Newcastle Shopkeepers of the Seventies

These images of assorted Newcastle and Hunter shops and businesses are from just fifty years ago. So recent they might be considered worthless because so many of us clearly remember the shops and businesses.

Although sourced from discarded advertising material, they will, as the years pass, grow their historic importance. They were taken for television advertising. The black and white prints were pre-colour, early 70s. When NBN went colour in '75 the photography became colour and that film stock didn't age well. With some, you'll see, it was a struggle to retrieve the true colour.

Viewing in gallery mode is accessed by clicking on any image and then swipe/click etc.

PS: If you know, do supply addresses for the photos in the comments at page bottom. I'll credit you by name or the supplied handle in case there's other opinions, and to not expropriate another's knowledge. Plus it adds to the conversational tone, as I have insufficient factual knowledge to provide much if any context or narrative!

Image info: Photos are scanned from mono and colour negatives. Colour has suffered in most cases after 50 years. Image size as published is 1900px wide and although heavily compressed jpegs, they view well on large TVs.

Credit: Photographers (most likely are): Ian Holt, Neville Fuller, Stewart Osland. Let's know if you're one, too. None were annotated or dated, so it's your best guess. But confident they are from 1970 to late 70s.

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A-Mart

810 Hunter St, corner of Hunter and Florence Sts. (Thx Rob)
"Amart on the Hunter and Florence St corner was originally a service station for many years also let's not forget the Ambassador hotel up stairs" ~ anon thx.

Angus and Coote - Optometrists.

The eye chart is reversed because the patient reads it in a mirror.

Art Fair Gallery

Rob places this at 355 Hunter St between Wheeler Place & Burwood St. I would have incorrectly guessed Burwood St, forgetting that Woodeys had a Hunter St entrance. Newcastle Travel (further below) also lived here, most probably next.

Allen's Chocky sales pitch

Ever wondered (like me) how so many products end up on those shelves in these pics? Apparently it's just like in the movies. Almost certain this was in the 'old' (original) NBN TV boardroom.

Belmont 16s -- we assume, from 1975ish. Let's know if not.

Bill Warmsley Mens Wear

Now, either these are wrongly included with the promo shots, or the photographer arrived early... :)

Observez vous the couple in the 1st floor window...

Below: From a later shoot. Warmsley's Hamilton store at 142 Beaumont Street. The letter box is still there today, as is Sussan. Thanks Rob :0)

Bonner's Boutique

Wondering about the shop dummies? Let me explain:
"Should I use mannequins or hire a model?"
"Let me put it this way. You can hire models for $250 an hour each, plus agency fees, plus booking fee, plus hairstylist, makeup artist, hygienist, OH&S consultant, personal trainer, security, catering, and assorted sundries and hangers-on... could run to $10K for the half-day. Or hire two mannequins for ten bucks a week. Your call."

Bos Bros Carpets - sadly just the one pic

Caldwells Jewellers

Coles New World Supermarket

Danilos

"Danilo's was at 66 Beaumont St Hamilton. Currently Son Of A Gun restaurant. Rob"

Darrell Lea Kards and Kandy

David Brown Real Estate

Above: I don't think the entire property is on DB's books.
Below: Hurry, it won't last at this price...

Delaney Hotel - and NBN watering hole for 60 years.

Easthams (Victoria) Theatre Store

Below: Photographed from the stage?

Foley's Pianos

"679 Hunter St between National Park & Steel St." ~ Rob.
I vaguely recall the toilet block, and more clearly the Holden car yard, Young & Green, featured further down.

Above: Back in the early 70s electric organs, like this Optigan, weren't exactly electric (as in, synthesisers). And below, moog was the big thing. Although in this case a mini-moog.

Furniture Upholsterer - unknown

There are some clues, however. Partial word on the front window, and Bos Bros Caprets visible across the road. Circa 1974ish

Hamilton Travel

Henny Penny

I so enjoy their baked chicken dinner. These from about 1975-ish.

Homemaker Furniture

Hunter Blinds

Hunter Hotel

Embossed on the front awning: "Newcastle City Council Buildings"

Hunter Sports

Hustlers Department Store

Insulation Industries

Jackson and McIlwaine

Plus a few candid shots of the talent...

Jaydee's Coiffure

Jack n Jill

John Peschars

Some omissions from this collection are inexplicable. This is one. The only pics are of this new shop being finalised.

Johns product shoot in the studio. Warts and all, for interest.

Kane's Furniture

...at which point the crew wandered off for lunch and left the talent to have at it.

Kangaroo Tent City

Kathlyn's Beauty Salon

Kellogs sales pitch

In the old Channel 3 boardroom

Kenwood sales pitch

Lighting Specialists

Next to Dangar Branch of Commonwealth Bank at 757 797 Hunter Street. *See note below.

Notes: Below, the bank door scanned at 3200dpi initially read as 757.
Rob posits: "757 Hunter St puts this building near PKF & Rundles between Stewart Ave & National Park St. I have a photo from 1986 that shows Dangar Commonwealth Bank at 797 Hunter St between Tudor & Denison St (South side)."
Fortunately Google street view confirms this. All three buildings have survived the 'West End Precinct' revival... so far.

Like Nu

Lounge Wholesalers P/L

Lyndy's Childminding Center

Ah, the days when child minding was, you know, just child minding.

Maitland RSL

Melvic Carpet Center

Millingtons Carpets

Of the three locations - Belmont, Green Hills, Broadmeadow - the fush 'n chups shop tells me it's Belmont.

Miser Jones

Moads Electrical & Moads Pritchards Marine

Neville Ross Gosford

New Dawson Hardware ~ Geo Dawson

Newcastle Toys and Hobbies (all-time fav shop)

The street number places it opposite TAFE. Undergone complete redevelopment long since.

Northern Carpets

" "Northern Carpets" could be 412 Maitland Rd Mayfield West. Using Google Street View, 410 Maitland Rd to the left of Northern Carpets is The Bhakti Tree restaurant. The date on that building is 1923. Currently 7-Eleven service station is 412-416 Maitland Rd Mayfield West. Rob"
I think you nailed it Rob. Looks like new brickwork on western edge in Google. Possibly earthquake repair job.

Newcastle Aluminium Fabrications

Newcastle Rugby Club at 41-45 Newcomen Street Newcastle

(Thx for name correction, to 'Rugby' :)

Newcastle Tile Company

Newcastle Travel

Right next door to the Brown Derby cafe, where as a young teen I had my first coffee on my own dime. Pretty sure it was coffee essence and condensed milk, served by waitress! It would have been right after a viewing of 2001 at The Royal Theatre.

Norman Ross Discounts

One hopes the young talent was paid with that bike, but we suspect the parents got a cheque for fifty quid and the kid got a packet of Minties for his trouble.
Below: One of those product strips that will occasionally appear with the other photos.

Ok, we'll have it cleaned up for the kitchen shoot asap.

These were third in the series, circa '73ish. Can anyone pinpoint the shop location? A street number appears in one photo, and a staircase to a mezzanine.
Also included are two electronics pics of items long gone.

Norman Ross

...calls in the big guns - an outside broadcast van to do live commercials. $$$!

NSW Aerated Waters P/L

Palings

These two below were in the mix. Appear to be frames of news film. Maybe.

Prawn King at Hexham. Sadly no premises pic.

Pullins of Maitland

Our photographer chose to leave himself in shot, for posterity.

Peter Doyle Wines

Market Street, eastern side, Newcastle Mall ~ Rob

Prince of Wales Hotel

Rayworth's Music Center

Reid's Electrical

Reuben F Scarf

Robinson's and/or Down Unda Music?

For the 'record' can anyone recall if this is a music shop, clothing shop, or the same shop? These pics accompanied West End Music, so was it the same owner? Drop a message in the comments at the end of this page. Thx.
Rob confirms it's at the corner of Hunter and Thorn streets in the mall.

Rundles

Samanthas

Collection taken from a cine strip. Location looks like Gregson Park. Fairly sure one or two are mirror reversed.

Sandy's Glass

Savemores Supermarkets

Scotts Pharmacy

Yep, a plethora of footwear.

Silver Sword

Assuming this is/was a shop. Btw, when someone appears in photos, especially holding their hand up, it's for the photographer to guage exposure. Reflectivity of caucasian skin is a handy indicator of the scene generally, more so if people are the subject.

Sterland Bros Gosford

S&W Miller

Guess the greater part of this collection has gone missing. So often the case in this series.

T. J. Wilks

Just the one pic. Btw, he's real.

TNT aka Thomas Nationwide Transport

This person NEVER delivered my parcels.

Tattersalls Club 9 Watt Street

Not certain if these are inside the Newcastle club or were agency supplied.

The Permanent Solution

The Waratahs Rugby Club

Thorsten Carpets

Tool Specialists

" "Tool Specialist" is 99 Maitland Rd Islington at the T-intersection with Beaumont St. ~ Rob"
Would never have found it there thinking it to be Hunter Street, though an unlikely venue for a tool shop.

Travelodge

Of the many reasons, cannot guess what the photographer's problem was with those outdoor shots above. Compare with the Surfest image below... (both colour neg, same scanner)

Tyrells Records & Music

Waltons Furniture 1970

Several questions arise.
These are presumably taken at, according to one of the cartons, "Woolshed store (/stock?) Hannel St Wickham"
Is the low-brow setting deliberate? (Guessing yes)
Suspect the old fridge at left runs on kerosene. Did they know when it was traded?

Waterman's Paints and Wallpapers

West End Music

Wests

As with the entire collection, almost none were annotated or dated. These were labelled 'Wests' and presume it's in the New Lambton premises circa 1975. Do let's know if otherwise.

Whitakers Glassware ~ charm alert.

Winns Fashion Show

Intentional or not, the bucket above and the carpenter horses below must be explained.

Why so many photos below? Can't resist onlookers' expressions. Especially Mrs Everage at right, staring the photographer down :0)