Birchalls
{{Short description|Former Tasmanian bookstore}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Birchalls Ltd
| logo =
| type = Bookstore
| founded = {{Start date and age|1844}} in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
| founder = Samuel Tegg
| defunct = {{Start date and age|2017}}
| hq_location_city = Launceston, Tasmania
| hq_location_country = Australia
| area_served = Tasmania
| owner = Tilley family
| num_employees = 40
| num_employees_year = 2016
| website =
}}
Birchalls Ltd was a Tasmanian bookstore, former publisher, education supply and stationery company. Founded in 1844 by Samuel Tegg,{{cite web|title=The Companion to Tasmanian History - Birchalls|url=http://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/B/Birchalls%20Pty%20Ltd.htm|website=utas.edu.au|publisher=University of Tasmania|access-date=6 January 2017}} it was the oldest book store Australia at the time of its closing.{{cite journal |author=Michael Hess |via=Informit |journal=Tasmanian Historical Studies |volume=12 |pages=91–110 |title=Ray Tilley of Birchalls: Innovation in the Book Trade |url=http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=123295352429530;res=IELAPA |url-access=subscription |access-date=6 January 2017|date=January 2007}}{{cite web|title=Our History|url=http://www.birchalls.com.au/index.php/about-us-mainmenu-133/our-history-mainmenu-41|website=www.birchalls.com.au|publisher=Birchalls|access-date=6 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106103545/http://www.birchalls.com.au/index.php/about-us-mainmenu-133/our-history-mainmenu-41|archive-date=6 January 2017}} In 1902 J. A. Birchall, owner of the store, invented the first commercial notepad.{{cite web|title=10 Aussie inventions that make your life easier|url=http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/history-culture/2014/03/10-aussie-inventions-that-make-your-life-easier|website=australiangeographic.com.au|date=7 March 2014 |publisher=Australian Geographic|access-date=6 January 2017}} The Tilley family have owned the company since 1969. It was announced the store would close in 2017 after ten months for sale with no buyer.{{cite news|last1=Stone|first1=Lucy|title=Birchalls to write their final chapter|url=http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/4388867/birchalls-to-write-their-final-chapter/|access-date=6 January 2017|work=The Advocate|publisher=The Advocate|date=6 January 2017}}
History
Birchalls was founded in 1844 by Samuel Tegg, as the Launceston outlet for his Hobart book store. Blake, Huxtable and Duthie purchased it from Samuel Tegg, and in 1863 J. Walch & Sons became the owners. Andrew Birchall became manager and in 1867 became a business partner. Until 1893 it was Walch Bros and Birchall, when it changed to just Birchalls. During the 19th century it was active as a publisher of music scores and sermon pamphlets.{{cite web|title=A. W. Birchall, Bookseller & Book Publisher, Launceston, Tasmania |url=http://www.auspostalhistory.com/articles/1836.php|website=www.auspostalhistory.com|access-date=2017-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106104411/http://www.auspostalhistory.com/articles/1836.php|archive-date=2017-01-06}} In 1967 the centenary of Birchalls family ownership of the company was commemorated by a plaque at their Brisbane Street Store in Launceston, stating that "knowledge art and culture have been disseminated from this site since 1844."{{cite web|last1=Design|first1=UBC Web|title=Birchall's Stationery Store Centenary {{!}} Monument Australia|url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/technology/industry/display/70499-birchall%60s-stationery-store-centenary|website=monumentaustralia.org.au}} Stanley Tilley began work at Birchalls in 1928, and in 1969 purchased the store. In November 2016 they sold the property of their Brisbane Street store, which they had occupied continually since 1844, and in early 2017 announced they would close the store after ten months of the company being for sale. Their education supply business will remain operating to be sold separately.