Our first family store was founded in 1933 in Constitution Street, Bunbury. The shop was built and owned by Albert "Alby" Gibson, Brett's grand father.

By 1940 the store had become so popular that Alby couldn't keep up with demand. He submitted plans to the council for an expansion but they were denied. Having none of this, the Gibson family took photos of the patrons waiting in line outside the shop and proved to the council that the upgrades were necessary. With the plans now approved the Gibson's spent their weekends making bricks by hand to expand the store.

All of Alby's daughters — including Brett's mother — worked in the Bunbury butcher shop at one point or another, contributing to the family business. This was to become the standard as our future generations would spend their summer holidays learning the family trade.

Following in the footsteps of his forefather Brett began studying to become a Butcher. His apprenticeship was at the Butcher shop in Talbot Avenue in Como where he spent 4 years honing the craft.

“There are four magpies at Kensington who know which side their bread is buttered. They have a round of their own, and one of the people on the round is Moresby Street butcher Brett Symonds, who gets regular visits from the birds, and dashes out with a bit of mince when he hears them cawing outside the door. In the picture he is feeding one of them last week”— Local Newspaper

27 year old Brett Symonds is featured in the local newspaper feeding magpies at the Kensington shop where he worked for 2 years.

Elaine & Melva revisiting the shop where it all began.