Sweet spot: Marshall's Corner, circa 1996. Source: GMV 6 advert
I have very fond childhood memories of my local milk bar in Maryborough, which was a short walk from my home. It was my go-to place to get lollies, and I remember standing at the lolly counter and asking the patient lady for one of those and two of them, with many pauses from trying to decide how to spend my hard-earned money from selling newspapers. My favourites were liquorice blocks, mates and bubble gum (Hubba Bubba).
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Shepparton has had many milk bars over the years, and my kids also loved to visit the milk bar closest to where we lived to spend their hard-earned money on lollies.
It’s sad to see the demise of milk bars over the years due to the introduction of supermarkets and their enormous buying power, and being able to sell items much cheaper than the family-run businesses. Thankfully we still have a few left. ~ Geoff Allemand.
Don Kilgour wrote up a short history of Shepparton milk bars for me a few years back, which I have found very useful:
“Milk bars have played an important role in the development of Shepparton. The central business district has had a plethora of milk bars over the years but they have often been a part of a larger business. As Shepparton expanded, milk bars were developed as a vital part of each new neighbourhood. Operating a milk bar was hard work, as they were open seven days per week and most of them opened at between 6am and 8am each morning to sell papers and milk, and stayed open until 8pm or 9pm. Most operators stayed in the business for two or three years and then moved on. Some, however, had enough trade to pay staff to give the owners a break. Generally those who paid staff stayed a lot longer than others.
Why ‘milk’ bars?
Milk was an important staple diet and local dairies delivered milk to homes in the city. However, if you needed milk or didn’t have it home delivered, you had to go to a milk bar. Milk was packaged in returnable glass bottles, which were returned to the place of purchase to be sent back to the dairy to be refilled.
Milk bars usually had their main counter area as a refrigerated unit with round cylinders built into it to hold bulk milk. The operator would ladle the milk out and tip it into an aluminium container. Flavouring and ice-cream would be added before the milk would be whisked to make a milkshake. Milkshakes were a major seller in all milk bars.
Lolly shops
Most milk bars had a shelf loaded with large jars of lollies, which would be counted into small white paper bags. Kids loved to spend a few pennies on their favourite lollies. The lunchtime trade saw many rounds of sandwiches sold, particularly in the summer time, while in winter the hot pies were sold in abundance.
Supermarkets take over
The people loved supermarket shopping with the family at weekends; therefore, sales of milk and other grocery items at milk bars gradually fell away as time progressed. Some milk bars became lunch and smoko shops to try to stay in business, but many could not continue for long and eventually closed their doors.
The most popular milk bars in Shepparton over many years were on the outskirts of the CBD. The top two were Marshall’s Corner and the Lake Milk Bar run by Laurie and Lorraine Phillips.
The Marshall’s Corner Milk Bar was situated on the north-east corner of the Wyndham St and Knight St intersection, and the Marshall family operated the shop for many years. They treated their customers well and ran a successful business. Son Harry Marshall conducted a gun shop at the far end of the building.”
Lost Shepparton Facebook memories:
Elaine Lenon
I remember the Marshall family that this was named after, as it was our corner shop in the ’50s.
Ann Mallamaci
I had the Stuart Smallgoods sign painted on the wall back in 1985 when I owned the shop. Great memories.
Writing’s on the wall: Marshall’s Corner wall in 2013. Source: Geoff Allemand
Paul Schloeffel
Marshall’s Corner was our ‘oasis’ as kids. What an institution! Regrettably, I have not returned to Shepp for many moons and wonder if it’s still in business.
Rosalee Firth
I worked at Marshall’s Corner in the ’70s, we sold everything!
Audrey Foster
This was my favourite store in Shepparton in the ’60s. They served the best soft serve ice creams around. Gee whizz I miss Shepp.
Suzy Cheshire
That’s amazing. Have so many memories of them. Loved that shop. Such an integral part of my childhood. They’ve bricked up the side door ... went there every day. Remember Mrs Marshall ... and Harry.
Judith Collier
I used to work there with the Lucas family. I liked the name Marshall that much I called my son Marshall.
