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Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Sir George Coles

Coles Supermarkets headquarters in Hawthorn East, Victoria by Unknown Arthur

Sir George James G. J Coles, CBE was an Australian entrepreneur. He was the founder of what was to become the Coles Group retail shopping empire.

 The Coles Group retail shopping Empire is a large chain store group in Australia. In Australia, BI-LO was established by John Weekes in Adelaide during the late 1970s.

It is a major supermarket chain owned and operated by retail giant Coles Group in parallel to Coles Supermarkets.

Coles was at various times a President of the Rotary Club and Warden of St John’s Anglican Church, Toorak.

He was for 14 years Foundation President of the Institute of Public Affairs and for 22 years a Director of the National Australasia Bank.

1. The amazing Coles Group retail shopping empire was opened in Melbourne Suburb

In 1960, the first supermarket was opened in Melbourne suburb, North Balwyn and in 1973, a Coles store had been established in all capital cities of the country.

Coles, on the other hand, was by this time primarily a manufacturer, whose prosperity as a producer of a consumer.

Coles Group Limited is an Australian public company operating several retail chains. Its chief operations are primarily concerned with the sale of food and groceries

Through its flagship supermarket chain Coles Supermarkets, and the sale of liquor and petrol through its Coles Liquor and Coles Express outlets.

Since its foundation in Collingwood, Victoria in 1914, Coles has grown to become the second-largest retailer in Australia after its principal rival Woolworths in terms of revenue.

2. Sir George amazingly fought in France as a lance corporal in the 60^th Battalion

Enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force on 18 June 1917, George fought in France as a lance corporal in the 60^th Battalion.

In April 1918 at Villers-Bretonneux he was shot in the knee and evacuated to England. He was discharged on 1 March 1919 in Melbourne.

His brothers Arthur, Jim, and David had also served in the A.I.F, Jim was killed in action and David died from wounds.

After the war, George and Arthur sold their store to an uncle and in June 1919 opened another in larger premises on Smith Street.

3. The exquisite Kmart Australia was born from a joint venture between G.J Coles and Coy Kmart

Kmart Eastland Melbourne by Mr. Stan Zemanek/

Kmart Australia Limited was born out of a joint venture between G.J Coles and Coy Kmart Corporation in the US.

In 1978 Coles acquired full ownership of the Australian K-Mart operation and in 1994 bought back all shares Kmart Corporation held in Coles Myer.

A long-term licensing agreement allows Coles Group to use the Kmart name. Kmart New Zealand shares merchandise and branding with Kmart Australia.

The first Kmart store opened in Burwood East a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria on 30 April 1969 with an estimated 40,000 people passing through the checkouts.

The store was opened by Mrs. HB Cunningham, wife of the president and chairman of the S.S. Kresge Company.

The doors had been closed 45 minutes after opening as a safety measure. The site was renovated in 2010 to be a shopping mall known as Burwood One.

4. Astonishingly Coles was in the government his great measure was free education

Coles had observed the benefits of state-paid education and had been told by former Islanders of the disadvantages they faced without at least primary education.

The obtaining of responsible government, which Coles supported, dominated the late 1840s and thrust him into the forefront of Island politics.

The first great measure of Coles’ government was the Free Education Act of 1852. A visit to Massachusetts and Ohio in the autumn of 1848.

With the act, the Island became the first Maritime colony in which the government paid the entire salaries of district school teachers.

Coles and his party remained in power until 1859, with the exception of some six months in 1854

5. Sir George was a remarkable Christian he was ardent and generous leaving a legacy

bible by Kiwihug/

George Coles was an ardent and generous Christian, He paid for Billy Graham’s crusade to be publicly broadcast across the nation in the early days of television.

He enabled the Brotherhood of St Laurence to set up a retirement village at Seaford by purchasing the land for them.

He financially supported Christian Education in public and government schools. He helped fund a hall at his local church and assisted many charities and societies.

Although he loved the Bible, the quote that he most often wrote at the back of his diaries was: It is a sad day when a man sits down and tries to make money without earning it.

He was a hard worker who reaped the reward of his labor, he left a legacy in Australia with the Coles retail outlets.

6. Sir George was interestingly appointed C.B.E and knighted 

Queen’s College, the University of Melbourne by Gracchus/Wikimedia Commons

Appointed C.B.E. in 1942, Coles was knighted in 1957 in recognition of his charitable activities.

In his later years, he gave money for building the Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine, which opened at the University of Melbourne in 1963.

The Florey has undergone many changes over the years – in name and focus. Originally named the Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine.

It has also been affectionately known as the Sheep Hilton by the few Melburnians who knew a flock of merino sheep was housed in the original building in Parkville on the edge of the city.

7. Sir George astonishingly was the president of the Melbourne Rotary Club

In 1934 George had become president of the Melbourne Rotary Club, Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors.

Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary members have used their passion.

 From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

8. The famous Sir George Coles is the second of ten children born to George Coles 

family by Tyler Nix/

Sir George James Coles, businessman, and philanthropist was born on 28 March 1885 at Jung Jung, near Murtoa, Victoria, the second of ten children.

He is the eldest son of George Coles, storekeeper, and his first wife Elizabeth, née Scoular, both Victorian born.

The family moved frequently, establishing several stores; George was educated at various state schools and as a boarder at Beechworth College.

9. Sir George two brothers Jim Coles and Sir Arthur died in World War III

James Scouler Jim Coles was educated at Geelong College, helped brother George with his first store, and joined the AIF in August 1915.

He served in France with the 4th Field Artillery Brigade during World War I and was killed in action.

Sir Arthur William “A.W.” Coles Australian politician joined the 6th Battalion in August 1914. He was twice wounded in action and was repatriated in 1916.

10. The famous Sir George died in 1977 survived by his wife, son, and three daughters

Survived by his wife, son, and three daughters, Sir George died on 4 December 1977 at his Toorak home and was cremated.

His estate was sworn for probate at $986,486. The family business continued to expand, forming a partnership in 1968 with an American company in the establishment of K-Mart Ltd.