George Coles (entrepreneur)

George Coles
Born	28 March 1885 Jung Jung, Victoria (now Jung, between Horsham and Murtoa)
Died	4 December 1977
Nationality	Australian
Occupation	Businessman
Parent(s)	George W. Coles Elizabeth Mary (Scouler) Coles

Sir George James Coles, CBE (28 March 1885 – 4 December 1977) was an Australian entrepreneur. He was the founder of what was to become the Coles Group shopping empire, at one time the largest chain store group in Australia.

Born in Jung Jung, Victoria (now Jung, between Horsham and Murtoa) to shopkeeper George W. Coles (died 1932) and Elizabeth Mary Coles (née Scouler) (died 1900), the first of ten children; he was educated at Beechworth College. His mother died following the birth of her eleventh child in 1900.

His father married Ann Cameron "Annie" Topp of Buninyong on 20 August 1902 and sold his shop, measuring 20 by 18 feet (6.1 m × 5.5 m), in the Victorian country town of St James to eldest son George in 1910 for £4500, he then moved to Wilmot, Tasmania (around 30 km south of Ulverstone), where he opened yet another shop.

In 1914, with brothers Jim and Arthur and capital of £2000, he opened his first shop in Smith Street, Collingwood with the slogan "Nothing over a shilling", which in the early 1930s became "Nothing over 2/6d"

Brother Arthur enlisted with the AIF shortly after Australia joined the "Great War" (World War I). He was twice wounded and was repatriated in 1916. George enlisted with the 60th Battalion of the AIF in March 1917. Brothers Jim and David were killed during the conflict. Their uncle Jim helped manage the store during their absences.

In 1924 they opened the store at Deva House, Bourke Street, Melbourne. Brothers Edgar, Kenneth and Norman had joined the Company.

In 1927 they had nine stores, all in Victoria. In that year they first offered shares to the public.

In 1938 G. J. Coles & Co. Ltd. had 86 stores across Australia and 168 in 1953.

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