(Material researched & presented by Barbara Armstrong)

George Pleasance’s pharmacy 81 Chapel Street,  Prahran was originally a subsidiary of Martin & Co., and was established in 1878.

The 1884 edition of the Sands and McDougall’s Melbourne and Suburban Directory listed George Pleasance as running a homœopathic chemist shop at 81 Chapel Street Prahran, on the west side between Commercial Road and High Street. He also operated from 8 High Street, St Kilda. In the 1892 edition of the Directory his business address was 249 Chapel Street (the same location as previously, but re-numbered).

Alexander Sutherland, in his book Victoria and Its Metropolis Past and Present, published in 1888, recorded that George Pleasance’s business was established as a branch of Martin and Co (ie. Martin and Pleasance), but was purchased by George Pleasance in 1879. He had been an assistant with Martin and Co for a number of years, but then “commenced business on his own account”.

© Barbara Armstrong