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Lawrey's Store, Kirwee
Description
NameLawrey's Store, Kirwee
DescriptionJohn Nicholas Lawrey (1850 - 1931) was the owner of J. N. Lawrey's Store in Kirwee, which opened in 1855. The son of Springston farmer Francis Lawrey, John also owned the flour mill and the hall in Adelaide Road at Kirwee. His shop sold everything, including petrol, and also had an adjacent bakehouse, with cottages attached.
John's wife Catherine Louisa (known as Louise) (nee Hitchens) (1866 - 1948) was extremely capable, and she ran the store with her brother.
John and Louise had three sons - John Francis (Frank) Lawrey (1886 - 1960) Albert Charles (Charlie) Lawrey (1888 - 1975), and Herbert Millett Lawrey (1897 - 1966).
Frank, who took over the store from his father, served in WW1 with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the 33rd Reinforcements, Auckland Infantry Regiment, A Company.
Frank married Lilian Helen Carmichael Sloane in 1917. After Lilian died in childbirth in 1929, Louise Lawrey returned to the shop to run it, until she died in 1948. Frank and Lilian had two children, John Strathearn Lawrey (1920 - 2004), and Nancy Frances Lawrey (later Calder)(1918 - 2022).
John Strathearn married Annie Calder (1922-1906) (no relation to Nancy's husband George Gordon Calder) in 1942, and they had three sons, Graham, Malcolm and Strathearn.
John and Annie sold the store to Jack Blamires: it was then leased to Grocer's United Stores (G.U.S.). the parent company of Independent Grocer's Alliance (I.G.A.) chain of grocery stores.
DescriptionJohn Nicholas Lawrey (1850 - 1931) was the owner of J. N. Lawrey's Store in Kirwee, which opened in 1855. The son of Springston farmer Francis Lawrey, John also owned the flour mill and the hall in Adelaide Road at Kirwee. His shop sold everything, including petrol, and also had an adjacent bakehouse, with cottages attached.John's wife Catherine Louisa (known as Louise) (nee Hitchens) (1866 - 1948) was extremely capable, and she ran the store with her brother.
John and Louise had three sons - John Francis (Frank) Lawrey (1886 - 1960) Albert Charles (Charlie) Lawrey (1888 - 1975), and Herbert Millett Lawrey (1897 - 1966).
Frank, who took over the store from his father, served in WW1 with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the 33rd Reinforcements, Auckland Infantry Regiment, A Company.
Frank married Lilian Helen Carmichael Sloane in 1917. After Lilian died in childbirth in 1929, Louise Lawrey returned to the shop to run it, until she died in 1948. Frank and Lilian had two children, John Strathearn Lawrey (1920 - 2004), and Nancy Frances Lawrey (later Calder)(1918 - 2022).
John Strathearn married Annie Calder (1922-1906) (no relation to Nancy's husband George Gordon Calder) in 1942, and they had three sons, Graham, Malcolm and Strathearn.
John and Annie sold the store to Jack Blamires: it was then leased to Grocer's United Stores (G.U.S.). the parent company of Independent Grocer's Alliance (I.G.A.) chain of grocery stores.
Image
Lawrey's Store, Kirwee. Selwyn Stories, accessed 18/03/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6904
