Frank Cheshire
Frank Cheshire | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 6, 1896 East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | November 19, 1987 (aged 91) Balwyn, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Bookseller, Publisher |
| Known for | Founder of F. W. Cheshire Pty. Ltd., leading Victorian school textbook publisher |
Frank Cheshire (1896–1987) was a prominent Australian bookseller and publisher. His bookstore on Little Collins Street in Melbourne became a celebrated gathering place for literary enthusiasts. Through his company, F. W. Cheshire Pty. Ltd., he led the Victorian market in school textbooks for many years, pioneering the production of Australian textbooks specifically designed for local educational institutions rather than depending on British editions. The publishing house also brought to market significant bestsellers like Alan Marshall's I Can Jump Puddles, Robin Boyd's The Australian Ugliness, and Joan Lindsay's Picnic at Hanging Rock, helping to launch the careers of numerous Australian writers.
Early life and education
Born on 6 June 1896 in East Melbourne, Victoria, Frank Walter Cheshire was the son of journalist Thomas James Cheshire and Eliza (née Holland). He began his professional journey at George Robertson & Co., a bookseller based in Melbourne, while actively participating in the Baptist community in Canterbury, Victoria. His Christian convictions influenced his pacifist stance, leading him initially to refuse enlistment during World War I.
From 1916 to 1918, Cheshire was employed by firms supplying stationery and educational materials to schools. After his brother was killed in the war and following encouragement from friends, he attempted to join the First Australian Imperial Force in 1918 but was medically disqualified. During the 1920s, he worked with Hutchinsons Booksellers Pty. Ltd. on Little Collins Street, distributing educational supplies to schools, newsagents, and bookstores.
F. W. Cheshire Pty. Ltd.
In 1925, Frank Cheshire purchased Hutchinsons' inventory and equipment, founding F. W. Cheshire Pty Ltd as "educational booksellers and stationers" located on Little Collins Street in Melbourne. To reduce reliance on imported texts, he published locally adapted editions of Shakespeare for school use and began producing arithmetic and mathematics textbooks, starting with Robert Wilson's Intermediate Certificate Arithmetic (1933), which saw 22 reprints by 1958.
Cheshire inaugurated his first retail bookstore in 1932 and relocated to a larger venue at 338 Little Collins Street in 1938, establishing what became a "cultural landmark." The company’s debut publication was Wilfred Burchett's Pacific Treasure Island: New Caledonia (1941). In 1944, Cheshire released Alan Marshall's These Are My People, which sold 9,000 copies within its first month; this was followed by several more titles by Marshall including the celebrated I Can Jump Puddles (1955).
Andrew Fabinyi
In 1939, immigrant Andrew Fabinyi joined F.W. Cheshire Pty. Ltd., playing a key role in its evolution into a leading Australian publisher by broadening its focus beyond educational materials. He was appointed general manager of F. W. Cheshire Publishing Pty Ltd in 1957 and succeeded in attracting distinguished authors while producing bestsellers such as Robin Boyd's The Australian Ugliness (1960), Sir Frederic Eggleston's Reflections of an Australian Liberal (1952–53), and Joan Lindsay's Picnic at Hanging Rock (1967).
Fabinyi concentrated on expanding publications within arts, history, biography, and social sciences genres, collaborating with writers like Brian Fitzpatrick, Lord Casey, Clive Turnbull, Cyril Pearl, and Peter Coleman. The company also published fiction and poetry from novelists including Kenneth Cook, Vance Palmer, Neilma Sidney, Judah Waten as well as poets such as Bruce Dawe, Geoffrey Dutton, Vincent Buckley, and Lionel Lindsay.
The bookselling operations grew with additional outlets on Little Bourke Street and La Trobe Street in Melbourne alongside a warehouse facility in Abbotsford. Its dependable service helped establish dominance over Victoria’s school textbook market.
Divestiture of the enterprises
In 1964, Cheshire transferred ownership of both businesses to Wilke and Co. Ltd., a firm specializing in printing and publishing, along with Odhams Press (Aust.) Pty. Ltd., for close to $2 million. Despite the sale, he retained his role as general manager until 1967. Odhams operated as a branch of England's International Publishing Corporation (Daily Mirror group). The Cheshire brand persisted in Australian publishing through Longman Cheshire for thirty years beginning in 1969.
Perspectives on censorship
During his tenure as president of the Booksellers Association of Victoria in 1960, Cheshire criticized Victoria Police for confiscating Charles Orson Gorham's novel Carlotta McBride, even though it had been cleared by Customs authorities. Yet, at a 50th-anniversary celebration of his publishing career in 1975, he voiced approval of censorship, remarking that certain personal matters should remain confidential.
Civic involvement and recognitions
Cheshire held the presidency of the Victorian Booksellers Association from 1953 to 1963 and led the Australian Booksellers Association during 1959–60. He was dedicated to supporting Melbourne’s Burwood Children's Homes—now known as BestChance—a prominent children's welfare organization that runs the Cheshire School, named in tribute to him. In 2015, a memorial was established to honor the contributions made by Frank and Jean Cheshire to the school.
In 1983, both Frank and Jean Cheshire received appointments as knight and dame within the Sovereign Order of St John Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller.
Personal background
Described in his obituary published by The Age as "a gentle man who made decisions swiftly and consistently honored his commitments," Frank Cheshire was a non-smoker, abstained from alcohol, and was a devoted parent. His character was marked by strong religious faith and conservative values.
He married Vera Mabel Worth in 1920 after meeting her through church involvement; she passed away in 1955. The following year, he wed Shirley Jean Moyes, née Mackay.
Cheshire passed away on 19 November 1987 in Balwyn, Victoria. He was survived by Jean, their three sons, and two sons from his first marriage.