Corner of High Street and Sladen Street, Cranbourne, late 1930s

This site was diagonally opposite the current Police Station, on the north-west corner, opposite the old Shire Offices. Lawson Burdett Poole established his garage in 1919.

Photo credit to Cranbourne Shire Historical Society.

This was the first garage in Cranbourne, when it opened in 1919. Lawson is also credited with having the first car, a 1918 Buick, in Cranbourne. In 1932 he married Laura Mary Brunt, they had no children.

Lawson was a Life Governor of the Dandenong Hospital, where a ward was named after him, and also a Justice of the Peace. He was a longtime member of the Cranbourne Turf Club, and Chairman from 1959 to 1979.

This 1959 aerial view shows the garage on the corner of Sladen and Hight Street,

opposite the old Shire Offices. Also visible is the old Police Station and the racecourse

just within the top of the picture. 

Laura passed away in 1981, Lawson would continue for another 6 years before he died in 1987. The garage was demolished around 1983, possibly. You can find the family grave in the Cranbourne Cemetery.

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