George Coles

Sir George James Coles (28 March 1885 – 4 December 1977), known as G.J. Coles, was an Australian entrepreneur who founded what became the Coles Group, a large retail shopping empire and chain store group in Australia.

Early life Coles was born as the first of ten children in Jung Jung, Victoria (now Jung, between Horsham and Murtoa) to shopkeeper George W. Coles and Elizabeth Mary Coles (née Scouler). His mother died following the birth of her eleventh child in 1900. Coles's father re-married, to Ann Cameron "Annie" Topp of Buninyong, on 20 August 1902.

George Coles was educated at Beechworth College.

Career

George worked in Melbourne and the country for a few years. In 1910, he purchased his father's shop in the Victorian town of St James, measuring , for A£4,500. He then moved to Wilmot, Tasmania ( south of Ulverstone), where he opened yet another shop. George took trips to the United States and the United Kingdom to learn about the American and British methods of retailing. Brothers, Jim and David, were killed during the conflict. Their uncle Jim helped manage the store during their absences.

With fellow businessmen, R. M. Williams and Samuel Hordern, Coles helped found the Equestrian Federation of Australia in 1951 to support Australia's 1956 Olympic Games equestrian team. Because of quarantine restrictions, these events were held in Stockholm, Sweden rather than the Olympic host city, Melbourne.

He served on the board of the Victorian Hospitals and Charities Commission from 1935 and was a director of the National Bank of Australia.

Honours Coles was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1942 in recognition of service to philanthropy. He was appointed a Knight Bachelor in 1957,

Australia's National Portrait Gallery holds a portrait of Sir George by William Dargie, together with portraits of his brothers, Sir Arthur, Sir Edgar, Sir Kenneth, and Sir Norman, also painted by Dargie.

Brothers Coles' brothers were: James Scouler Coles (1 July 1888 – 10 August 1916), known as Jim Coles, was educated at Geelong College, helped brother George with his first store, joined the AIF in August 1915, served in France with the (2nd Division) 4th Field Artillery Brigade during World War I and was killed in action. Sir Arthur William Coles (6 August 1892 – 14 June 1982), known as A. W. Coles, joined the 6th Battalion in August 1914. He was twice wounded in action (at Gallipoli and in France) and was repatriated in 1916. He momentarily displaced George as chairman in 1936 in a coup and was made managing director. He was elected Lord Mayor of Melbourne in 1938 and re-elected twice. He was appointed to a number of highly public organisations and was knighted in 1960. David Henry Coles (July 1894 – 20 October 1917) had little to do with the business; he moved to Wilmot, Tasmania with his father after George took over the business. He served in Belgium with the (4th Division Artillery) 10th Field Artillery Brigade during World War I and died of wounds. Sir (Kenneth) Frank Coles (19 April 1896 – 2 April 1985), known as K. F. Coles, was knighted in 1957. He retired from the board of G. J. Coles & Coy. Ltd in 1976.