"Stanton Melick at Sydney 1948".

Constantine (Stanton) Melick was born in Lebanon in 1864 and worked as a stonemason before coming to Australia. He was one of the pioneers of the Lebanese community in New South Wales, and exemplifies the early successful Lebanese entrepreneurs of Redfern. He arrived in Sydney in 1888. Like many of his fellow Syrians [as the Lebanese were then termed] he set up business in the suburb of Redfern. His was one of a number of these fabric, warehousing and manufacturing businesses which prospered and became large well known institutions in in the Elizabeth Street, Redfern area. By 1900 his was one of the largest and most established suppliers to the Manchester trade in Australia. His contempories included the Dans, Correys, Lahoods, Hannas, and Solomons.

These businesses supplied very many of the drapery and manchester hawkers who sold their wares throughout New South Wales. Melicks and other Redfern businesses often extended small amounts of training, credit and stock to new arrivals in order to get them started, and later were major suppliers to the network of Lebanese owned businesses that spread throughout rural areas.

Stanton Melick was naturalized in 1897. He married Florence Sunderland (1875-1959) at Mosman in 1910. Together they contributed to Lebanese and Sydney society. Stanton did much to promote the interests of small business people, especially those in country areas. Stanton died working at his desk in his warehouse, aged 91 in 1955. His warehouse building in Elizabeth Street Redfern, bearing his name and marked '1889' on the facade, still stands today.

"Stanton Melick's Letterhead - 1931"

Stanton Melick: Warehousemen & Manufacturers, 20-22 Elizabeth St. Redfern, Sydney, 13th May 1931. Established 1889.
S. Melick. A. Melick. A.B.C. Codes Used (4th and 5th Editions). Cable Address: 'Melick' Sydney. Telephone Red 136.