The following businesses have previously received Lord Mayor's Commendations.
Regis E. Massett
Year established: 1968
Commendation: Silver
Regis E. Massett immigrated from Mauritius to Melbourne in 1968. Ten years later, after having worked for Jetset in Collins Street, Regis opened his own business in Lonsdale Street. RE Massett & Associates Travel offers flight and accommodation bookings, with a focus on Africa and the South Pacific.
As Regis explains, it is the exceptional service that sets his agency apart. Regis helps his customers fill in immigration forms, conducts the majority of business face-to-face and in most cases meets his clients at the airport to assist with check-in.
Regis loves the agency’s inner-city location for its convenience to clients and airline offices.
Linda Gorringe
Year established: 1995
Commendation: Bronze
Linda’s love of haute couture led to the opening of her own bridal store fifteen years ago. With a striking visual presence at the Elizabeth Street entrance to the Block Arcade, Linda Gorringe Couture caters to local, interstate and international clients.
The business has won multiple fashion and bridal competitions and regularly participates in charity events. As Linda explains, the central location of her store enables it to operate as a retail business where clients can simply walk in and browse, as opposed to a studio that requires appointments.
Linda personally designs the bridal dresses which are then manufactured onsite in the Block Arcade.
Michael Amott
Year established: Late 1880s
Commendation: Generational, Gold and eligible for Silver this year
In the late 1880s, Bob Amott opened a butchers store at the Queen Victoria Market. Forty years later, his son Stan took over the business, who in turn passed it on to his son, Ross.
Having worked at the family butchers now for over 40 years, Ross has passed the store’s management on to his son, Michael, its fourth-generation owner. As Michael explains, there is a wide variety of people that come through the store each week – many of whom are repeat customers. Both he and his father are always pleased to see the same familiar faces back week after week.
Amott Quality Meats has become an institution at the Queen Vic Market, priding itself on fresh produce and friendly service.
Martin Pirc
Year established: 1995
Commendation: Bronze
Martin Pirc has always been passionate about food and hospitality, opening Punch Lane Wine Bar and Restaurant in 1995. The restaurant has been recognised repeatedly in the The Age Good Food Guide.In 2005, Punch Lane’s alfresco dining area (designed by Jack Clements Burrows) received an urban design award at the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Chapter Awards.
As Martin explains, as the City of Melbourne has evolved, so too has Punch Lane, following trends and helping enact change. Martin has worked hard to offer customers unique traits, for example the ability to order cheese by the gram, and also successfully sought a new liquor licence to allow patrons to drink at Punch Lane without first ordering food.
Phillip Tsoi
Year established: 1978
Commendation: Silver
Phillip Tsoi immigrated from China to Melbourne in 1978. He was reunited with his older brother Henry, and opened a store in Melbourne’s Chinatown right next door.
Phillip’s business began as a Chinese take-away food store, but in the 1980s, the Tsoi Trading Company became a retail outlet selling Australian souvenirs to international students.
Today, the business sells mainly abalone, which is especially popular with Asian tourists. Phillip loves working in the city centre, which he explains allows him to chat to the passing parade, and to help Chinese tourists with directions around the city to ensure they see the best of Melbourne.
Kevin and Annette Stanisch
Year established: 1886
Commendation: Generational, Platinum and Gold
The Stanisch family have been in business at the Queen Victoria Market since 1886. Initially the store’s founder, Aaron Tishler, sold second-hand books and spectacles. His son and daughter in-law carried on the tradition and sold trinkets.
Today the store is owned by Aaron’s great grandson, Kevin Stanisch, and his wife Annette who have both now been in business for over 40 years. Their store sells beautiful hand-crafted teddy bears and soft toys.
Over the past decades Kevin and Annette have seen many changes and laugh at the colourful characters, the changing fashions and the weather dilemmas of being out in the open air. Both agree there is greater flexibility to running a store at Queen Victoria Market, and they love the strong sense of camaraderie between the store holders.
Tim Cecil and the Cecil family
Year established: 1890
Commendation: Generational Family Business
Henry Bucks, the well-known Melbourne menswear store is a fifth generational business. The store is now managed by Tim Cecil, great grandson to its founders, Henry and Laura Buck who opened the store in 1890.
Tim’s nephew has now joined the family business. Tim describes the business as offering timeless clothing, with a friendly and welcoming ambience and fantastic service. As Tim explains, while there is always a challenge to ‘win over the next generation’, the store works on reputation, with a strong history of quality and service and many ‘generational’ customers.
The family now own seven stores, including one in New South Wales and one in South Australia.
Alister Reid
Year established: 1999
Commendation: Bronze
Alister’s business began in 1999, with the hope to ‘create dreams and achieve desires.’ Alister classifies the business as a gallery, as opposed to a jewellery store, as he sees its purpose as creating individual pieces of jewellery and finding out what people want, rather than just selling them what’s on the shelf.
The Ken Gray and Alister Reid Gallery is located on Collins Street, and as Alister explains, “it is a place where people love to come and browse”. Most of the pieces are crafted with precious metal and jewels, and many customers choose to bring in their old jewels to ‘reinvent’ them into something new.
Herbert Wiesboeck
Year established: 1968
Commendation: Gold
Herbert Wiesboeck began work at LW Designers in 1968, after moving from Austria to Australia in search of work. He met Kurt Lenk, with whom he shared a 40-year business partnership and developed the flourishing jewellery manufacturing business. Working closely with his son, Herbert’s business thrives on providing handmade, beautifully crafted jewellery which he sells direct to stores in Melbourne.
LW Designers is still located on Collins Street, which, as Herbert explains, is convenient to customers, subcontractors and suppliers. For Herbert, his business is no longer about the money, but about staying active and being part of the hustle and bustle of the city.
Peter Bird and Leon Corn
Year established: 1875 & 1910
Commendation: Generational Family Business
Combined, the Arbrecht and Bird families have spent over 235 years in Melbourne making and selling exquisite jewellery. The Arbrecht family immigrated from Stuttgart to Melbourne in 1871 and opened a wholesale jewellery business in 1875.
The Bird family immigrated from Birmingham in 1883, with John Bird and his son Leigh opening a jewellery store in Bourke street in 1910. The two businesses were ‘friendly competitors’ for almost 80 years before they decided to join forces.
Today, fourth generation owners Peter Bird and Leon Corn carry on the business. Arbrecht and Bird Jewellers design stunning pieces from scratch, dependant on their customers ideas and desires.
Both Peter and Leon explain with satisfaction that many of their customers today are the grandchildren of customers they once designed for.