Bendigo Ufs Pharmacies
Toiletries in Greater Bendigo

We are a 140 year used notforprofit membership organization, delivering a expansive range of pharmacy and health related products and services to over 11,00 household members throughout the Greater Bendigo Region. The organization contributes to the local community through its Building a Healthier Community Program which now distributes over 60,00 per year to groups and organizations of all shapes and sizes. The program is an essential portion of the organization’s ethos as a not for profit local institution. Few businesses can boast a history of such growth, turmoil, resilience and success. Fewer have survived for such a lengthy period and seen through so much change. It was formed for the earnings of many Bendigo lodges, orders and sociable societies, providing medicines and medical advice to members, their wives and children. The grand United Order of Odd Fellows held their meetings in an upstairs boardroom and the peephole where the password was given is quiet in the door. After long debate, the case was dismissed and shop sales were stopped to the public. This, along with the depressed economy of the time, had adverse effect on sales. The pharmacy’s history tracks the social and health issues through the years. In the premature days, lard, sugar and honey made up as many sales as drugs. In the premature 1950’s, the dispensary moved from the Niagara to 68 Pall Mall, and membership levels began to drop. During the 60s, cosmetics became increasingly popular, a dental center was established and the dispensary expanded into View St. The View St shop was never a huge success, eventually closing in 1973 to make way for a fresh site in King St. A decline in membership, bad debtors and 60,00 in the red made the 1980’s a time of crisis for the dispensary and in 1982, the dental clinic closed. This led to the dispensary opening its doors to the public and in 1984, it started enrolling members, virtually off the street, for a 5 annual fee. Not long thereafter the Pall Mall deposit was relocated to a fresh purpose built pharmacy at the corner of View and Barnard Street. The intention of the fresh pharmacy was to be innovative and unique through features such as Bendigo’s first drive through script drop off, a coffee shop, consulting rooms for new services, baby change facilities and others. With the extra stores at Maiden Gully and Strathfieldsaye, the new services and product ranges, and relocation of the Pall Mall store the group membership grew dramatically from honest over 8,00 to in surplus of 11,00 household memberships in the Bendigo region. Over its history the society has mapped many social changes in Bendigo, from when lodges and orders were widespread and people fought Miners’ Phthisis and other health epidemics. From when popular shop items were lard and sugar to today’s items of cosmetics, skin protection and gift ware. Although throughout this change the societies’ aim has remained the equivalent to exist for the profit of its members and the wider Bendigo community. UBS Pharmacies is a community enterprise established in 1872. This means we exist to yield benefits to our members and the community through the provision of health products and services in the Greater Bendigo Region. Any surplus’s generated are reinvested in our business to create more services for our customers.

Few businesses can boast a history of such growth, turmoil, resilience and success. Fewer have survived for such a lengthy period and seen through so much change. It was formed for the profit of many Bendigo lodges, orders and cordial societies, providing medicines and medical advice to members, their wives and children. The grand United Order of Weird Fellows held their meetings in an upstairs boardroom and the peephole where the password was given is calm in the door. After long debate, the case was dismissed and shop sales were stopped to the public. This, along with the dejected economy of the time, had harmful effect on sales. The pharmacy’s history tracks the social and health issues through the years. In the early days, lard, sugar and honey made up as many sales as drugs. In the premature 1950’s, the dispensary moved from the Niagara to 68 Pall Mall, and membership levels began to drop. During the 60s, cosmetics became increasingly popular, a dental center was established and the dispensary expanded into View St. The View St shop was never a vast success, eventually closing in 1973 to make way for a new site in King St. A decline in membership, disobedient debtors and 60,00 in the red made the 1980’s a time of crisis for the dispensary and in 1982, the dental clinic closed. This led to the dispensary opening its doors to the public and in 1984, it started enrolling members, virtually off the street, for a 5 annual fee. The Strathfieldsaye store became the third place in the group and was an essential element in the growth plans for the society particularly given its location in a vibrant an