Long before plastic bags, EFTPOS machines and mobile phones, Caloundra’s shopkeepers wrapped goods in brown paper, tied with string. The shopkeeper kept a pencil tucked behind his ear, ready to jot down an order or tally your bill. It was a different era — a friendly smile came free with every purchase and news of the day was shared over the counter. 85 years on, the memories of that simpler world still linger.
By Anne Wensley & John and Janice Groves
One of our town’s most loved shops and prime examples of good old fashioned friendliness, stood at 26 Bulcock Street: Comino’s Drapery. For decades it was the go-to for thread, buttons, zippers and all manner of haberdashery — the kind of store where you could buy a single needle or just the right length of ribbon.
But before the counters were lined with sewing essentials, the building had already lived through one of the most dramatic chapters in Caloundra’s history.
During the last years of World War II, Caloundra was a changed place. Declared a restricted zone, it was dotted with military camps and patrolled by soldiers from nearby Fort Bribie and Battery Hill. Military police stood watch at key intersections, and Caloundra Primary School was commandeered as Army Headquarters. Residents carried Civilian Registration ID cards at all times, and local children attended only half-day lessons in the Scout Den on Orsova Avenue, where air-raid drills were a part of the curriculum.
It was in this setting, in 1940, that Greek immigrant Cosmo Comino built two adjoining shops: a fruit store and a Greek milk bar. The milk bar became a favourite with locals and soldiers, who would sometimes park tanks on the unsealed street while stopping in for milkshakes and snacks.
As the war intensified, Cosmo offered the back of his empty shop , free of charge to soldiers for rest and recreation. It became a place to relax, swap stories, and sometimes, miss the boat back to Fort Bribie.
In 1946, with peace restored, the once-empty shop found its true calling as Comino’s Drapery.
Cosmo’s son, Emmanuel “Mannie” Comino, took over in 1957 and ran the business for over five decades. To generations of locals, Mannie wasn’t just a shopkeeper, he was a storyteller, a gossip-collector, and a friendly face behind the counter. Legend has it, he proudly claimed to have “the cheapest haberdashery prices in Australia,” and if you stopped by for a few buttons, you’d often leave with a smile and the latest community news.
Local historian Anne Wensley recalls, “I always found it a joy to pop in and listen to Mannie’s stories and look around at his amazing display of goods.”
Comino’s Drapery closed in 2016, ending a 70-year tradition. Today, the building is home to White Pepper Homewares and The Guitar Den. In a nod to the past, White Pepper has kept elements of the original decor — including the old ceiling fan and timber wall linings — preserving a little piece of Caloundra’s yesteryear for the next generation.
Sources:
Historypin – Caloundra in World War II
My Weekly Preview – When Caloundra Joined the War Effort
Sunshine Coast Council – Backward Glance: Comino’s Drapery
Sunshine Coast Heritage – Business and Commerce Stories
