11 Mile Store...

11 miles from Manly

Interesting Historical note from 'Max Dupain's Australia'

"This was a popular general store at the time. Preceeding north, the next stores were at Newport, Avalon and Palm Beach. The population was pretty sparse and the general stores few and far between. This one operated on the main highway, Barrenjoey Road. General stores sold anything from lawn-mowers to cigarettes."

Photo: Max Dupain (thanks to Jill White). Early 1930's looking south, before road widening;

Photo: Andrew Blaxland. The 11 Mile Store 2004, looking north;

The current building was built in the late 1950's after preparations for road widening forced the demolition of the old timber store. It ceased operation as a general store in about 1980 and had a checkered history until it was revived in 2000 by Andrew Blaxland and totally renovated in 2004.

From “The Newport Story” (1988) by Guy Jennings:
The Eleven Mile Store (Porter’s Store)
The corner store was situated at the 11 mile post ( from Manly ) on the corner of Philip Road and Barrenjoey Road on the hill just before Newport. The coaches used to stop there to give the horses a rest before they completed the climb while the passengers bought provisions and refreshments.

The store was run by George Porter and the first record of him at Newport is when he enrolled his daughter, Pauline, at the Newport School in 1892. George’s son Horrie continued the old timber store until it was sold to a Chinaman called Don Fong.

Horrie is remembered as being a very friendly person, always giving sweets to the children, although his German wife, being more of a businesswoman discouraged this habit and complaints about any high prices were met with the reply, “But I only have a small number of customers” meaning, no doubt, someone had to pay to make ends meet.

The old timber store was built right next to the two lane Barrenjoey Road and when the road was widened in the late 1950’s it had to be demolished. A new brick shop was built.’