From a general store with country service...

Browns has led the way in new shopping techniques in Tasmania...

 

The colourful history of the Browns Store began in 1889. It was in the Brown family for more than a century before it was sold to the Reiner family in 1995.

 

Mr Richardson worked at the store for 34 years and was manager and co-owner during that time. He described the old Browns Store as a "true general store that had everything"."We tried to stock everything from hardware to plumbing gear to drapery and men's wear - we stocked the lot," Mr Richardson said.

 

As new supermarkets opened in Launceston it was harder for the regional general store to compete. But there is always a side to country service that cannot be replicated.

 

From the 1940s to the 1970s Browns deployed a travelling groceries van that would travel to isolated towns like Liffey, Blackwood Creek and Nile. It had shelves and drop down counters full of the stores stock. We would notify the town of the visit and set up in a paddock. The locals would travel to the van with horses and carts. It is just one example of Browns servicing locals and outlying areas

 

....to cutting edge green supermarket design.

When Browns constructed a new purpose built store in 2011 it left no detail unconsidered in a bid to create one of Australia's greenest shopping centres.

 

The store uses natural sunlight through skylights to light the building, creating a vibrant and comfortable light.

 

The highly insulated building also recycles the heat generated by the refrigerators to heat the building and the hot water.

 

The store captures rainwater from the roof to irrigate garden beds and for the toilet systems.

 

The whole design maximises both energy efficiency and comfort for the staff and customers.