OUTBACK AUSTRALIA ... Back When #39...

.... has been awhile, and thought today a good day to do another in my "Back When" series.

This pic relates to when we decided in 1986 an opportunity arose and we decided on buying a retail business, MAX'S Garden Barn that dated back to the original produce store in Penrith (Max Young & Sons).

They had four produce mills operating at one point in Penrith, and we were the first owners outside of the original Young family. The business had changed over the years in line with the change in society and Penrith changing to a suburb of Sydney, and the business moved to a new location in a business estate just North of Penrith.

We operated the business for 13 years and along the way also acquired the Saddlery section to complement the garden and produce originally purchased.

With the saddlery/produce section we sponsored a lot of horse events (pony club and major eventing shows etc) around the area. My pic today shows one of the jumps sponsored at an eventing show. (see I took pics even back then... lol)  

We had a lot of fun, although the seven day a week business and continued changes to retail with the event of the "mega store" etc saw our turnover/profit get to a point we had no alternative but to close down after attempting to sell for about a year. During that process in the final stages of close down, a customer did step forward and made an offer which we accepted. He only lasted a further two years, and sure it cost him a bit!!!

Have done a collage of a couple of other shots in extra if you wish to look. One pic there, shows a card we received from a customer who visited with friends all the way from Canada.

Enjoy, and have a look in  LARGE