“Bet’ya didn’t sell dynamite”.
“Yes we did, sonny.”
Ric Enright was telling a group of youngsters that Enright’s Store sold everything!
When Irish migrant, Michael Enright opened his small general store in Beaudesert in 1884 he never dreamed it would become one of the largest country stores in Australia with 29 departments servicing the people of Beaudesert and surrounding districts.
In 1965 Enright’s acted as a bank on Saturdays so the townsfolk could access their accounts and deposit or withdraw cash.
This was good for the customers but made Enright’s a target for robberies.
One night two armed men bound the store’s security man and stole thousands of dollars after blowing up the safe.
It was found later that the offenders had bought the dynamite from Enright’s store!
Having such a variety of departments made it quite comfortable for the thieves to withstand the explosion by dragging over a couple of mattresses to dull the blast and to prevent injuries to themselves. The money was never recovered.
Another robbery occurred late one Sunday evening when Philip Enright, dirty and tired after a day on the farm, called into the store.
In the semi darkness he noticed someone lurking amongst the menswear.
Phil stealthily removed a rifle from the display rack and pointed it at the thief while managing to send for help.
When the police arrived, they mistook Phil for the robber and arrested Phil. The account in The Enright Journey, states it was actually gelignite which was sold, being more stable to store than dynamite.
During the Second World War Debutante balls where young ladies were introduced into society were cancelled, but in August 1944 a monster combined Deb Ball was held. Because of lack of dress materials the debutantes were permitted to wear pale blue or pink as well as the traditional white.
Doreen Platt, nee Cawley, bought her material of spotted white curtain net from Enright’s and dressmaker Lily Ferguson made it into a becoming gown.
Yes, sonny, Enright’s sold everything.
