It is not known where T. George Farrant was apprenticed, but we do know that he commenced a small saddlery business in 1888. He was a respected member of the Saddle, Harness and Collar Makers Society having the position of Vice President in 1891. However in 1892 it was reported that he had resigned the position vice-president, Mr G. Farrant, stating that he had commenced business in Melbourne. The resignation was prompted by a move from his old shop to the vibrant Kirk’s Horse Bazaar area. Obviously George had expected a big increase in turnover, so needed his full concentration, with no distractions.

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1916 saw a branch of Farrants opened in a southern suburb of Sandringham, next door to the suburb of Hampton, where the Farrants lived. History is a bit clouded as to when this store shut its doors.

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In 1922 Farrants was floated on the market becoming a Pty Ltd company offering 10,000 shares at one pound each. Subscribers to memorandum were Theodore George Farrant and John Saville Eastwood, a grazier from Violet Town.

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George must have been aware of the upcoming closure and demolition of Kirks Horse Bazaar, as in 1926 the Farrant’s Building was constructed for his saddle manufacturing. With the subdivision and sale of land after the closure of the horse bazaar in 1925-1926, Farrant’s applied to the City of Melbourne to construct a three-storey building at the Little Bourke Street site, to the corner of Hardware Lane, to a value of £3,700. The shop's actual address was 387-9 Little Bourke Street, as shown in their advertisements.

 

The building incorporated two ground floor shops fronting the newly created extension to Hardware Lane. Farrant’s remained at the site at least until the early 1950s, although parts of the building were variously occupied by other businesses including a leather goods merchant, manufacturers’ agents and embroiders.

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A small advertisement was run advertising stock at greatly reduced prices in 1954 and the business name of Farrants Proprietory Limited was de-registered on 17 July 1958.

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As there were very few stories about both George and the saddlery business, the advertisements below will have to do the talking of these infamous saddles. These saddles were well made, high quality craftsmanship and very comfortable to sit in. Theodore George Farrant's death was recorded at Hampton, on 09 September, 1936 and was buried at the Boroondara Cemetery, Kew.