About Santos Community & Staff.

The Early Days

Originally around 1970 a barter shed was set up in Cooper's Lane Main Arm so locals could exchange produce and obtain dried bulk foods.

In mid 1975 Marco Mohler (Nartana) and Suresh who lived in Upper Main arm Mullumbimby started a bulk foods delivery run (from a a panel van  which was bought from the NRMA ) around Main Arm in the Mullumbimby hinterland  to service the new settlers. Rice, lentils, dried fruit, nuts, etc. The business name "Santos trading" was registered early 1975.

This small enterprise was then sold to Richard Adams in early 1977 ( still operating from the truck).

Chris Mc Ilrath  bought the delivery run for $200.  He set up a bulk store in a shed in  Upper Main Arm?  trading in rice, almonds, chick peas, lentils, figs, olives, olive oil and honey.

COMMENT FROM CHRIS  "In those days the Mullumbimby area was very conservative farming area. with few of the locals interested in health food. Santos emerged out of the new settlers needing  quality vegetarian bulk foods at competitive prices

He bought the business name "Santos Trading" with a list of suppliers and customers and an option on a lease for a shop at the Norco Industrial Estate Mullumbimby. Harassed by Council about packaging requirements Chris moved into the new store.

Moving "Up-Town"

After trading for a month or so  Bill and Fay Clifford who had  started the Farm care business at the old Sunflower cafe in Stuart St.( long  since demolished in 1983) approached Chris and suggested swapping  premises. So farm care  and Santos swapped premises which was next door to the old Sunflower restaurant.  Santos also rented the old sunflower restaurant selling freshly baked bread. Sometimes people would sneak in out of hours and make food and leave a note with money! that's what it was like in those days."

Original Santos store in Stuart St. with The Sunflower Restaurant nest door		interior original Santos shop about 1979

In the early days Santos sold in bulk  from sacks and bins on the floor. there were no shelves.

Santos was the first to sell organic F&V in the Mullumbimby area .

In 1979 Elsbeth Williams (now the Mullumbimby store  manager) started working at Santos.

In 1980 the business was sold to Terry and Jenny McKinnel.

Terry  organised it as an effective business. whose function was satisfying the requirements of the new settlers. Terry needed capital so he took in Elsbeth and Nartana as  partners.

In those days Stuart Fox worked in Santos.  Elsbeth and Stuart would go to Brisbane to buy bulk Asian foods for the shop. Also at this time  Greg White became a substantial shareholder Supplies were also driven up from Sydney  because the train service was so slow and they liked to go and check out the produce themselves.

Elsbeth in Original shop		demolishing original shop  early 1980's

During 1982/83 Santos was set up as a community business with over 50 shareholders.

The new Stuart St Shop

In 1983 Santos moved into the new Stuart St shop. In 1984 Howard Wilkinson started working there. Isla was also working there at that time, and continued to work at Santos for many years.

In 1985 Nartana sold his share of the business.  Terry left the business and Howard Wilkinson became the manager. At that time the office and warehouse were situated upstairs above the shop in Stuart St.

At about the same time a  health food  shop called "The Hard Cheese" in Murwillumbah was up for sale so Santos bought it  installing Giovanni as manager.

Santos Warehouse Byron Bay

In 1993 the warehouse was moved to the Byron Bay industrial estate   with John Dolman as the manager. and also in 1994 the Byron shop was opened.

In 2000 Howard Wilkinson left  and John Dolman became general manager

The Move to the New Old Westpac bank Building

In 2001 Santos moved into the present premises on the Old Westpac bank building in Burringbar st. the Murwillumbah shop was sold and Geoff Williams created  the good food shop sign and Santos logo 

compiled by Robert Hart from interviews with Elsbeth Williams and Chris Mc Ilrath and discussions with Nartana Chris Mc.Ilrath, and  Allen Gray  
we apologise for any errors or omissions please advise us if you have access to more accurate information
July 2002