Myer Is Melbourne

The Myer Melbourne re-development

Myer is built on a retail history that spans over 100 years and includes some of the most successful family names in the Australian retailing industry.

The Myer history began in 1899 with the arrival in Australia of a penniless Russian immigrant by the name of Sidney Myer.

Joined by his brother Elcon, who had also immigrated to Australia, Sidney opened the first Myer Drapery Store in Bendigo, Victoria in 1900. Equipped with the knowledge he had gained from his mother ‘s drapery business in his native Russia, the Bendigo store prospered and in 1908 they opened a second store in the thriving country town.

In 1911 Sidney bought a drapery store in Bourke Street, Melbourne. It was at this point that the retail business as Australia knew it began to change dramatically. Mass buying, aggressive selling and powerful advertising was introduced into the retail environment. Previously unheard of full-page advertisements of bargain sales, impressive window displays and huge crowds were commonplace at Myer.

Sidney Myer continued to purchase properties on either side of his Bourke Street establishment and by 1914 the Bourke Street building was eight stories high, becoming the largest retail outlet in the country. In fact, the public was so impressed by the sheer size of the building that when referring to people who were considered unreserved or boisterous they coined the now familiar catchphrase – ‘You’ve got more front than Myer’s’.

After successfully establishing his Melbourne Myer Emporium, Sidney began his national expansion of the business setting up stores first in Adelaide and then later across Australia.