Rob’s Bentleg celebrates 30th anniversary

By Tim Howard

Bentleg Market owner Rob Bentley was definitely a visionary when he opened the business that has become a landmark in Skinner St, South Grafton on November 14, 30 years ago.

At a time when it was not uncommon for the occasional horseback rider to hitch his pony outside shops in the street, Mr Bentley had spotted a niche market in art supplies, materials and picture frames.

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It was a surprise move for a boat builder who’d left the family business in Sydney in 1989 to build yachts on the Clarence River.

“I’d moved out of a family partnership in 1989 to come here to build yachts, but by 1993 I’d worked out that wasn’t going to happen,” he said.

“I was in the Rural Fire Service at Pillar Valley and we had a big night out where I wound up with a broken leg/“

It was a setback that proved decisive. With 11 and a half months to think about the future, Rob decided it was time to think about a job.

Fortunately for the artistic community in the Valley and beyond, that was as far as it got.

Realising he had worked in the family business since he was eight and never for anyone else, slaving for wages wasn’t going to cut it.

Bentleg Market owner Robert Bentley answers a call from a customer from outside the Valley looking for supplies.

“I thought I’d better start a business,” he said. “It was that time when markets were really happening and I thought a shop that had that sort of vibe was the way to go.”

He focused on art supplies and framing and areas where his skills on the tools might be handy.

Rob said the clue to where he might be able to find a niche in the market came suddenly.

“TAFE was operating painting and drawing classes across the road from my little shop, and this girl kept coming over to my shop to buy paint,” he said.

“I realised there was only person doing it and I was sure I do it better than anyone else.

“Anyway, you have to back yourself.”

He said a lot of his attitudes, like making his picture frames, are old school.

“I’ve always been a handy person,” he said. “Building boats gives you lots of that.

“When I do frames I like to make them from scratch and hand colour them. It’s old school but it’s a point of difference.”

To finance his vision, he sold a block of land and set up shop in the art supply business and Bentleg Market was born.

The decision to open in South Grafton has been another winner.

Rob freely admits the southern side of Grafton has been perceived as the wrong side of the river.

Shelves stocked with just about anything an artist could desire make the Bentleg Market a haven for the Clarence art community and beyond.

But it worked the opposite way for his business.

“People were reluctant to cross the river 30 years ago, before the levees were finished,” he said.

“The quality of the housing was a not the same. There was a bit of fear about what might happen to you.”

The last 30 years have brought a change as Skinner St and its environs have become Grafton’s Bohemian side with niche businesses, music, cafe culture and arts and crafts attracting people from inside the city and visitors as well.

Rob said the South side with its access to the Pacific and Gwydir Highways, the railway station and the airport has been a boon to his business.

“Many of my customers come from outside Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Glenn Innes and Armidale as well as Sydney and Brisbane,” he said.

“Nearly everyone who comes here has to travel through South Grafton.”

Rob said it was the location of businesses in Skinner St, like his, Newcombe’s Saddlery and others were niche businesses that brought people to the area.

He has also opened up space in his shop for local artists to run classes, free of charge.

But after 30 years Rob is beginning to think of the future and would welcome someone who could take on the business and develop its potential to reach a whole new level.

“I’ve always like to paint, draw, sculpt and I’m writing some poetry,” he said. “Over time I’ve dropped down to five days a week in the shop. Now I close at 4pm.

“I can see a time when I will want to spend a lot more of my time doing those things.”

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