OBJECT TITLE / NAME

Somers. Fire at the Palm Beach Store in Alexandra Avenue near the present Yacht Club location.

MEDIAImage

PHOTOGRAPHERRod Nuske, photographer for Westernport News in the 1960s and 1970s.

COLLECTIONBalnarring and District Historical Society

REG NO.P1831

HISTORY

Somers
Fire at the Palm Beach Store in Alexasndra Avenue near the present Yacht Club location.
The Store building was run as a cafe called ‘The Driftaway’ or ‘Drift Inn’. It had fish nets hung on its walls and rush matting on the floor.
Thieves broke in and dropped a caandle wich set light to the matting. The dog woke up the residentsGeoff and Judy Reynolds and mother Ida Reynolds. They escaped the fire but the store had to be demolished.
Later, a remaining shed on the site was turned into ‘Patsy’s Pantry’ by Conrad Wood. Conrad and his wife Patsy sold sweets and ice cream from there. Later Conrad’s father Frank took this role.

DESCRIPTION

A burned out interior being inspected by three men (one wearing a safety helmet) and two adolescent boys looking on.

SUBJECTS

Firefighters, Shops

KEYWORDS

Alexandra Avenue, Drift Inn, Driftway, Firefighters Nuske, Rod, Patsy’s Pantry, Reynolds Conrad, Reynolds Frank, Reynolds Ida, Reynolds Judy, Shops, Somers