Bingara Businesses
Written by Graham Wilson
Bingara Shops and Businesses
Early in January 1935, the Bingara Advocate
published a report on forty-one requests to Council for permission to build involving costs of ₤10,500 for the previous year. The list included ten applications for new dwellings, ten for additions for buildings, twelve for shops or additions to business premises, three for garages or motor sheds, and one each for a picture show, a petrol depot, a bulk store, a guest house, a stable and the removal of a dwelling. By July 1935, many new shops were being erected in Bingara, the ‘Imperial Hotel’ was entirely remodelled, a new picture show was opened and another one was in course of construction. In celebrating its fourth year of service, the editor of the Bingara Advocate wrote:
The main street has been practically rebuilt, and throughout the town new buildings and paint has worked continual transformations. Whilst we do not pretend for a moment that we have had a hand in initiating these improvements, we do claim that we have heralded their appearance and encouraged their continuance.
Why did Bingara undergo such a building program during the Great Depression? Certainly the arrival of a number of Greek businessmen from the late 1920s was a factor but there was also the possibility that the Copeton Dam would be built relatively close to the town. Another factor was the realisation that construction of new buildings would help stimulate the local economy.
The streetscape of Bingara was changed in 1957 when the Bingara Council determined that all verandah post were to be removed in Maitland Street between Heber to Finch Streets by 21 January 1958.
Bakers
William Anderson advertised as a baker in Maitland Street, Bingara by May 1889. In July 1898 P. Plunkett disposed of his business to Mr McCosker and left the district that month. W.M. Sinden Junr. was a baker and confectioner in Bingara by March 1900 and at the same time, announced that he had taken over the business of S.G. White. In March 1905, R.D. Robinson announced that he had taken over the business conducted by J. Ratcliffe.
It was in June 1904 that a dispute arose amongst the millers and bakers in Bingara. As a result of the dispute, one of the flour millers commenced a bakery and sold bread at reduced prices.
William (Bill) Reading commenced his bakery in 1909 and around 1914 Bill and Agnes moved into a larger baker’s shop opposite the present day Civic Centre. His son Tony joined the business in the 1920s. A disastrous fire in 1929 destroyed all the shops in the Pastoral Chambers including Reading’s Bakery. In late 1929, Reading moved into the rebuilt southernmost shop of the Pastoral Chambers, later Roy Miller’s Stock and Station Agency.
Photograph 16: Reading Bakery, Bingara Museum Photograph Collection
New baker and pastry book premises occupied by E.L. Southwell, were completed on the southern side of the ‘Imperial Hotel’ by E.W Anderson in Maitland Street, in January 1935. Southwell was formerly in business in Warialda Rail and in April 1939, L.A. Grimmett late of Parkes, took over from Southwell. By June 1935 bakers in Bingara were M.B. Wilson, H. and T. Reading and E.L. Southwell.
Blacksmiths, Wheelwright and Coach Makers
Charles Lee conducted the Bingara Coach Factory in Finch Street near Campbell’s Bridge by August 1897. Under instructions from the Public Trustee, Charles Lee’s property in Warialda was offered for auction on Saturday 21 December 1935. The property included a large allotment including a six roomed house, blacksmith’s shop and garage.
The Quickenden’s blacksmith shop in Bingara was sold in November 1899.