Old news from Armidale and New England

Wednesday 1 December 1954, The Canberra Times

The death of Mr. Robert Eli Snow, formerly of Canberra, occurred suddenly at Wahroonga Sanitorium yesterday.

Mr. Snow, who was 77, was one one the pioneer businessmen of Canberra. and was the founder of Snows, drapers and mercers at Civic Centre.

Mr. Snow was born at Hillgrove, in the New England district, in 1877. At the age of 16 he entered business at Armidale, and later followed dairying in the Dorrigo area.

About 1923 he entered the drapery business at Yass, transferring to a small shop at Kingston in Canberra’s earliest years.

When the first building was completed at Civic Centre, he established the present premises, carrying on business there until last year, when he retired, and took up residence in Sydney.

Mr. Snow was a prominent member of the Canberra City Bowling Club and for many years was a member of the Canberra Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Snow’s father was a Cornish miner who came to Hillgrove during the period of gold development. Mr. Snow retained a strong interest in his birthplace, and in later years had interests in a mining syndicate to revive Bakers Creek mine at Hillgrove. He is survived by his widow, two sons, Robert and John, and a daughter, Gloria (Mrs. McGlade), and two stepchildren, Alman and Syd.