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 Russian Shop in Sydney CBD
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 Return to top of page · Post #: 1 · Written at 11:54:31 AM on 16 August 2023.
Tallar Carl's avatar
 Location: Latham, ACT
 Member since 21 February 2015
 Member #: 1705
 Postcount: 2174

There was a Russian shop I used to visit in my younger days that sold electronics and Model Cars that I used to like to browse through in the 80s. I am just wondering if any of you guys might know of it and if it still is in existence.
It was before the fall of the Berlin Wall and was a bit propagandist. I bought a stereo tuner from them but found the connections a bit strange so I decided to hardwire some speakers in to it's cabinet.
Anyway I'm in Sydney this weekend and maybe doing a bit of reminiscing.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 2 · Written at 8:29:34 AM on 18 August 2023.
Tallar Carl's avatar
 Location: Latham, ACT
 Member since 21 February 2015
 Member #: 1705
 Postcount: 2174

Well tomorrow I get on the bus to Sydney and hopefully will enjoy 2x days reminiscing about my past visits and how I loved doing the circuit of George Street and Pitt Street. My wife has plans on visiting the Gucci and Louie Vuitton store ( if there is one ) . I remember plainly the Strand Arcade and the Strand Electronics store ( which has now moved to Richmond ) plus all the real disposal stores that my father and I used to browse through but alas I think they may be all gone now.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 3 · Written at 4:26:45 PM on 19 August 2023.
Tallar Carl's avatar
 Location: Latham, ACT
 Member since 21 February 2015
 Member #: 1705
 Postcount: 2174

Well my memory is still good. I managed to identify one of the old Knock and Kirby stores today. Its now a Mitre 10. So far I have taken 15000 steps lol.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 4 · Written at 6:35:01 AM on 21 August 2023.
Tallar Carl's avatar
 Location: Latham, ACT
 Member since 21 February 2015
 Member #: 1705
 Postcount: 2174

One thing that truly amazes me is my memory for these buildings. Yes I found the Russian shop but alas it is now just a run of the mill shoe shop Sad . We walked and walked and walked and boy I am sore Smile .


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 5 · Written at 10:51:27 AM on 21 August 2023.
GTC's avatar
 GTC
 Location: Sydney, NSW
 Member since 28 January 2011
 Member #: 823
 Postcount: 6760

Yes I found the Russian shop

What's the address?


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 6 · Written at 5:33:28 PM on 21 August 2023.
Tallar Carl's avatar
 Location: Latham, ACT
 Member since 21 February 2015
 Member #: 1705
 Postcount: 2174

Never looked for the street number but I believe it was on the corner 1 or 2 blocks down from the Queen Victoria building on the opposite side on the right.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 7 · Written at 8:00:25 PM on 21 August 2023.
GTC's avatar
 GTC
 Location: Sydney, NSW
 Member since 28 January 2011
 Member #: 823
 Postcount: 6760

1 block down from the Queen Victoria building on the opposite side on the right.

Which way are you facing when you say 'down from'? North, east, south or west?

The only electronic parts and equipment retailer I recall being close to QVB and Town Hall was Martin deLaunay, on the corner of Clarence St and Druitt St.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 8 · Written at 10:22:46 PM on 21 August 2023.
Tallar Carl's avatar
 Location: Latham, ACT
 Member since 21 February 2015
 Member #: 1705
 Postcount: 2174

Down is always south


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 9 · Written at 10:51:53 PM on 21 August 2023.
GTC's avatar
 GTC
 Location: Sydney, NSW
 Member since 28 January 2011
 Member #: 823
 Postcount: 6760

Down is always south

On maps, yes, but if someone says 'down the road' that can be in any compass direction.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 10 · Written at 11:53:33 PM on 21 August 2023.
Brad's avatar
 Administrator
 Location: Naremburn, NSW
 Member since 15 November 2005
 Member #: 1
 Postcount: 7389

One block down is just the intersection with St Andrews Cathedral, Kentucky Fried, HSBC Building and Ausgrid's head office.


‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 11 · Written at 7:42:21 AM on 22 August 2023.
Tallar Carl's avatar
 Location: Latham, ACT
 Member since 21 February 2015
 Member #: 1705
 Postcount: 2174

Yes Brad it was in that area! It may have been two blocks down ( south ) definitely on the corner and it was a Russian Shop dealing in Russian products such as radios, hifi, Model cars , books etc. The name of the shop was themed as propaganda but the exact wording I can't remember as it was 40 years ago.
As I was walking along the street all the old shops I remember like Knock and Kirby were still recognisable but not the same name of cause. I was surprised to see that Mick Simmons Sports Stores were still in existence under the original name.
Alas most of the army surplus stores of old are no longer in existence! Sad
Just remember I have a photographic memory which means the way I remember things is different but permanent. Names are hard for me to remember but things I see are fairly easy.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 12 · Written at 8:03:02 AM on 22 August 2023.
Tallar Carl's avatar
 Location: Latham, ACT
 Member since 21 February 2015
 Member #: 1705
 Postcount: 2174

What did really hit me was the way George Street is now basically tram and ebike friendly and Pitt Street for cyclists as well. To me as a visitor it made a lot of sense. Having to drive through that area would be increasingly annoying I suppose but in reality if everyone had a car can you imagine the chaos.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 13 · Written at 5:05:26 PM on 22 August 2023.
GTC's avatar
 GTC
 Location: Sydney, NSW
 Member since 28 January 2011
 Member #: 823
 Postcount: 6760

I worked in Sydney CBD from 1972 to 1991. I don't recall any 'Russian shop' around that Bathurst St intersection, but I do well recall Nock and Kirby in George St across Market St from the QVB.

If you look at the awning over the entrance, you'll see N&K:

https://tinyurl.com/fmyd54u9

I have fond memories of watching Joe "Bring your money with you" Sandow (aka The Gadget Man) flogging merchandise to shoppers in that store. He even once convinced me to buy some rub-on mirror demister which he was demonstrating with the aid a steaming kettle.

(I have a distant memory of seeing Joe selling off the back of a truck at a Night Fair at Gosford when I was very young.)

If I needed hardware I would normally have gone to Paul's Hardware which was one of the retail stores at street level in the QVB. They had a far better range of tools than N&K, and were usually cheaper.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 14 · Written at 6:00:22 PM on 22 August 2023.
Brad's avatar
 Administrator
 Location: Naremburn, NSW
 Member since 15 November 2005
 Member #: 1
 Postcount: 7389

The next block down has two pubs, a bank and World Square. I note the vastly different age of the slides on that Street View. Some show the current look with the trams, others show the light rail corridor under construction and others show George Street back when it was just a peak hour car park for hundreds of buses.

I'd hate George Street to go back to that. I was a part of it every day back when I worked in Nth Sydney. Much of the time it was quicker for me to walk from Circular Quay to Druitt Street than get the bus that far.


‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 15 · Written at 6:01:29 PM on 22 August 2023.
Tallar Carl's avatar
 Location: Latham, ACT
 Member since 21 February 2015
 Member #: 1705
 Postcount: 2174

Yes GTC I remember Joe the Gadget man quite well as my dad and I used to just stand in the crowd and enjoy Just watching.


 
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