Our History

The name Roberts has been synonymous with men's fashion in Toowoomba for the last 85 years. The business was founded in 1912, by Mr H. L. Roberts, whose father was a tailor in the 1890's with stores in Brisbane, Boonah and Gatton.

Roberts first store was opened in Russell Street next to Geo Cossart, but moved to Australia House where Rendezvous Coffee and Tea Lounge is now located. 

In 1955 Trevor Nahrung joined the staff as a young lad from school. Two years later in1959 saw the closure of the laneway beside the store and an opportunity to extend. This was the beginning of the very successful Roberts Boylands section.
A promotion in 1965 saw Mr Nahrung become manager of the whole store and his sister Dell Painter joined the staff as a part-time bookkeeper.

The store saw quite a few changes during the next 14 years, one being the addition of a formal suit hire department.

In May 1978 Trevor Nahrung and his wife Robyn purchased the business from the late Arthur Roberts and his wife Zilla.

The store was extended in 1980 to Duggan Street when Trevor and Robyn ventured into ladies fashions and sportswear for men. In1982, five years to the month, a raging inferno swept through the shop destroying the Ruthven Street section completely and leaving the Duggan street section severely water and smoke damaged.

In true Roberts tradition, trade recommenced two days later in a small shop in Margaret Street. Christmas 1982 saw the completion of the refurbishment of the building and recommencement of trading from the Ruthven Street store. Since then many changes have taken place! Formal hire and suit departments were both extended and in 1995 the addition of the very popular "Gasoline Alley Jeanery".

Gasoline Alley carries a large selection of jeans by famous names such as Levi's, Jag, Tarocash, Ben Sherman and YD to name a few.

Today Roberts Menswear and Roberts Formal Hire covers 613 square metres of men's fashion and formal hire, making it one of the largest privately owned menswear stores in Australia.

Roberts Menswear is and has been very much a family business with Trevor and Robyn's children Trent and Melinda also being involved in the business. When asked about changes for the new century the one thing Trevor said, was that Roberts Menswear would retain, as it has done for the past 93 years, the personalised friendly service, backed by quality mechanise, at affordable prices.

In 2003 Melinda and her husband Simon purchased Roberts Formal Hire from Trevor and Robyn and in early 2005 purchased Roberts Menswear completing the changeover. Simon and Melinda have made a few changes to the store layout but the friendly staff and quality menswear that we have become known for has and will continue well into the future...