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.
Edit: Barb commented "The Ambassador was actually up the road at 800 Hunter Street... cheers!" and this is confirmed by our trusty 1970s phone book. But researching this page has taught, it's that 1. Some businesses had more than one Hunter Street address at the same time; 2. Shops especially tended to move camp quite often. 

Angus and Coote - Optometrists.
In 1976 located at 253 Hunter St. Is that Margo Frock Salon at left? It was then at 103 Hunter.

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

And at Garden City

Angus and Robertson
Garden City store

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.

Belmont Sportsmens Club
Was this at Maude St Belmont. Is it same as pictured in Google 2020 street view?

Best & Less
Garden City store

Bill Walmsley Mens Wear
Walmsleys also had shops at Cardiff (278 Main Rd), Belmont 534 Pacific Hwy), and Garden City. All below are presumed to be at Hamilton, except the final, according to "278" is at Cardiff.

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
Might be 270 Maitland Rd Mayfield.

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
591 Hunter Street Newcastle West

Caldwells Jewellers
Corner of Hunter and Wolfe Streets at 159 Hunter.

Centre Hardware
Garden City

Charlestown Mall

Civic Homes & Real Estate
Was this 95 Darby Street?

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...

David Jones
Garden City

Delaney Hotel - and NBN watering hole for 60 years.

Easthams (Victoria) Theatre Store

Below: Photographed from the stage?

Ells
116 Hunter St; also at Garden City (no pics)

Who can forget Arthur Warner?

Fanny's aka Argyle House
Argyle Street & Wharf Road Newcastle

Foley's Pianos
681b Hunter Street Newcastle West

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, but possibly Staces at 682 Hunter St, or Comfybilt at 640.

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

Garden City
Kotara

Hamilton Travel
119 Beaumont Street Hamilton

Henny Penny

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

Homemaker Furniture
Not in the '76 directory, but looks so much like Harvey Norman Discount Centre at Broadmeadow.

Hunter Blinds
Not in the '76 directory.

Hunter Hotel

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

Hunter Sports
? Hunter Sports Supplies at 158 Maitland Rd Mayfield

Hustlers Department Store
122 Hunter St Newcastle. Also 395 High St Maitland and 133 Vincent St Cessnock

Insulation IndustriesClyde St Hamilton North facing Chatham Rd.

Jack n Jill
Garden City

Jackson and McIlwaine
117 Hunter St; 399 Hunter St; 115 Beaumont St Hamilton; 182 Pacific Hwy Charlestown

Plus a few candid shots of the talent...

Jaydee's Coiffure
3 Newcomen Street, Newcastle

John Peschars
Any guesses where this new shop was being finalised? By 1977, after Mt Hutton, JP stores were Cessnock, Charlestown, Gosford, Mayfield, Newcastle (Nat. Park St) & Tuggerah.

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

Kane's Furniture
267 King Street

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

Kangaroo Tent City
44 Maitland Rd Mayfield (opps Dangar Park)

Kathlyn's Beauty Salon
Garden City

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
A conundrum. Cannot find this iconic business in '76 directory. Clearly, however, back then was at 62 Broadmeadow Rd Broadmeadow.

Lounge Wholesalers P/L
49 Broadmeadow Rd Broadmeadow

Lyndy's Childminding Center

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

Maitland RSL
425 High St Maitland

Margot Frock Salon
103 Hunter St

Melvic Carpet Center
Thomas St Belmont

Millingtons Carpets

Of the three locations - Belmont, Green Hills, 6 Cameron Rd Broadmeadow - this is 529 Pacific Highway Belmont.

Miser Jones

Moads Electrical & Moads Pritchards Marine
485 High St Maitland

Neville Ross Gosford

New Dawson Hardware ~ Geo Dawson
386 King St

Newcastle Aluminium Fabrications
50 Wyong Rd Lambton

Newcastle Hi Fi Centre
642 Hunter St Newcastle West

Newcastle Rugby Club at 41-45 Newcomen Street Newcastle

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

Newcastle Tile Company
31 Crescent Rd Waratah

Newcastle Toys and Hobbies (all-time fav shop)
565 Hunter Street

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

Newcastle Travel
335 Hunter St

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
625 Hunter St

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.

Also included are two electronics pics of items long gone.

Norman Ross
Again, at 633 Hunter St. From previous set above, Family Hotel is on the corner of Steel St
NR calls in the big guns - an outside broadcast van to do live commercials. $$$!

And somewhere in Garden City...

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.

NSW Aerated Waters P/L
Is this Cadbury Schweppes at 56 Orlando Rd Lambton - aka 61 Griffiths Rd?

Palings
164 Hunter St. Also 501 High St Maitland

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

Peter Doyle Wines

3 Market Street, eastern side, Newcastle Mall ~ Rob

Prawn King Fish Shop at Maitland Rd Hexham. Sadly no premises pic.

Pullins of Maitland
389 High St Maitland. Carpets at 339 High St

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

Prince of Wales Hotel
1 Morgan St Merewether. Renamed to Prince of Merewether.

Raworths Music Center
Corner of Hunter and Burwoods Streets, Newcastle. Evatt Chambers opposite at 380.

Above: Young Art poses as a customer.

Reid's Electrical
Hunter St Newcastle West

Remtex Fabrics
495 Hunter Street and 75 Nelson St Wallsend

Reuben F Scarf
291 Hunter St

At Garden City:

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 Market streets in the mall.

Rundles
142 Hunter St

Samanthas Frock Salon
99 Tudor St Hamilton

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

Sandy's Glass aka James Sandy & Co
Mordue Parade Jesmond

Savemores Supermarkets
This household name had over 26 stores in the lower Hunter region in the 1970s. Shopping for food was so easy back then, with a minimart just down the street.

Scotts Pharmacy

Yep, a plethora of footwear.

Silver Sword Antiques
809 Hunter St Newcastle West

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
840 Hunter St Newcastle West. And across the road where Newcastle City Council now lives.

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

TAA

Aka Trans Australia Airlines. 444 Hunter St

Tattersalls Club 9 Watt Street

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

The Permanent Solution
133 Beaumont St Hamilton (beside northern lane). Later at 188 Lawson St Hamilton and 55 Mitchell St Merewether

The Store
854 Hunter Street. Branches too many to list, The Store deserves a page of its own. Below at Charlestown Mall in the 1970s.

The Hunter Street building in all it's flag-waving glory, awaiting an unexpected fate - demolition.

Artwork on the Hunter St building: painted in 1997, photographed in 2004.

Kurri Kurri building photographed in 2008. An example of The Store's retailing dominance in its prime as a cooperative society in the Hunter region.

The Waratahs Rugby Club
42 Station St Waratah

Thorsten Carpets
Pacific Highway, Tuggerah (?)

T. J. Wilks
679 Hunter St;453 High St Maitland; 130 Maitland Rd Mayfield

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

TNT aka Thomas Nationwide Transport
Courier division Pacific Hwy Belmont. (Aero Pelican?)

This person NEVER delivered my parcels.

Tool Specialists

" "Tool Specialist" is 99 Maitland Rd Islington at the T-intersection with Beaumont St. ~ Rob"
Listed address in '76 was 44 Brown Rd Broadmeadow.

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
Market St Newcastle (no street number)
(cf Robinson's and 'Down Under Music)

Waltons Furniture 1970
Can't confirm this is also the Waltons we know at Bank Corner. Note the address on a carton "Woolshed store (/stock?) Hannel St Wickham".

Waterman's Paints and Wallpapers
53 Cleary St Hamilton

West End Music
655 Hunter St Newcastle West

Wests

As with the entire collection on this page, 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.
R.W. & Son were at 133 Hunter St. J. & C. were at 8A Garden City. Which is it?

Winns Fashion Show
The famous Hunter & Brown Streets store. Branches also at Belmont, Cardiff, Cessnock and Wallsend.

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)