New name at helm of Waverley business E.C. Dallison & Sons after 100-plus years

Kylie James (left) has bought EC Dallison & Sons from Brent and Barb Dallison. Photo / Bevan Conley

It's the end of an era for a well-known Waverley business; after more than 100 years general store E.C. Dallison & Sons is changing hands.

The Weraroa Rd store has been run by three generations of the Dallison family - the latest Brent and his wife, Barb, who have sold the business to Kylie James.

"It's been a good transition but you feel sad - we're the last of the generations," Brent said.

"It was during Covid that got us thinking about it."

James, who lives on a Waverley dairy farm, took over on Monday, March 29.

Barb said knowing the new owner had been "a bonus" for the transition process and she and Brent would stay on to help out.

James, whose background is in horses, interior design and retail, has some plans for renovations but it will remain a general store and the name won't change.

"It's an honour to take the name," James said.

"It's so exciting. This is a one-stop-shop. You can pick something up for anybody here. That's what I love about it.

"People can't travel [due to Covid-19 restrictions] so they're renovating, buying a new pair of shoes, laying carpet, buying new beds."

The store was an attraction for people travelling through South Taranaki and was well known for its quirkiness, she said.

The building has stood in Weraroa Rd, Waverley, since about 1890. Photo / Bevan Conley

James has plans to restore the building.

"I don't want to take anything away from it - it will be done in a tasteful heritage manner. I'll repaint and do some modernising but I'm firm on keeping the heritage.

"I've got big boots to fill and there's so much to learn. It's exciting they get to retire and scale down."

James and the Dallisons said Waverley was "moving ahead" with more people relocating there.

Brent and Barb said they were looking forward to having more free time, with Barb planning to play more golf and get into the garden and Brent doing more whitebaiting and fishing.

They're also waiting for their daughter Amy, who lives in Canada, to give birth to their first grandchild and want to get over there as soon as possible when travel restrictions allow.

E.C. Dallison & Sons was established by Edwin Charles (Ted) Dallison in 1919. Brent's father, Ross, and Ross' brothers Max and Cyril joined Ted at the shop and then took over from him. Max moved on to run a clothing store in Kawerau and Cyril retired when Brent came into the business in 1974.

The building has stood in Weraroa Rd since about 1890. J. Muir & Son ran a drapery in the building before Ted Dallison bought it in 1919.