Old friends William ‘Bill’ Messer and Francis ‘Frank’ Opie first opened their tailors on Bridge Street in 1935. The two had first known each other through the Ballarat Harriers Athletic Club before the war.
In 1915, they enlisted four days apart, both aged 18. At the time, Messer was working as a draper and Opie as a draper’s assistant. Both men served in France and earned military medals for bravery. Messer added a bar to his medal for bravery in an incident which resulted in severe injuries to his thigh.
In the years after the war, they were both working up the street at Morsheads department store, when they entertained the prospect of going in to business together over lunch one day. The conversation was overheard and relayed to W.R. Morshead, after which they were both fired.
Messer and Opie put their words into action and opened up shop in 1935, weathering the recovery years following the great depression – during which they were known for generously extending long term loans for struggling families. In the late 1940’s Messer’s son, Bill Jr., joined the family business.
In July 1956, the store was looted, with thieves making off with £5,000 of stock, including “120 suits, 14 Harris tweed sports coats, about 270 shirts, a quantity of ties, socks and football guernseys, and a number of travelling rugs and kitbags.”
In later years, Messer & Opie became known for providing school uniforms and clothing alterations. In 2013, after 78 years of ownership by the Messer and Opie families, the business was sold to Edward Harry. Expert tailor Bernie Franklin continued to work at the store after it changed hands, notching up an incredible 50 years at the store in 2019.
Messer & Opie continue to operate amidst the havoc of works to restore Bridge Street Mall to a thoroughfare, returning the street to a semblance of what it was when Messer & Opie first opened almost 90 years ago.
What are your memories of Messer & Opie?
What a marvellous store and still is…I went to boarding school in the 60s at Clarendon and my parents shopped there up untill their passing…(dad 2016)….
Absolutely the best service and nothing was ever too much trouble…And a big shout out to Bernie and also to Frank…My sister also worked here when she was at uni…
Just great memories of an era that has now gone, but not forgotten…
Lovely story. I remember the man tapping in the window.
Is it still there?
I’m not in Ballarat now.
Great story thank you , remember going there in the 60,70
Where the little man taps in the window. What happened to him is he stored upstairs somewhere??
Michael Taffe he was retired about 7 or 8 years ago and has a safe home
Serviced there pa system for many years great families to work for.
Remember coming down from Ararat to have a suit fitting and purchase some other clothes.
My sister Joan Johnson worked for them in the 1950’s
I used to work at Mirraclene Dry Cleaners and remember Messer and Opie store well. Staff were always so helpful 
Always a good selection of clothing when I was a youngster in the 1950s and 60s
Jay Grib
I worked there for over 10 years loved every day
Was taken there for my first pair of jodhpurs
The only place Mum would by my clothes from as a young fella, and had to be served by Mr Sarah. Also hired my wedding suit from there.
Shoes always came from Oxbrows, a couple of doors down.
I think Johnny Winter wouldn’t be too far behind Bernie.
Wow. Love these posts. 
They were very charitable also- donated our school uniforms to our (single) Mum.
As a child, I won a bike in one of their competitions. From memory, it had to do with Father’s Day. There was a picture in the Courier of me being presented with it. The bike was a Peugeot that folded up.
My mum worked there in 30s
Views: 106
