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Seven generations have shared pride in Austins'
magnificent department store, the first of its kind in
anywhere in the world. The story began away back in 1830.
Then, just six years before the catastrophic famine, the
population of Ireland was twice what it is today.
In politics, Daniel O'Connell was campaigning for repeal
of the Act of Union. And here, Thomas Austin moved to
the city from Limavady to start his drapery business in
the Diamond. His son George joined him in 1865 and in
his time the flamboyant and imaginative building we have
today was built between 1904 and 1907 after the original
was destroyed by fire.
The new building was created to the bold design of brilliant
architect, Matthew Robinson, who had earlier designed
Rosemount factory. Later, he reconstructed the Guildhall,
designed Craigavon Bridge and secured the city's water
supply building Banagher Dam. But it was in Austins that
Robinson fully expressed his creativity with its conglomeration
of large windows, columns, pedestals, balconies and copper
roofed cupola.
It is a remarkable design, untypical of restrained Edwardian
buildings, and makes the most of its wonderful corner
site. Inside, the main feature was an open well running
through the floors, topped with a fine glass atrium. Altogether,
it was an impressive and elaborate structure built in
the Titanic age of great optimism, as the country's first
purpose-built department store.
Down the generations Austins has been entwined with the
lives of the Austin and Hasson families and countless
others who have worked or shopped there. When George Austin
died his son Glover ran the business until he handed over
to his sons Claude and Campbell. But tragedy was to strike
the family in August 1973. Then, Claude set off with two
crewmen to sail from Lough Swilly to the Solent for Cowes
regatta. All three were lost in a sudden storm and only
one body has ever been found. Claude's untimely death
led to the end of the Austin dynasty's control of the
store, and on St Patrick's Day 1976 the business was sold
to the Hasson family.
This was remarkable as it was also on March 17, precisely
23 years earlier that Larry Hasson and his wife opened
their first shop in Carlisle Road. Later they opened three
more shops in Ferryquay Street and their success enabled
them, when the opportunity arose, to buy one of the country's
finest department stores. Now, in his fiftieth year in
business here, company chairman Larry Hasson - well known
as a gifted singer - is still active, with his sons Managing
Director Luke and Financial Director Declan.
Down the years Austins has also had a large 'family' of
loyal staff. In the 1930s, staff and apprentices lived
in a dormitory above McKinlays in the Diamond, which was
owned by Austins. Apprentices came from all over Ireland
to learn their trade in the North West's most prestigious
store. Although they lived free of charge they were unpaid
and in most cases their parents even had to pay a premium
for their training.
Ruby Wilson who has worked for Austins from 1964 -
2004 remembers the open well with its fine glass atrium,
the original lift and compressed air cash transit system.
Just as Harrods is associated with London, so Austins
is part of our history and this was recognised when Hassons
retained the famous name.
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