The Andersons of Charles Street were umbrella makers in the 1880s, as were John Moore in Brisbane Street, Ann Gauntlett of York Street and Oswald Castley in Elizabeth Street. Conrad Hemp had his business in St John Street from 1892 to 1905.
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In the 1880s the population in Launceston had grown, providing a good market for imported fashions and accessories. Umbrella makers developed new trends for a more glamorous society than that of the convict years.
Importers purchased working parts and fine fabrics from England and makers assembled the items adding their own finishing touches.
For years timbers were imported for walking sticks and canes but the quality of Tasmanian timbers like fiddleback and blackwood were soon popular.
In 1907 a new business was established at 66 George Street. Robert Walter Shott was one of several family members who came from England to settle in New Zealand, Victoria, Hobart and Launceston.
He moved to 64 George Street the following year offering both ladies’ and gents’ umbrellas in all designs. For the lady, a beautiful silk model, the handle of china with a lady’s portrait hand-painted. For the man, quality silk on a “Star Frame” with ivory handle and silver mounts.
Shott’s specialty umbrella was the ‘automatic frame’; flexible, easy to adjust but impossible to blow inside out in bad weather. Prices ranged from 6s 6d to two and three guineas. Expensive in those days.
Business flourished and the shop moved to 60 George Street. Shott introduced souvenirs in 70 different timbers: boxes for playing cards, book-ends, peppers and salts, desk-sets, mirrors, candlesticks, and many more.
Some of these items made suitable presentation gifts. A blackwood walking stick was given to the Prince of Wales when he visited in 1920.
Robert Walter was joined by his son, Robert Martin and the business became “R. Shott and Son”. When father retired in 1930 Robert M took over. He also had a son, John William Robert and together they continued from 1940 as “R. Shott and Son”. Robert M died in October 1964 leaving John the business.
John had a special interest in local timbers and introduced more into the gift range including she-oak, boobyalla, Huon pine and manfern.
On John’s death in 1978 the shop continued in the care of his sister Dare, co-worker since the late 1940s.
Three generations had maintained their unusual small business for 71 years and their craftsmanship was known Australia-wide.
The little shop is still there, complete with original blackwood fittings, operated by the National Trust, Tasmania.
