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Beverley Argall Oral History
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DescriptionThis interview consist of one audio recording and transcript. Beverley Argall was interviewed, 10 September 2007 at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Marilyn Gallo.Interview SummaryBeverley Argall was born Beverley Lund in 1939. She was brought up in Canley Vale and lived on Cambridge Road which is now part of the Cumberland Highway.
One of her earliest and dearest memories is of her mother making brooches which she painted with scenes copied from chocolate boxes. Beverley tells us that she was quite artistic and very good at drawing.
Beverley and her family lived on a farm in Fairfield and to assist in the running of it she washed eggs in an egg washing machine which dried the eggs after cleaning and then they were packed into boxes to send for sale.
Her education began at Canley Vale Public School where she remembers buying her lunch from a nearby shop as the school did not have its own canteen. Later she went to Homebush Girls’ High and found it rather daunting, at the age of 11, to have to travel to Homebush by train each day.
On weekends she went to visit her grandmother who had a tennis court on Railway Parade in Fairfield, called Laurel’s Tennis Court. Beverley had a tennis court at her own home, as did many families of the day, but it was a grass court and they ran sheep on it to keep the grass at an acceptable level.
Sundays for Beverley were for worship and she was a member of the Church of Christ on Canley Vale Road. It was here where she would meet her husband to be.
On finishing her schooling, Beverley worked in the office at the bike shop, Bagley and Weston, which was owned by her uncle. The shop was situated near the old Crescent Theatre.
In 1960 Beverley married Trevor Argall and they were to have two sons, born in 1964 and 1968. Before she had her children she had worked at Arcos Industries at Yennora.
Beverley and Trevor built their own home in Sussex Street in Cabramatta. Trevor was also a local boy from Sackville Street, Fairfield. In 1975 they moved to Foster on the Central Coast to care take a Baptist youth camp there on a voluntary basis, Trevor working as a bus and coach driver to support the family. They remained there for ten years. On Trevor’s retirement they made their permanent home at Foster.
Beverley’s interview tells us of the many changes that have occurred in this area mostly due to migration. They had much contact with migrants at the Cabramatta Hostel while they lived here and Trevor met many whilst selling insurance. They also, at one time, had a pet shop in Cabramatta which was called the Arthur Street Pet Shop. They bred birds in their backyard as a hobby.
Beverley has many memories of Fairfield and Canley Vale and describes in detail some of the shops of the time. She also remembers the days of hawkers who came to homes plying their wares and the iceman’s call to deliver ice for their ice box.
One of her earliest and dearest memories is of her mother making brooches which she painted with scenes copied from chocolate boxes. Beverley tells us that she was quite artistic and very good at drawing.
Beverley and her family lived on a farm in Fairfield and to assist in the running of it she washed eggs in an egg washing machine which dried the eggs after cleaning and then they were packed into boxes to send for sale.
Her education began at Canley Vale Public School where she remembers buying her lunch from a nearby shop as the school did not have its own canteen. Later she went to Homebush Girls’ High and found it rather daunting, at the age of 11, to have to travel to Homebush by train each day.
On weekends she went to visit her grandmother who had a tennis court on Railway Parade in Fairfield, called Laurel’s Tennis Court. Beverley had a tennis court at her own home, as did many families of the day, but it was a grass court and they ran sheep on it to keep the grass at an acceptable level.
Sundays for Beverley were for worship and she was a member of the Church of Christ on Canley Vale Road. It was here where she would meet her husband to be.
On finishing her schooling, Beverley worked in the office at the bike shop, Bagley and Weston, which was owned by her uncle. The shop was situated near the old Crescent Theatre.
In 1960 Beverley married Trevor Argall and they were to have two sons, born in 1964 and 1968. Before she had her children she had worked at Arcos Industries at Yennora.
Beverley and Trevor built their own home in Sussex Street in Cabramatta. Trevor was also a local boy from Sackville Street, Fairfield. In 1975 they moved to Foster on the Central Coast to care take a Baptist youth camp there on a voluntary basis, Trevor working as a bus and coach driver to support the family. They remained there for ten years. On Trevor’s retirement they made their permanent home at Foster.
Beverley’s interview tells us of the many changes that have occurred in this area mostly due to migration. They had much contact with migrants at the Cabramatta Hostel while they lived here and Trevor met many whilst selling insurance. They also, at one time, had a pet shop in Cabramatta which was called the Arthur Street Pet Shop. They bred birds in their backyard as a hobby.
Beverley has many memories of Fairfield and Canley Vale and describes in detail some of the shops of the time. She also remembers the days of hawkers who came to homes plying their wares and the iceman’s call to deliver ice for their ice box.
Details
IntervieweeBeverley ArgallInterviewerMarilyn GalloDate of interview10/09/2007DurationTotal interview 00:42:18Transcripts availableYesRightsFairfield City CouncilAccess ConditionsAccess open for research, written permission required for personal copies and public use
Connections
Oral History ProjectThe Way We Were - People of FairfieldCollectionAll Oral HistoriesRelated itemsTrevor Argall Oral History
Beverley Argall Oral History. Fairfield City Heritage Collection, accessed 10/07/2026, https://heritagecollection.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/621