St James - The Home Of GJ Coles The Coles Story - it all started here! Not many people realise that the tiny town of St James is the home of the very first Coles store. George Coles Snr. purchased the north Eastern Stores in St James and Lake Rowan in 1882 and GJ Coles was born in 1885 attending the St James State School. The shops sold a great variety from household … [Read more...] about St James