Located in Otho Street next door to the Oxford Hotel, the business comprised of two timber shopfronts with an entrance to the rear between the buildings.

New plate glass front windows were added to increase display space, acetylene gas was installed throughout the building and bulk stores for grain and produce were built behind the shopfront.

Cansdell’s stocked a large variety of goods from toys, leathergoods, clothing, and groceries to farm equipment.

By 1905 the main building next to the Oxford Hotel had been extensively renovated with a decorative brick facade similar to the new buildings across the road.

The sign at the front, with the date 1901, read THE LEADING MERCHANTS CANSDELL & Co DIRECT IMPORTERS.

Further renovations took place in 1912 when the laneway between the buildings was built over and greater floor and window space created.

A large cellar was built under the grocery section, a cantilever verandah added at the front and electric lighting installed.

Mr. Cansdell was a keen sportsman and encouraged staff football and cricket teams.

During World War I, his staff packed boxes of goods for soldiers serving overseas and assisted the Red Cross with the packing and transportation of clothing parcels to the railway station.

He served on committees of several organisations at Inverell and donated land for the building of cottages for War Widows.

Mr Cansdell died at Inverell in 1918. The store bearing his name continued trading, and, with Burge Bros. was purchased by Grocer and General Merchants Inc in 1951. Five years later they introduced a modern ‘self service’ grocery section.

Cansdell’s Otho Street store was eventually sold and they reopened in Burge Bros renovated premises in 1958.

During 1961 the Inverell Motel opened on the site of Cansdell’s former Otho street store. The Byron street store became Permewans and today is the home of Best and Less.