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preparation of bush orders which went out every six weeks. The Executor of the Rundle Estate decided to sell the
store by tender. Anne and Cyril were successful in their tender and in 1940 they became the new owners of the
store and its freehold land, which was Block 16. The new business name of C J A Cox and Company was registered
on 20 May 1940.
It was an indication of Cyril’s future as a businessman, for he saw a good opportunity and borrowed part of the
money required for the purchase.
Around 1939 the Coxs bought the mine manager’s iron house from Spring Hill and had it railed to Katherine.
There it was re-erected on their freehold Block 23 in First Street, directly behind the store. They took up residence
in their new home in 1940 and grew beautiful mango and citrus trees and kept bees.
Cyril and Anne had various community interests. Cyril became a member of the Buffalo Lodge, Katherine
Waters, in 1934. Anne joined the Country Women’s Association through South Australia in 1935 but when a
Sub Branch was established in Katherine in 1937, she became a foundation member. She always maintained her
membership, assistance and interest in the Association. Cyril and Anne were members of the Katherine Progress
Association for many years and Anne held the position of Honorary Secretary. In later years Cyril joined the
Masonic Lodge, as had all the men in his family, and became a member of Port Darwin Lodge Number 41 in
1971.
After the bombing of Darwin in 1942, and as the restrictions of the Second World War came into place,
Anne and Cyril were advised that Anne had to be evacuated along with other women and children. Their store was
required for use by the Engineer Services for ‘military purposes’ and they were given 14 days from 13 March 1942
to remove all the contents and vacate the premises.
All the stock was removed to their home. Occupation of their store by the military took place on 1 April 1942
for an indefinite period and compensation was assessed at One Pound and 12 Shillings a week, being four per cent
of the capital value, plus an amount to cover rates, taxes and insurance.
Like so many other Territory women, Anne protested vehemently, but late in March 1942 she and the Matron of
the hospital were evacuated by Guinea Airways, the last women to leave Katherine. She was evacuated to Adelaide
and, like the majority of other women who were sent south at that time, she was lonely for her husband, family and
the Territory. Cyril in the meantime lived in their home along with all the stock from the store.
Cyril was appointed Branch Manager of Guinea Airways on 1 April 1942. Anne returned to Katherine on
12 September 1942 by Guinea Airways, to open and run a hostel for civilian airlines employees, which was to
operate from the hospital building. Katherine was the main base from which movement orders were issued in the
north. Although Guinea Airways organised her movement order in Adelaide, apparently the military in Katherine
did not receive the advice.
On 3 October Cyril received a letter from the Brigadier in charge of the Northern Territory Force advising him
that it was aware of his wife’s return and that ‘she must leave immediately for the south’. Anne stayed. Between
her return and the recommencement of trading at the store, she and Cyril continued to be employed by Guinea
Airways to service its aircrews.
As civilians began returning to Katherine, Cyril was advised in April 1945 that he had been nominated by the
military forces to be the accredited storekeeper to distribute supplies in the Katherine area.
The years immediately after the war brought enormous changes to the Cox partnership and the store. The Coxs
again needed added finance and experienced staff to expand and so on 10 August 1946 Anne and Cyril took two of
his brothers, Roy William and Colin George, into the business.
As the Army held disposal sales, Cyril and his partners purchased two Sidney Williams huts. They were placed
side by side behind the store, with Roy and Colin (known as Sonny) undertaking the metal work, inside painting
and the laying of the concrete floor, and a massive bulk storage shed was built. Later a further two were purchased
and placed on their Block 22 in First Street next to their home. One was used as the mess and the other as a
workshop and spare rooms.
All four members of C J A Cox and Company worked long hard hours as they had the agencies for many major
companies including Shell, as well as having the contract to refuel the Guinea Airways, Qantas, MacRobertson
Miller and Connellan aircraft.
In July 1948 Roy Cox retired from the company and in August 1951 the three remaining partners with Leslie
Mervyn Cox, Cyril’s youngest brother, purchased the second store in Katherine, which had been in earlier times
owned by Katherine Pearson.
The purchase of the store gave Cyril and Anne a monopoly on the grocery business in the town and they all
worked longer and harder than previously. Cyril had been suffering from arthritis for some time and was not well.
He found running both stores a heavy load. On 21 October 1953 he and Anne retired from involvement in the
second store and devoted all of their energy to developing the original store.
Several of Anne’s brothers-in-law came to work in the store and her father-in-law arrived from Pine Creek to
live in the mess after the war. In addition to her domestic and store duties, most of the men received their hair cuts,
laundry, cooking and sewing amenities from Anne for she provided stability within the family, as Cyril’s mother
was ill and had gone south for treatment.
Late in 1956 the original store was rebuilt but before it was fully operational with the new glass frontage,
a major flood in March 1957 put water through the new premises.
Although cash registers had been installed, personal service was still given and bush orders were a specialty.
Anne had seen her mother experience the difficulties of receiving stores every six or 12 months when they were
living on stations and she always went out of her way to assist those living in isolated areas. Orders were always