops around the country. At this time A&R publishing and A&R retail, became separate companies. From as early as 1969 an emerging global economy and international competition placed pressure on the profits of A&R. As a result the company went through some major restructures and successive owners, including IPEC in 1976 and Gordon & Gotch in 1978. It became Australia's first nationwide chain of associated bookshops. In this period of growth A&R continued to acquire large and established retail bookstores in the major state capitals and in some regional centres. In 1938 A&R opened a publishing office in London, and in 1951 a store was established in Australia's High Commission in London that was to operate for the next twenty years. He had been a dominating figure in the Australian book world and was held in high esteem by all that knew and worked with him. Walter Cousins, the new Managing Director, spearheaded the growth of the company into international bookselling. The end of an era came in 1933 when George Robertson died. Over the next thirty years A&R continued as booksellers and stationers. George Robertson continued the business, and in 1907 the partnership was converted into a public company - Angus & Robertson Limited. In 1900 David Angus, retired from the partnership to England, plagued by ill health, where he was to die soon after. The firm played a central role in the development of uniquely Australian literature and published many classics by authors including Banjo Patterson, May Gibbs, Henry Lawson, Norman Lindsay and CJ Dennis. From these early days of the business A&R was involved in publishing as well as bookselling. It was to be head office for the next sixty years and at one stage was known as "the biggest bookshop in the world". By 1895 the partners transferred to a new address - 89 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. In January 1886 the firm of Angus & Robertson came into being when George Robertson invested his savings of £15 and joined in partnership with David Angus. From this humble start, David Angus established an enterprise that was to grow in size and influence far beyond his conservative expectations. Eleven months later, David Angus joined the team but after two years decided to branch out on his own. In 1884 he opened his first store in tiny premises at 110 Market Street, fellow Scot, Sydney. The Whitcoulls and Borders New Zealand o