This is the 3rd in series of blogs that I have written on my memory of Maitland NSW in the late1960’s
(Corner Of High & Eligin St by OZin OH)
This blog starts us on a journey down High street which was the heart of the Maitland shopping district in the 1960’s. As these are the memories of a small boy some facts may be a little blurred but I believe them to be reasonably factual. I don’t remember them all & there are some gaps
Starting at the “Long” bridge at the top end of High St on the left Side just after the bridge was the Little Red Apple restaurant of which I know very little. A little further down High St was Young & Green Holden dealer, now the site of the Mineral Council offices; it was here in 1969 that we purchased our first Kingswood car. Not far from here was located the police station which was next to the court house. Across from the road from the Mineral offices was the Alma Hotel (now a coffee shop) one of about 10 hotels that lined High St.
A major intersection on High St is Belmore road. From here to Church St shops that were located left were the following Fosseys , O’Brien supermarket which was basically an oversized corner store, Jakemen’s chemist shop & S&W Miller electrical. Also located of this side of the road was Galtons department store, Maitland’s answer to David Jones, which took up 3 buildings each being 2 stories. On the Right hand at the Belmore intersection was a service station which I think was called Advanx. Also along the right hand side is the Presbyterian glebe that houses a number of shops. Just on from here was one of my favourite stores being Barden & Ribey Saddlery these were real saddlers who made saddles & harness. This was a wonderfully disorganised place with 100 years of scrap leather mixed with jobs at various stages of completion & topped off with that wonderful aroma that only new leather can omit. It all had a wonderful painted window that can still be viewed today.Wilkes Tobacconist, sports & gun shop was also located in this block
Next was the section from Church to Elgin St. On the right
was Woolworths that occupied two buildings. There was no supermarket section & must have been the forerunner to Big W. One of these stores was blown up by a bomber in the late 70’s. On the right was the CBC bank (now Dicksmith). Near here was located the now political incorrect “Black Boy “, a statue of a n African American boy who was a hitching post in bygone days
This blog starts us on a journey down High street which was the heart of the Maitland shopping district in the 1960’s. As these are the memories of a small boy some facts may be a little blurred but I believe them to be reasonably factual. I don’t remember them all & there are some gaps
Starting at the “Long” bridge at the top end of High St on the left Side just after the bridge was the Little Red Apple restaurant of which I know very little. A little further down High St was Young & Green Holden dealer, now the site of the Mineral Council offices; it was here in 1969 that we purchased our first Kingswood car. Not far from here was located the police station which was next to the court house. Across from the road from the Mineral offices was the Alma Hotel (now a coffee shop) one of about 10 hotels that lined High St.
A major intersection on High St is Belmore road. From here to Church St shops that were located left were the following Fosseys , O’Brien supermarket which was basically an oversized corner store, Jakemen’s chemist shop & S&W Miller electrical. Also located of this side of the road was Galtons department store, Maitland’s answer to David Jones, which took up 3 buildings each being 2 stories. On the Right hand at the Belmore intersection was a service station which I think was called Advanx. Also along the right hand side is the Presbyterian glebe that houses a number of shops. Just on from here was one of my favourite stores being Barden & Ribey Saddlery these were real saddlers who made saddles & harness. This was a wonderfully disorganised place with 100 years of scrap leather mixed with jobs at various stages of completion & topped off with that wonderful aroma that only new leather can omit. It all had a wonderful painted window that can still be viewed today.Wilkes Tobacconist, sports & gun shop was also located in this block
Next was the section from Church to Elgin St. On the right
was Woolworths that occupied two buildings. There was no supermarket section & must have been the forerunner to Big W. One of these stores was blown up by a bomber in the late 70’s. On the right was the CBC bank (now Dicksmith). Near here was located the now political incorrect “Black Boy “, a statue of a n African American boy who was a hitching post in bygone days (A photo by L Bridge Flickr)
McElwein’s sports store was located in this section. I also think there was a branch of the CBA bank. Wilk’s were Maitland’s leading retailer of electrical goods in this part of town. Located in the rear of their store was a workshop dedicated to the repair of valve TV’s. Wilks were also where young teenagers collected their weekly 2NX top forty hits chart. Next door was located Capper’s Hardware selling general hardware. Cappers were once the giants of hardware in Maitland but there influence declined after a fire destroyed their shop that located opposite the Maitland Mercury building. Alongside Cappers was the Dutch cake shop with their window full of sweet delights & a yearly highlight was their display of handmade chocolate Easter Eggs.
In the next blog we will travel from Elgin Street down what is now the mall but in 60’s it was the main road through the town.
McElwein’s sports store was located in this section. I also think there was a branch of the CBA bank. Wilk’s were Maitland’s leading retailer of electrical goods in this part of town. Located in the rear of their store was a workshop dedicated to the repair of valve TV’s. Wilks were also where young teenagers collected their weekly 2NX top forty hits chart. Next door was located Capper’s Hardware selling general hardware. Cappers were once the giants of hardware in Maitland but there influence declined after a fire destroyed their shop that located opposite the Maitland Mercury building. Alongside Cappers was the Dutch cake shop with their window full of sweet delights & a yearly highlight was their display of handmade chocolate Easter Eggs.
In the next blog we will travel from Elgin Street down what is now the mall but in 60’s it was the main road through the town.
Sounds the same as in the 70 and late 80s ,when I grew up in Maitland,What happened to the Dutch Cake shop ?It was unforgettable.
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