Colin Newport, Allora Advertiser

Warwick Street, Allora, has played a big part in the life of Rae Masters, who celebrated her 100th birthday at ‘The Homestead’ last Thursday 31st July.

Averil Rae Masters was born in Miegunyah Private Hospital (now the home of Margaret Rackley at 33 Warwick Street) on the 31st July 1925, the daughter of Les and Doris Masters (nee Holmes).

She was brought up with her younger brother Keith in the family home at 23 Warwick Street Allora.

Rae was enrolled at the Allora State School on the 30th June 1930 at the age of 4 years and 11 months and completed scholarship her year in December 1939.

In 1940 before her 15th birthday, she was offered a job in the ladies’ section of the general store, Holmes & Co., by store manager Bill Holmes, her mother’s cousin.

Rae worked at Holmes & Co. on the corner of Warwick and Herbert Streets in Allora until it burned down in October 1972.

In November 1972 a partnership was formed between Roy Smith, Peter Stewart, Rae Masters and Jock Evans (formerly of the men’s section of Holmes & Co) and opened ‘The Shopping Spot’ at 42 Herbert Street Allora.

Rae and Jock bought out Roy and Peter in April 1976 and operated the shop until selling in February 1989.

Rae continued living at 23 Warwick Street Allora following the passing of her mother in 1984, and lived there unassisted until moving to ‘The Homestead’ in 2022 in her 97th year.

This article appeared in Allora Advertiser, 6 August 2025.