The Salinger family of Prussia - parents Herz and Henriette and their seven children Friederike, Nathan, Amalie, Elena, Emmanuel, Minna and Fanny - arrived in Victoria aboard the ship Tornado in August 1858.
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Emmanuel, born in 1836, married Maria Hickey at Pleasant Creek in 1862. At the time they were living at Deep Lead.
One daughter, Elena married Charles Pierlot, a name famous in the wine industry at Great Western.
The current building in Main Street, Great Western was the second constructed by Mr Emmanuel Salinger on the site as a general store. The first was a wooden store built in 1862 and the 1866 Shire records show he paid one pound in rates for the store and dwelling.
In 1899 the wooden building, which at this stage was serving a population of around 450, was moved further back in the block to make way for a new modern brick store and residence.
The Stawell News reported on November 14, 1899 that Mr Salinger had just opened his new store and was showing his wares by means of two large show windows in the building, as it stands today.
Store stock consisted of groceries, drapery, boots and shoes, fancy goods, stationery, grain and animal feed. Mr Salinger was also an agent for the State Savings Bank, State Accident Co., Colonial Mutual Fire Co. and he was an authorised newsagent.
As well as the store, Emmanuel also ran the St Ethels and the Hocheim vineyards on the road to Ararat.
Emmanuel died in 1911 and was buried in the Great Western Cemetery. After his death his daughter Maria Henriette ran the business while brother Henry carted goods to and from the store until he was killed when thrown from a horse in 1939.
The business was sold to the Puls family in 1940 after 78 years in the Salinger family. The business was run by Carmen Puls and she added a cool room bought from Sid Brehaut when he closed his butcher shop.
Carmen ran the business for 18 years before selling to Bessie and Frank McManus in 1958. Mrs Mac was like a mother to everyone in Great Western, but in 1974, after 16 years, Bessie McManus sold the business and it had many owners in the next eight years.
Mrs Meryl Bowers bought the business in 1982, renamed it “The Hermitage” and operated it as an antiques and arts and crafts business.
Mrs Bowers sold it to Mr David McMillan in 2008 and it has operated as Salingers Restaurant since that date. At present it is operated by Great Western Enterprises.
- Stawell Historical Society is open Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10am to 4pm. Contact 5358 3789 or email stawhist@bigpond.com
