Shelta’s origins were in 1911 Sydney when three brothers William, Herbert and Alfred House with friend Ebenezer Phillips bought out the remains of a fire ravaged business, Excelsior Umbrellas.

The name was changed and ‘Shelta’ opened for business in January 1911, in Kent Street, Sydney. Shelta prospered. In 1932, Herbert’s 16 year old son Ralph joined the firm as an office boy, and in 1937 Alfred’s son Douglas became Shelta’s suburban sales rep.