Click on images to enlarge
1880
2 October 1880
30 October 1880
1882
18 February 1882
18 February 1882
Market Street Mudgee.
THE name of Mudgee has become familiar in connection with the return of well-known politicians to represent the constituency in the Legislative Assembly, the latest instance being that of Sir John Robertson, who, as acting Colonial Secretary, found it necessary to resign his seat in the Legislative Council for the purpose of taking a place in the Lower House. It forms the centre of a large pastoral district, and at the same time of an immense amount of agricultural industry. The town, which was proclaimed a municipality on 21st February, 1860, under the control of a mayor and eight aldermen, is built on the Cudgegong River, and on the line of road to the north-western districts. The main street runs close to the river, and from it are parallel and cross streets, all well laid out at right angles, and of good width. By their extension it is proposed to occupy a slightly elevated and undulating plain back to the range line. The site of the township is an amphitheatre, surrounded by ranges and lofty, rugged mountains, and the view from the latter gives a magni-ficent prospect, stretching away to the westward, indicating the course of the river and the rich pastures on its banks. There are many fine buildings in the town, public and private, Market Street, of which we give an illustration, looking towards the east, being the principal thoroughfare4
.
1892
28 May 1892
1896
24 October 1896
1899
1904
1907
1911
29 Nov 1911
1916
11 February 1916
1920s
Market Street has undergone numerous changes in appearance as a variety of shops have been established, changed hands and then disappeared to make way from more substantial buildings. On the southern side, from the Lewis Street corner stood the old Royal Hotel. In its heyday, it was the town's premier hotel. On its western side stood an old two-storey building used by George Davidson, a solicitor, and then by Jack Thomas, a dentist, for some years. Terry's Bakery, Bryant's Butchery and Denny Teong, a tailor, Gordon McKay, a woollen skin buyer, and Dick Hazel's blacksmith shop also traded in this area.
Jack and Leo Austin established a garage occupying the old Amusement Theatre and sold Ford and Essex cars. The garage is now trading under the name of Ross Granata Motors. St Mary's Presbytery and Church on the corner are well-known landmarks, being beautiful sandstone buildings of architectural merit included in the National Trust Register of Historic Buildings.
Across Church Street and adjoining the bank, Harry and Dora Williams run a hire car business and photography shop. They were previously in Leckie's premises in Church Street. Later Bill Connolly ran an electrical appliance store here until about 1960. The old Thomas’ Boot and Shoe shop next door was later in the hands of W V Bolle, and then Searles, also selling footwear. Davidson and Hickson solicitors (later Donnelly and Williams) have occupied the next premises, a very old building, whose present tenants are Dear and Loneragan. Jack Nelson ran a barber shop on the eastern side of the Clubhouse Hotel, a very attractive building with an iron lace balcony - and Lewis Casimir was a barber on the other side. Conn's Tea Rooms and Bakery - well known to most Mudgee residents and later run by George Holmes - now houses the Property Shop Real Estate. Richardson's Jewellery and Watch Repairs is now Byrne’s Jewellery and it is certain that countless Mudgee couples have purchased engagement and wedding rings from this shop!
McCully's Haberdashery and Clothing Shop supplied men's and ladies’ clothing, together with knitting, wool and material on the side of the present Mudgee Newsagency. Keith McCully began selling and repairing wireless sets after the war, in addition to selling menswear. The Old Town Hall Hotel is now known as the Colonial Mecca building, minus the balcony next to Dale and Elton's Pharmacy, which was originally designed with an unusual and elaborate veranda. MacPherson and Bawden solicitors were next door. This was later the office of Jack Hill and is now occupied by Tom Spring. Sister Pasco conducted one of Mudgee's First Ladies’ Hairdressing Salons next to Roley Woods’ Service Station. Murphy's Saddlery and Harness business was on the western side. The brick building now used by the dry cleaners was constructed in the 1960s. The old Post Office Hotel on the corner is now home to Pirie's Real Estate. This also was an attractive building with an iron lace balcony.
On the other corner of Market and Perry Street is our lovely Robertson Park, earlier known as Market Square, where markets were held and cricket matches played. The Mudgee Bowling Club maintained its greens opposite the Post Office. The clubhouse is now used by the Mudgee Preschool.
The old police inspector's house on Duro Street corner is now used as a community information centre and the Mudgee Shire building is on the eastern side. The old police station, built in 1876, is now used as offices and adjoins the Mudgee Post Office, a graceful old building.
Across the street stands William Kellett and Sons Department Store, a long-established business. The original building had beautiful coloured glass windows. Heritage Row on the east side of Kellett’s Store is made up of the old Commercial Bank, the Town Hall and the Bank of NSW, later known as the Rural Bank and now as the Colonial State Bank. Marks’ large retail department store used to be located on the corner of St. John's Church of England grounds. The main entrance was in Market Street and it traded until the late 1930s and was well patronized and was a well patronised department store selling all types of goods from farm requirements to dress material.
The old Imperial Hotel was across the road. It was later used as a boarding house and is now Beaurepaires. The two-storey building next housed Tighe’s Tailoring and Dry Cleaning which served residents for many years. Harold Marsh’s Real Estate and second hand rooms were on the eastern side, while the Munitions Factory and later the Jeldi Factory occupied the site of the present Police Citizens Youth Club.
The Country Women's Association Building has been the venue for innumerable parties and wedding receptions throughout the years and it is still used frequently. Tom Low's spray painting business next door was destroyed by fire in 1938, but the old Branscombe’s building is still occupied. Branscombe's Plumbing and Tank making business provided essential services to the community, as did Bob Cohen's Mudgee Mail for about 30 years. Jack Thomas had his dental surgery in the same building for some years. This old building had earlier housed a Co-operative Retail Store. Mrs. Drinkwater's tea rooms were adjacent the old Alhambra Theatre, owned at one time by Edward Wilkins and managed by Russell Wright, was the venue for silent movies, usually requiring an accompanying pianist. Frank Pauling ran a tyre retreading business in the large building next to R A Roths wine bar, one of the few still trading in the west of NSW. R A Roth's general store employed many people during the 1930s and 1940s. The house on the corner occupied by George Campbell and his family for some years was previously used as a dental surgery run by Sherrin and, during the 1940s by Connellan13 .
1921
1935
15 April 1935
MARKET STREET SHOPS
IN THE OLD DAYS
A Veteran Tells
IN the following article a well-known, old resident of Mudgee tells us of some of the shops and businesses that flourished in Market street more than 50-years ago. Says he: -
In Market street, where Elton's chemist shop and premises of Mcpherson and Bawden and Crossing and Cox are now situated, a Mrs. Patsell owned four shops, eight or ten feet off the footpath.
The shops were anything but pretentious. Mrs. Patsell lived at the back in a cottage, also the worst for wear. In wet weather a stream of water separated her cottage and the dilapidated shops. A foot-bridge was necessary on the footpath at all times, as the water flowed across the road through the paddock where Kellett's store now stands.
The old shops were always occupied, Mr. William Hall started a newsagency there, and went on until he retired, well-off. W. Spence made his first start there. He also retired well-off. T. B. Scurrah had a branch hairdresser's shop. These old shops had many tenants in their time. A Turk sold turkish novelties; Mrs. White and her daughters sold choice fruit, as also did Mrs. Orchard, afterwards Mrs. D. Cassin, and John Curtis. Bob Reid had a big show of groceries. Carotgy was an Italian watch maker; Dan Reid, a photographer. Shooting galleries and side shows were housed there at one time or other.
These old shops at that time constituted the busiest part of Market street. It was also in these old shops that the late Mr. L. Nicholson made his first start. He later moved into the Market street bakery, where he built up one of the best pastry and baking business in the West. No banks or Town Hall were opposite at that time17
.