Going to Gowings

Gowings FJ

I was in Sydney City yesterday and accidently came across the Gowings closing down sale. 137 years in business and they will be no longer.

It's a pity coz they were one of those real blokey kind of shops, the kind where you don't feel intimidated. Not many places get this right but Gowings seemed to have it perfected. You could walk on in, have a poke around and walk out with nothing, no hassles. Alternatively you could walk right up to the counter, say I want a pair of size 96R Drill Rider Moleskins and they'd pull one out of somewhere for you. It was one of those sort of of joints. Trims in Adelaide is a similar sort of place blokes LIKE shopping there and thankfully they're still going.

On top of the shopping for clothes experience, you could get a haircut in the in-house barber shop, complete with real barber chairs and Italians (usually named Tony) snipping away furiously.

Gowings store had a good lay-out in the old traditional department store sort of deal, top floor was camping, work and outdoor gear, first floor was surf, beachwear, shoes and the barber, ground floor was jeans, t-shirts, underwear and the like, downstairs was formal wear and bush wear. Some great clothes for all tastes that always looked good.

Catering to all tastes was the key, I saw a couple of farmers from the country, merchant bankers, surfers, skaters, pretty boys, nervous little bearded greenie types and asian students all stocking up with clobber.

So anyway, I popped in and picked up a couple of good quality shirts, some RM Williams boots, a few FJ Holden Matchbox cars(above) a leather pouch and a leopard fez. All for less than the cost of the boots which BTW will last a life time.