The story of the Argo family begins in 1911, when fifteen-year-old William, known to everyone as Bill, arrived in Australia with his parents and siblings. The family settled in Spring Hill, where Bill spent his formative teenage years.
In 1915, as war overseas intensified, Bill enlisted in the Army and was sent to Egypt for training. His service, however, was short-lived. While overseas, doctors discovered he was suffering from a serious medical condition, and he was sent home in 1916. After many months in hospital, Bill was discharged as medically unfit and returned to his family.
A new chapter began in 1918 when Bill’s father purchased a property in Chermside, prompting the family to leave Spring Hill behind. At the time, Chermside was a developing outer suburb, characterised by open land and growing opportunity. The move placed the Argos at the centre of a community that would expand steadily in the decades that followed.
In 1925, Bill married Helen, and the couple built their home in Hall Street, firmly anchoring the family in Chermside life. Economic hardship in the late 1920s forced many families to adapt, and the Argos were no exception. In 1928, with work increasingly scarce, Bill moved his young family to Yedna near Kilcoy to work in a sawmill. Although practical, the move was temporary. Their return to Chermside in 1932 marked a turning point and the beginning of the family enterprise that would define their local legacy.
Building Argo Sports Depot and a Chermside Legacy
That year, Bill established Argo Sports Depot and Cycle Works in a small shop beside the Dawn Theatre. The business specialised in bicycle sales, repairs and sporting goods, quickly becoming a familiar and trusted presence. By about 1935, the Argos had purchased Sammell’s old store on the corner of Gympie Road and Hall Street, along with the vacant land beside it, allowing the business to expand. A new retail shop was built, while the corner building became a workshop, with a shed behind housing bicycle manufacturing.
Frames were constructed from steel tubes, carefully joined, finished and hand-decorated before final assembly. By 1939, eight men were employed. During the Second World War, the business continued with reduced staff and served as the local air raid warden’s post. Although imports eventually ended local manufacturing, the business remained until its closure in 1957.
Featured image: Argos Bike Shop | Images courtesy of Chermside & Districts Historical Society
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