Allchin's General store

234-236 Plenty Road, Preston

Born in South Australia on 12 June 1852, Edmund Allchin arrived in Preston in 1890 with his wife Amelia and their family. He rented a property at 234-236 Plenty Road and established a general store there. After complaints about the condition of the building went unrectified by the owner, Allchin purchased the building outright and demolished it. A new store was quickly built to replace it. Allchin later opened a drapery store on the opposite side of Plenty Road.

Although a successful local businessman, it was as a Councillor that Allchin stood out. Elected to Preston Council in 1904, he served until his death in 1921. In that time he served three terms as Shire President, 1908-09, 1917-18, and 1918-19. Allchin aided in the acquisition and establishment of the Edwardes Park Lake and was also instrumental in the building of the Preston Library. He died in 1921 although the general store continued until the late 1930s.

Federation Index Victoria 1889-1901 : index to births, deaths and marriages in Victoria [CD-ROM]. (1997). Melbourne, Australia: Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Preston Historical Society (1968). Brief biographies of prominent Preston People. Preston, Vic: Author.

South Australian births: index of registrations 1842-1906 [CD-ROM]. (1997). Adelaide, Australia: South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society.

Victorian Pioneers Index: 1837 – 1888 [CD-ROM]. (1991). Melbourne, Australia: R.M.I.T.