R. D. Kirkman & Co. (Australia), furniture

Reginald (Reg) Dominick Kirkman was born in 1910 in Cobar, New South Wales, but early in his life his family moved to Annandale, Sydney. In his late teens and early 20s he worked for Beard Watsons, a large department store in the centre of Sydney who had their own furniture manufacturing and retail business. In the mid to late 30’s he travelled to London and worked in the large department stores there, particularly those selling furniture.

After service during World War II, he established his own business, R D Kirkman and Co. in 1946 selling reproduction period furniture on the 8th Floor of Dymocks Building on George Street in Sydney. In 1967-8 he established a new retail presence on Castlereagh Street Sydney trading as Kirkman Studios. His son Michael, an architect joined the family business in 1976.

The business remained in Castlereagh Street until 1984, after which it more... moved the business to Paddington. Reg Kirkman continued working in the business until he passed away in 2001. In the early 2000s changing fashions and increasing competition from Asia led to the gradual decline of the business and after trading for 65 years the business closed in 2011.

[Supplied by Michael Kirkman, son of Reg Kirkman.]