Mr John Garde Drew was born in 1828 in Ireland. He arrived in Australia in 1841 and was appointed Howlong's first postmaster in 1961. He operated a general store and died in 1901. He was buried in the Howlong Cemetery. His son John Garde Drew Junior was born in 1861 and was a stockman. He established a butcher shop that was located directly opposite the entrance to Lowe Square. He married Ms Alice Easterby and died in 1947. During his life the decision was made to move the butcher shop uptown to the location indicated on the map. The shop remained in the ownership of the Drew family until it was eventually sold by Mr Harry Drew in 1966. This site is now occupied by a funeral parlor.
