by The corner of Swanston and Bourke Streets used to be dominated by a giant Santa, and a fondly remembered department store. This is Foy's Rooftop Funpark.
Born in Ireland in 1835, Mark Foy, like so many of his countrymen, was lured to Melbourne by the gold rush. He arrived in the city in 1858, and decamped to the goldfields near Ballarat, with his young family.
But when he failed to strike it rich, he turned instead to shop keeping, opening a butcher's shop in Campbell's Creek. Energetic and resourceful, he was soon able to move to the larger city of Castlemaine, and expand into wholesale produce.
By 1870, Foy was successful enough to move back to Melbourne.
He now opened a drapery on Smith St, in Collingwood, which quickly proved lucrative. By the end of the decade he had expanded his business to a chain of six shops, and had become a wealthy and respected member of the local community.
Foy's heath was not robust though, and in 1882 he took early retirement.
Control of his businesses then passed to his eldest son Frances, and Foy installed a family friend, William Gibson, as a business partner. Mark Foy moved abroad, living in England and America, before passing away in 1884.
Frances Foy would prove just as ambitious as his father.
The younger Foy decided to expand again.
He now opened a series of 'General Stores', a kind of proto-department store, selling a wide range of goods. Originally badged 'Foy & Gibson', the first store opened in 1883, and was immediately successful.
After Gibson allowed Foy to buy out his share of the company in 1884, the business reverted to the name 'Foy's'.
The chain soon expanded interstate.
The Sydney outlet was particularly elaborate. On a huge site near Hyde Park, the decorative façade was topped with towers, and the interior lit by crystal chandeliers; at the time, it was the largest shop in Sydney. Other shops followed, in Adelaide and Perth.
As the stores became larger, the range of goods sold more modern and sophisticated.
Foy's main Melbourne branch was a stylish building opposite the eastern end of the Bourke St pedestrian mall.
The store was hugely successful, and an iconic part of the city in the first half of the 20th century, occupying a similar niche to the Myer Department store, Foy's great rival.
Frances Foy passed away in 1918 at only 53 years of age, which ended the family's active role in the business. His heirs sold their stake in the company, although the business and storefronts would retain the family name.
The Giant Santa, and Rooftop Fun Park, were a Christmas gimmick that began in the early 1960s.
The Melbourne store was already known for it's elaborate Christmas decorations, and the new additions were meant to reinforce the idea of Foy's as Christmas central.
The three storey high Santa was promoted as the largest in the world, and its index finger was mechanised, so it would beckon to shoppers passing by.
The Rooftop Fun Park featured rides, a playground, a petting zoo, sideshows and even (at one time) bumper boats. A few pictures remain of the park in operation:
The rooftop funpark only lasted to the end of the decade.
The Foy's chain was then taken over by David Jones and the iconic Melbourne building sold to Woolworth's, relegating the Rooftop Park and the giant Santa to history.
The same site is a modern office building, present day:
@Museum Of Lost, You/Source has 3 main things very wrong, & as those are wrong, several items after those are also incorrect.
1) Frances Foy sold his share of Foy & Gibson NOT
“Gibson allowed Foy to buy out his share of the company” (in 1884) — William Gibson became sole owner of Foy & Gibson in Melb & Vic.
(Please note, my capitalising of some words is just to emphasize, i’m not being aggressive nor yelling; if could do in just bold type i would)
2) The Business, sole owned by Gibson remained AS Foy & Gibson; didn’t “after Frances sold the business reverted to the name ‘Foy’s”.
– see Sands & McDougall directories 1900, 05, 15 (& between & later) & always listed as Foy & Gibson. In 1895 too, but too close to 1894 if issue’s data collection was before a change (to Foy’s), but wasn’t.
2a) Only branding of store, & 1-2 signage was as Foy’s; all Melb & Vic – &, later SA & WA, Gibson’s stores had Foy & Gibson on them, as well.
3) Foy & Gibson — sole owned by Gibson, did not expand to Sydney.
Frances & Mark Foy Jnr, moved to Sydney, opening Mark Foy’s 1895.
Named it Mark Foy’s to honour their father.
3a) Zero connection, re Business Entities of Mark Foy’s Sydney, and, Foy & Gibson [branded as Foy’s] Melbourne, & Adelaide and Perth; just persons, only, connection with Frances (& Mark Foy Jnr*) being in the Melbourne Foy & Gibson, selling to Gibson & going to Sydney.
[I’m somewhat sure Mark Foy Jnr worked with Frances, in 1 of Foy & Gibson stores (probably where Gibson wasn’t since was conflict; but as Mark Foy Jnr didn’t have any part ownership of F&G can’t verify)
4) Mark Foy’s /Frances Mark Foy Jnr didn’t expand beyond NSW/ACT.
Mark Foy’s only had stores in Sydney CBD & Suburbs & 1 in Canberra.
4a) Gibson’s Melbourne Foy & Gibson is only one(s) that expanded to Adelaide, Perth; & Brisbane but was Woolens Store & Warehouse, & some direct to public sales, not Department Store like the others.
5) Putting “Foy’s” under Sydney Store photo (while putting under Melbourne Bourke St photo) is incorrect to do, as very misleading.
Since Mark Foy’s Sydney NEVER had any signage with just Foy’s.
(Perhaps didn’t want association with Gibson’s Foy & Gibson/Foy’s)
Mark Foy’s Sydney was nearly always called Mark Foy’s, by public.
6. Hugh Victor Foy took over Mark Foy’s Sydney after Frances died.
Mark Foy Jnr retired from Mark Foy’s NSW/ACT in 1898, & went in to hospitality with one being Hyrdro Majestic Hotel in Blue Mountains.
(Mark Foy Jnr died 1950). Hugh was Mark’s & Frances’ young brother.
Hugh led Mark Foy’s NSW/ACT as managing director 1920s to 1940s.
6a) Again no association with Gibson’s Melb’s Foy & Gibson aka Foy’s
6b) Mark Foy’s Sydney (& ACT) remained with Foy Family persons & their Macken in-laws
7) Foy (Sydney) family & Macken family involvement ended 1968, when taken over by McDowell’s Limited. Walton’s Pty Ltd/stores took over McDowells (with Mark Foy’s store still trading as that) in 1972.
7a) Walton’s owned Mark Foy’s stores till 1980, when it closed down.
(Walton’s ceased in 1987). Grace Bros took over Mark Foy’s Sydney CBD building – not store – later in 1980. (Yet to check re suburbs ones)
8) Neither Mark Foy’s Sydney, nor Gibson Foy & Gibson aka Foy’s Melbourne/Adelaide/Perth* were ever taken over by David Jones.
Both, totally separate entities, ceased trading before DJs takeover* over of other businesses in the 1980s (& later).
Before 1981 David Jones didn’t have any ownership of any business nor any stores in Melb/Vic. DJs took over Buckley & Nunn in 1981 & rebranded it to David Jones in ’82. DJs also took over George’s in ’81
8a) Gibson’s ownership of Foy & Gibson ceased in 1955, when Cox Brothers took over Foy & Gibson Vic, SA, WA. Qld had closed in 1931.
Foy & Gibson actually closed & Cox remodeled, opening as Cox-Foy’s
**David Jones did take over Foy & Gibson WA in 1964 (which became separate entity to Cox-Foy’s Gibson & Foy’s aka Foy’s building/stores with the Hay St to St Georges Tce building ceasing (as DJs) in 1978.
9. Never been any connection between David Jones, nor Woolworths (& that Woolworths Pty Ltd South Africa who took over DJs ISN’T nor ever connected to Woolworths Group Australia; different entities), with Mark Foy’s Sydney; nor Foy & Gibson aka Foy’s Vic/SA/WA/Qld, since, as stated earlier, Mark Foy’s ceased 1980; Foy & Gibson in 1968
9a) Woolworths South Africa take over of Country Road Group, which DJs was under at the time, happened this 21st Century, not 20th C.
Woolworths South Africa didn’t operate any full supermarket stores in Australia, tho had some food outlets that were like McCoppins & (to an extent) Leo’s – so check out aisles, but not really supermarkets.
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Additional info: the 1912, 2nd huge building/store on west side of Smith St Fitzroy (/Collingwood) is still there, & appears to be original doors on ground floors. Of course, floors above been converted but building is mostly intact, as to very similar when built.
(it’s opposite – just south of – the current Coles site).
Foy & Gibson – owned by Gibson since 1894, so was he who built – an underground pedestrian subway under Smith St in or bit after 1912.
The Melbourne Bourke St Foy & Gibson building aka Foys, has had a Woolworths, Billy Guyat’s (IIRC*), Big W; Coles Offices (don’t know what stores were on ground floor & basement at Coles offices time) & various stores since, & now business on 1st; & residential in upper.
(* I’d check Sands & McDougal’s but not relevant to Foy & Gibson biz)
The Sydney Mark Foys, as stated, taken over by Grace Bros in 1980, &/but Grace Bros was taken over by Myer in 1983 — after Grace Bros had taken a controlling % in Myer in 1983 but didn’t last even a year.
(Case of p_ off taking us over, we’ll take u over instead??, Lol)
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Sources: I checked my knowledge – for about 10 years – re Gibson taking over France Foy’s share of Foy & Gibson; & him & Mark Foy Jnr independently, no connection to Foy & Gibson, starting Mark Foy’s on multiple sites, & also to check dates, for accuracy, & used:
collingwoodhs .org; anu .edu .au; unimelb website; SLV website & Sands & McDougall directories, lots searches re when did which biz (which i did know names of each) take over Foy & Gibson Vic/SA; & took over Mark Foy’s NSW — knew Cox Bros took over Foy & Gibson in 1950s, which & still had zero connection to Mark Foy’s Sydney as latter never taken over, but closed; with Grace Bros moving in to that
whatever happened to the foys santa ? regards dirk
Worked in that store 68-70, after the Collingwood store closed. The best of workmates at both stores. Go Laurie!
Anne, my Grandfather Joe Sheppard, worked operating the lifts and at Christmas time was Santa at the rooftop carnival
The rooftop fun park was not opened until 1964 – I worked there and my Father was MD at the time (John Watt)