SA Chapter HALL OF FAME

Web: www.barlowshoes.com.au
Web: www.grundysshoes.com.au

In 1868, Thomas Judd sailed to Adelaide from England and opened Judd’s Shoes at 262 Rundle Street. This store traded continuously to 1979.

The second generation, Thomas’s son, Clarence, continued the business as a cobbler. His daughter, Vera, married Stan Whittenbury. She ultimately inherited the business from her father and became the third generation owner. Stan and Vera had four children.

Stan expanded the business by opening the first ladies fashion shoe boutique in Adelaide, Judd’s Shoes, on the corner of Regent Arcade and Rundle Street in the 1920s.  This was a bold move at the time. Traditionally, shoe stores had a cobbler making shoes out the back. This store introduced the latest trends from interstate and overseas. 

Grundy’s Shoes was purchased in the 1920s when the founder decided to sell up and travel. Judd’s Stores at Da Costa Arcade, Glenelg and, in latter years, City Cross and Tea Tree Plaza followed. Stan and Vera’s three boys, Ralph, Len and Vern worked in the business all their lives after their WWII service.

The Whittenbury family further expanded the business when Vern purchased the Barlow Store at 67 Rundle Street in 1961, primarily to gain one of the best retail locations in Adelaide. Stan continued working until his death at age 86 in 1983, after all his sons had retired. Vern is the last surviving fourth generation member.

The fifth generation came from Ralph’s sons, Paul and Randyl, and Len’s son, Brenton. Brenton Whittenbury is the current Managing Director, with Randyl’s sons, Gavin and Damien, becoming the sixth generation to work in the business.

The business was rationalised in the early 1990s when the rented stores were closed. Since then, it has enjoyed good trading and growth with the opening of the Victor Harbor Grundy’s store in 2007. Today the business operates five stores – Judd’s Shoes at Glenelg, Grundy’s Shoes in Rundle Street City, Glenelg and Victor Harbor, and Barlow Shoes in Rundle Mall.

The Whittenbury family, going back to Thomas Judd, has traded continuously in Rundle Street/Mall since 1868, the longest run of any Rundle retailer. Their history gives them unsurpassed experience in shoes.

Gavin and Damien have assumed the day to day running of the business looking to further generations of prosperity initiated by their great-great-great-grandfather, Thomas Judd.

Judd’s/Barlow/Grundy’s Shoes were inducted into the FBA (SA) Hall of Fame in 2011.