One of Adelaide’s oldest owned family jewellers, Archer & Holland are retiring and closing their doors after 106 years of operation.

The South Australian family-owned business was established in 1918 on the corner of King William Road and Hindley Street where it quickly gained a reputation for creating unique and beautiful pieces. It has since become one of the oldest fine jewellers in Adelaide.

It is with a heavy heart that Bill Whiting – grandson of Archer & Holland co-founder Herbert Holland – and Meredith Whiting have decided to close their doors.

Bill and Meredith have run the business for more than 40 years and are recognised for nurturing the dying art of building exquisite jewellery, remodelling and jewellery repairs.

“As hard as it might be, we think it’s time,” Bill says.

Bill is one of the last remaining Master Jewellers in our state having perfected the craft of hand making jewellery for more than 53 years.

His retirement is the end of an era for Adelaide with very few remaining who carry all of the jewellery skills including design, handbuilding, repairing, and setting.

Bill continues, “Over the years, we’ve loved designing pieces to help mark the special moments in peoples’ lives, such as countless wedding and engagement rings, and have found it an honour to create family heirlooms that have been passed down generations. We thank all our customers for their continued support over the years.”

High-profile customers have walked through their doors over the years, including American singer/songwriter, Alice Cooper, who bought a necklace, the Governor of South Australia, Francis Adamson, sports players and actors. The family also has connections with the Royal family.

Bill’s a descendent of the Hollands, who originated in Christchurch, New Zealand. His ancestor was Sidney Holland, who served as Mayor, then Prime Minister of New Zealand, he was knighted after the war for arranging food packages to England.

When Queen Elizabeth II visited New Zealand, a group of jewellers led by Archer & Holland, donated a generous opal of about 300 carats, which was split, with half given to the Queen. The piece was held by the family for years before selling it. The family still have photos of Sidney with the Queen and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill.

Herbert Archer & Herbert Holland who was an Adelaide City Councillor, opened Archer & Holland in 1918, it thrived for many years until the depression in the 1930s, when Herbert Holland bought out Herbert Archer’s share of the business.

When Herbert Holland died in 1957, the business was taken over by his daughters until his grandson, Bill, and his wife, Meredith, bought the business from his parents John and Mary in 1992.

Archer & Holland will close its doors within months and have their final sale on now.