United Retail Federation
Encyclopedia
The United Retail Federation is an industrial organisation of employers and one of Australia
's oldest. It traces its origins to Grocers Associations in 1887. It has exercised an influence on Australian Governments and public policy since federation
.
. The Committee were meeting regularly every 3rd Tuesday of the month and employed a Secretary to manage the affairs of the 'subscribers'.
The Association grew quickly and by November 1889 had become the Brisbane Traders Association - a name change brought about by the growing diversity of its 'subscribers'. The Annual Report of 17 October 1898 shows 274 names on the members roll. Prominent traders on the list of members included Allan & Stark, T.C. Beirne and Overell & Coy.
.
In 1910 The Brisbane Trader's Association Annual Report shows several affiliated bodies covering a total of 215 firms in addition to the normal membership.
They were:-
•The Brisbane Grocers (84 firms)
•The Brisbane Drapers (15 firms)
•The Master Butchers (42 firms)
•The Brisbane Tobacconists (47 firms)
The first issue of "The Queensland Grocer" was printed in January 1923. By this time the Association had moved to larger premises in Commerce House Adelaide Street.
The first meeting of the Queensland Grocers Association took place in the rooms of the Brisbane Traders Association on 16 July 1924 and was attended by representatives of the Brisbane Grocers Association and the Brisbane & Suburban Shopkeepers Association who, while still operating as independent bodies, formed the nucleus of the QGA.
In May 1925, the Queensland Grocers Association affiliated with the Federation of Retail Grocers Associations of Australia.
In 1933, the Brisbane & Suburban Shopkeepers Association became the Queensland Shopkeepers Association. On 8 November 1933 "The Queensland Retailer" was first published - as a result of a name change from "The Queensland Grocer" to better reflect the growing diversity of membership. This title is still going strong today, as our monthly magazine (now known as the "Australian Retailer") which is now distributed across the country.
During the second World War the Association was an integral part of the war effort and involved on many committees covering every aspect that may have affected retail eg. Rationing, blackouts, manpower, regulated pricing. It was in 1943 during the depths of war that the first State Conference was held in Rockhampton. That conference went on to become known as GREATA, and continued for over 50 years, until 1996.
The Association's name was changed once again in April 1954 to "The Queensland Retail Traders Association (of Grocers, Drapers and General Stores)".
. Many of the records were water damaged, and the Federation still has the plaque showing the level of water which swept through the building - 5 feet high.
May 1975 "The Queensland Shopkeeper" and the "Retailer of Queensland" merged to become the official journal for both the Queensland Shopkeepers Association and the Queensland Retail Traders Association.
On 31 January 1978, the Queensland Retail Traders Association and the Queensland Shopkeepers Association merged to become the Queensland Retail Traders and Shopkeepers Association.
In June 1987, QRTSA celebrated it's Centenary - as part of this celebration, the Association moved offices to its current location in Kelvin Grove.
In 2010 under the Presidency of Scott Driscoll
, the organisation re-branded as the United Retail Federation to reflect the membership having spread across all states of Australia and the scope of activities of the organisation being on a truly national basis. The official website of the United Retail Federation states that throughout its history its objective has been to protect and advocate for independent retailers, lobby all levels of government on their behalf and help them in their day to day business operations as much as possible.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's oldest. It traces its origins to Grocers Associations in 1887. It has exercised an influence on Australian Governments and public policy since federation
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
.
History
The origins of United Retail Federation can be traced back to a meeting held 29 June 1887 at which it was proposed to establish a Grocers Association. By August of the same year the Brisbane Grocers Association had established offices in the Hunter's Treasury Buildings in George Street, BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. The Committee were meeting regularly every 3rd Tuesday of the month and employed a Secretary to manage the affairs of the 'subscribers'.
The Association grew quickly and by November 1889 had become the Brisbane Traders Association - a name change brought about by the growing diversity of its 'subscribers'. The Annual Report of 17 October 1898 shows 274 names on the members roll. Prominent traders on the list of members included Allan & Stark, T.C. Beirne and Overell & Coy.
1900 - 1940
In July 1901 the Association moved to new offices in the Darragh's Building in Queen Street. By this time reports of the quarterly meetings were being printed in the Courier MailThe Courier-Mail
The Courier-Mail is a daily newspaper published in Brisbane, Australia. Owned by News Limited, it is published daily from Monday to Saturday in tabloid format. Its editorial offices are located at Bowen Hills, in Brisbane's inner northern suburbs, and it is printed at Murarrie, in Brisbane's...
.
In 1910 The Brisbane Trader's Association Annual Report shows several affiliated bodies covering a total of 215 firms in addition to the normal membership.
They were:-
•The Brisbane Grocers (84 firms)
•The Brisbane Drapers (15 firms)
•The Master Butchers (42 firms)
•The Brisbane Tobacconists (47 firms)
The first issue of "The Queensland Grocer" was printed in January 1923. By this time the Association had moved to larger premises in Commerce House Adelaide Street.
The first meeting of the Queensland Grocers Association took place in the rooms of the Brisbane Traders Association on 16 July 1924 and was attended by representatives of the Brisbane Grocers Association and the Brisbane & Suburban Shopkeepers Association who, while still operating as independent bodies, formed the nucleus of the QGA.
In May 1925, the Queensland Grocers Association affiliated with the Federation of Retail Grocers Associations of Australia.
In 1933, the Brisbane & Suburban Shopkeepers Association became the Queensland Shopkeepers Association. On 8 November 1933 "The Queensland Retailer" was first published - as a result of a name change from "The Queensland Grocer" to better reflect the growing diversity of membership. This title is still going strong today, as our monthly magazine (now known as the "Australian Retailer") which is now distributed across the country.
1940 - 1970
At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the members of the Queensland Grocers Association held at the registered offices, 3rd Floor, Commerce House, Adelaide Street on Thursday 10 December 1942, the resolution to change the name from Queensland Grocers Association to Queensland Grocers and Retail Traders Association was unanimously adopted.During the second World War the Association was an integral part of the war effort and involved on many committees covering every aspect that may have affected retail eg. Rationing, blackouts, manpower, regulated pricing. It was in 1943 during the depths of war that the first State Conference was held in Rockhampton. That conference went on to become known as GREATA, and continued for over 50 years, until 1996.
The Association's name was changed once again in April 1954 to "The Queensland Retail Traders Association (of Grocers, Drapers and General Stores)".
Modern Times
On 26 January 1974 the Association offices at Buchanan St, West End were flooded in the 1974 Brisbane Flood1974 Brisbane flood
The 1974 Brisbane flood occurred in January 1974 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, when waterways in the city experienced significant flooding...
. Many of the records were water damaged, and the Federation still has the plaque showing the level of water which swept through the building - 5 feet high.
May 1975 "The Queensland Shopkeeper" and the "Retailer of Queensland" merged to become the official journal for both the Queensland Shopkeepers Association and the Queensland Retail Traders Association.
On 31 January 1978, the Queensland Retail Traders Association and the Queensland Shopkeepers Association merged to become the Queensland Retail Traders and Shopkeepers Association.
In June 1987, QRTSA celebrated it's Centenary - as part of this celebration, the Association moved offices to its current location in Kelvin Grove.
In 2010 under the Presidency of Scott Driscoll
Scott Driscoll
Scott Driscoll is the National President of the United Retail Federation, which is a high profile peak Australian retail industry organisation....
, the organisation re-branded as the United Retail Federation to reflect the membership having spread across all states of Australia and the scope of activities of the organisation being on a truly national basis. The official website of the United Retail Federation states that throughout its history its objective has been to protect and advocate for independent retailers, lobby all levels of government on their behalf and help them in their day to day business operations as much as possible.