Token - ½ Pint Milk (Newcastle & Suburban Co-operative Society) ND
| Iron | - | 26 mm |
| Location | Australia |
|---|---|
| Type | Trade tokens › Co-operative tokens |
| Composition | Iron |
| Diameter | 26 mm |
| Shape | Triangular |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Updated | 2024-11-13 |
| Numista | N#420424 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 97% |
Reverse
Text only
Script: Latin
Lettering:
1/2 PT.
MILK
Edge
Plain
Comment
The Newcastle and Suburban Co-operative Society, known locally as The Store, was a co-operative based in Newcastle, a city in New South Wales, Australia. The Store has been described as "the largest and most successful co-operative society in the Southern Hemisphere".
The cooperative was founded in 1898, based on a cooperative tradition brought over from Britain by immigrant miners. At its peak, the store had 98,000 members and employed 1,450 workers. In addition to food and retail products, services included "a health fund, a funeral fund, a travel agency, a credit union and a hairdressing salon". The Newcastle Herald states that by 1942, the store was "reputed to have the largest bakery in Australia, making around 62,800 loaves a week".
Increased shopper mobility and competition from suburban shopping centers saw the Store close its doors in 1981 (source Wikipedia).
