Eloas Abdnoor Another Of Our District’s Pioneers …

Lebanese migration and settlement in Australia began around 1880. These early migrants were known as Syrians but were classified as Turks by the colonial governments of the day because Lebanon was under Turkish control until the end of World War 1.

Life was not easy for these migrants who had no contacts and could not speak English. Undaunted, those with capital became small business men, opening warehouses as well as drapery, hairdressing and grocery shops. Others became itinerant hawkers, often selling the wares of their countrymen who owned newly established warehouses.

Eloas Abdnoor, born at Kousba, Mt. Lebanon about 1875, came to Australia as a young man. He was with a group of young Lebanese on his way to South Africa in 1899 when the Boer War broke out and the ship was diverted to Australia. He engaged in hawking activities in Rockhampton and Mackay districts before moving to Proserpine about 1909 after realising the opportunities in the district. Initially he was a hawker but within three years, in 1912, he established his own drapery and men's mercery business in Main Street, naming it The Bon Marche, French for 'cheap' or 'good value'.

All did not go well, as on the 8th January 1913 Mr Abdnoor's shop was set alight. He was awakened by the smell of fumes and discovered that kerosene and methylated spirits had been poured over goods. Neighbours, Mr Furminger and Mr Archer, helped save the store by throwing burning material into the street. It could have been disastrous for Main Street, with no fire engine or water on hand in those days. Eloas Abdnoor burnt his hands severely and lost uninsured stock worth 100 pounds.

Eloas became a member of the Chamber of Commerce in 1919 and was well respected by the district’s business community. He invested in farming property (at Strathdickie) and also did well in real estate, opening up a sub division where Robert and Marathon Streets are located.

Despite the regard in which he was held, there were times when people attempted to take advantage of him, perhaps because of his Lebanese roots.  In 1925, a customer walked into his shop and asked for a flannel shirt. He tore off the price tag and began putting it on as Mr Abdnoor was demanding payment. He said he would pay as soon as he had the shirt on but he then calmly walked out of the shop. The matter was reported to the police; the culprit caught, fined two pounds and ordered to pay eight shillings for the shirt. Eloas was not deterred by these events.

Showing faith in Proserpine's future, in 1932 he re-built his shop with a more modern design. The following year, he sold his Bon Marche store to Mrs Gillespie. He was then farewelled by the community as he set out on a world tour, visiting England, Scotland, Ireland, France and every capital in Europe before travelling to his native country and going home to Mt. Lebanon to see his only brother. While there, he married and returned to Proserpine with his wife.

In 1944, Mr and Mrs Abdnoor moved to Temora in New South Wales. It wasn't until 1951 that the sale of all his remaining properties was finalised.

Eloas Abdnoor, one of the district’s pioneers, died at Temora in November 1953 aged 78 years. And so passed yet another migrant who had formed an important part of the rich tapestry of life in our community in its early days.

Story courtesy of Proserpine Historical Museum. Photo courtesy of past resident Mrs Dolly Fahey (nee O’Hanlon)

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