The Gerard McCabe Story
At Gerard McCabe, our family connection with excellence and fine jewellery runs deep. Now, upon the 30th Birthday of Gerard McCabe Jewellers, we are taking the time to reflect on how our history has shaped who we are today.
Discover the story behind our Adelaide diamond specialists, and how it has given us the potential to bring to you jewellery pieces like no other.
1878 McCabe Tailors
For over a century, the McCabe family has enjoyed a history of flourishing business in Rundle Mall. On May 9, 1978 Patrick McCabe (1833-1920) journeyed from Ireland to Australia aboard the "Camperdown" with his wife and five children.
The passenger list notes Patrick as an agricultural labourer, but one week after his arrival in Adelaide he opened up his own tailor shop on Hindley Street.
Patrick's son, Patrick McCabe (1865-1945), or Paddy as he was known, was an apprentice tailor to his father. Paddy McCabe was known for being a clerical tailor, specialising in making robes for priests. Throughout his life, he opened tailor shops in Gawler Place, Grenfell Street and Gresham Street. Paddy's son, Frank McCabe, also began his career as a tailor.
Frank later got involved with the buying and selling of sovereigns which led him to obtain a coveted gold buyers license. The jewellery business (Frank McCabe Jewellers) was a natural evolution from there.
1966 Patrick McCabe
Frank had seven sons and eventually one daughter, and Gerard's father Patrick (the eldest, 1922-1989) entered the business after serving in WWII. He spent his early years working on the bench, and in 1966 when the business moved to its present location in Gawler Place, he became the opal buyer, valuer and designer.
The business thrived during these years as an exporter of opals, supplier of stones and stock to the trade and as a retail manufacturing outlet.
After Frank died in 1974, the business started to wane and Frank's share was sold to Eric.
1986 Gerard McCabe
On April 1st, 1986 Gerard and his wife Pauline began Gerard McCabe Jewellers in Room 428 Edments Building. Trading in secondhand and antique jewellery, they manufactured rings while providing a trade valuation service to over 30 jewellery stores.
In his 'retirement', Gerard's father Pat was a great help doing most of the valuation work while Gerard concentrated on making sales.
Pauline was responsible for the bookwork initially, until the arrival of their third and fourth children. In 1989, a week after Pat's death, the business moved to 12 Adelaide Arcade. Over the years, strong growth ensued and eventually the business expanded, taking the store next door in 1993 and increasing sales by 48%.
1996 The Business Expands
In 1996, Gerard and Pauline celebrated the 10-year anniversary of their business. To celebrate, the adjacent upstairs room in Adelaide Arcade was leased and made into a workshop.
In May 1999, the store was refurbished to reflect one of Adelaide's premier jewellers, taking on a Bond Street look.
In 1998, Gerard McCabe Jewellers began its sponsorship of the Bone Growth Foundation, becoming the naming rights sponsor for the foundation's annual celebrity challenge from 2000 to 2009, helping raise funds and awareness for the charity.
2002 The Next Generation
On June 1st, 2002, a second store trading as Gerard McCabe Concepts opened in Rundle Mall Plaza 50 Rundle Mall.
1st April, 2006 marked the 20th anniversary of Gerard McCabe Jewellers.
On this day, the company's head office moved location from above the Adelaide Arcade store to a spacious office located at 55 Gawler Place.
In February 2009, Gerard officially took over Tiffany's Café to move into the Grenfell Street corner position of Adelaide Arcade. The lease for the store beginning on April 1st, the store is now managed by Gerard's son, Justin. Gerard's other three children Jessica, Lauren and Daniel have all been involved in the business in areas of sales, workshop administration and marketing, continuing the McCabe business tradition in and around Rundle Mall for 6 generations.
At Gerard McCabe, our rich family history shines through in every aspect of our business. This journey continues to shape us and our Adelaide jewellery pieces, allowing us to develop magnificent jewellery that tells a story.
If you would like to explore more about Gerard McCabe, you can find more information about us here. Otherwise, we invite you to explore our exquisite range of antique, vintage, retro and estate jewellery. These unique, masterfully crafted antique and period jewellery pieces are one-of-a-kind, and can become a part of your own story.
