Malcolm Reid

Malcolm Donald Reid (1857 – 16 March 1933) was a South Australian timber merchant and businessman, founder of several furniture stores that bore his name.

Malcolm Donald Reid was born in Adelaide to John Harper Reid (c. 1829 – 25 September 1891) and Bridget Reid, née Carragher ( –1882) who married in 1852. John arrived in SA c. 1849, possibly aboard Competitor, October 1848. Bridget may have been one of two servants (with sister Ellen who married Edward Fowler in 1852) who are thought to have arrived on Mary Clarke in July 1849. He has been reported as receiving his education at Martin Allen's Port Adelaide Academy, but this may be a confusion with McLaughlin's school of the same name in Dale Street. His first job was as a clerk with D. & J. Fowler, then with a local builder, which gave him an insight into the timber business. When the discovery of silver at Broken Hill became known, Reid lost no time in establishing a timber business there, counting on the vast requirement for shoring timbers such a mine would require, as well as the sheds, businesses and houses that would soon be built. He later opened a furniture shop, presumably to cater for the influx of the young married couples settling in the town.

He established a timber business on St. Vincent Street, Port Adelaide late in 1882, which with James Thomas Russell became Russell, Reid & Dickson. This company was dissolved in 1887 and Henry Emes taken on as partner, Emes retiring in December 1890.

In 1892 he took over the premises previously operated by C. Segar at 148 Rundle Street as a furniture showroom, specialising in better-quality English and Australian-made furniture. The shop was later described as "next door to Foy & Gibson's".

The business was reformed as Malcolm Reid & Co. Ltd. in 1911.

They opened a store in Bourke Street, Melbourne in 1936.

Their store in King William Street was taken over in 1947 by a new home furnishing company, Reid's Ltd, of which Malcolm Reid & Co. Ltd. owned all ordinary shares. In 1950 a one-for-one issue of bonus shares was made to Malcolm Reid & Co. Ltd., realizing a substantial book profit. In 1951 a new company, Malcolm Reid and Co. (Vic.) Pty. Ltd., was floated, and purchased the Victorian assets from Malcolm Reid & Co. Ltd.

Reid was elected councillor for the Adelaide City Council, and was nominated for mayor in 1897, but was beaten by Arthur Ware.

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