April 1971: Pan-O-Market's niche

Pan-O-Market has a special place in the history of Shepparton, evolving from an idea for a drive-through market to the respected local business it is today.

What was imagined to be Shepparton’s version of Melbourne’s Victoria Market became, ultimately, Pan-O-Market.

Stan Rutherford had the idea for a drive-through type of market, and almost immediately enlisted the aid of his daughter, Dawn, who had until then worked at the Shepparton-based accountancy firm, Maxwell Brown and Mountjoy.

With a background in orcharding, Stan, who died in 2011, envisaged a fresh fruit market, but it quickly evolved to become the place where orchardists could buy such things as pumps and spray systems.

The business was changing quickly; it became a speed shop attracting a whole differing array of customers, and Stan announced to Dawn he had bought her a business, the Lukey Mufflers agency, and for $1000 it was hers.

That was in 1966. Dawn was the owner/manager of Pan-O-Market and she set about to solidify what was to become a successful business that has a special niche in Shepparton’s modern history.

Pan-O-Market was first set up on what is now vacant land opposite the TAFE College in Fryers St, then it moved to a site now occupied by La Trobe University in North St.

Dawn, who worked hard to convince many male customers that a woman understood and could offer sound advice about mechanical matters, felt her efforts rewarded when several of the customers acknowledged her marriage to Robert Waterson in 1970 with gifts.

Dawn ran the business though to 1970 until her brother, Allan, who came off the orchard took over before handing control to another brother, Barry in 1984.

The present owner, Andrew Phillips, bought the business about 13 years ago. It is presently in Watson St, Shepparton.

Pan-O-Market current owner Andrew Phillips.