The History of Hannas Family Department Store

Norman Hanna arrived in Australia in 1939 with his wife Lavina, and three-month-old son Joe. Like many other immigrants of their time, they arrived with little education and no knowledge of written or spoken English.

Norman spent six months in Goondiwindi working at Coorey's, a store run by his brother who arrived in Australia 12 months earlier. It was while working at the Goondiwindi store that he learnt the basics of business, before moving to Toowoomba to sell fruit and vegetables from a horse and cart.

He may never have taken a formal English lesson, but one thing he learnt quickly was the Australian monetary system. It was all an ambitious young businessman needed to understand. He soon realised that life on the Darling Downs was very different when compared to his life in pre-war Lebanon, but he met the challenge head-on. Mr Hanna later decided to 'get-out' of selling fruit and vegetables and meet more people in his new role - a travelling draper.

Upon purchasing a truck, he extended his business from going door-to-door with suitcases full of materials and clothing, to the extent where he could spend up to a week in the country, sleeping at night in the truck.

In 1956, Norman Hanna opened his first shop at 565 Ruthven Street. From humble beginnings, the Hannas' Store of today occupies almost 2 ½ hectares of modern floor space.

All 10 of his children have worked at Hanna's original store since it opened, and his sons still run the business today.

Mr Norman Hanna sadly passed away in 1998.