Warialda Businesses

Auctioneer, Stock and Station Agents

John Coombes was an auctioneer and stock and station agent in Warialda by February 1902.

Baker and confectioner

In February 1902 J. Rae builder and contractor completed the new building which included a combined shop and dwelling house next to the Warialda School of Arts.  W. Power then occupied the building.  Power had opened the bakery business on 1 January 1902 and also operated the Aerated Water and Cordial Factory.

The Warialda Standard, 4 September 1911 announced that R. Stehr’s bakehouse had burnt down.  L. Stehr sold his bakery business to Mr Morgan in January 1913.  Charles was a baker and confectioner by April 1914.

R.H. Stewart started business as a baker in Geddes Street in April 1899 and on 1 January 1902 R.H. Stewart moved into premises opposite School of Arts.  One of the oldest landmarks in Warialda, Stewart’s bakery, was demolished in June 1939 to make way for a new building.  P. McGauley had erected the building about sixty years earlier for the late baker Thomas Heydon.  Heydon had occupied the building for a long time.   Pending completion of the new building, Stewart moved into a portion of Lanagan’s buildings recently occupied by H.H. Hunt.  In November 1939, R.H. Stewart moved into the new premises and J.C. Johnston, a tailor late of Sydney, occupied the other shop in the new building.  F.J. Fell of Inverell completed the new shops.

E. Arney had replaced L.D. Stehr as a baker and pastry cook by January 1930 and in May 1932 announced that he had also taken over the adjoining business premises.  Apart from fruit and vegetables, a dining room section was also available.

Farnham’s Bakery was in Stephen Street by October 1934 and offered meals at all hours.  It was situated alongside the newly constructed Pasture Protection Board’s building.  After 1 February 1937 the bakery offered light refreshments only and in August 1939, James Mackenzie Wilson took over the bakery business from W. and E. Farnham.

By July 1946, A. Pevy (ex RAAF) had purchased the bakery business of E.N.S. Maunder in Stephen Street and in November the White Way Bakery was under new management.

Blacksmiths and Wheelwrights

R.G. Gilmour established the blacksmithing and wheelwright business in Warialda in 1884 and by December 1904 was at the junction of Geddes and Stephen Streets.  In September 1915 the probate for the late Robert Galloway Gilmour was published in the Warialda Standard.  The business continued and was still in Warialda in May 1932.

E. Faddy opened business as a saddler’s shop at Kelly’s Gully in July 1905 and was still in business there in April 1909.  He was established in business in Warialda in February 1906 and in May informed the community that he had moved into Geddes Building in Hope Street.  In October his advertisement stated that he was situated opposite Lawson and Co.’s store.  That November, he purchased G.A. Pendergast’s saddlery business and moved into premises alongside Mr Bowd’s store.  

In May 1900 Arthur Parr informed the public that he had commenced new business as a Blacksmithing and Wheelwright in premises opposite Geddes Buildings in Hope Street, Warialda.  Following a period of two years stay in Warialda, W.A. Jones blacksmith and wheelwright announced in June 1900 that he had sold his business in Hope Street.  He left the town on 14 July.  That month, W.E. Jones bought a blacksmith’s shop in Hope Street.

Charles Ritter was a blacksmith, wheelwright and carriage and wagon builder in Hope Street, Warialda by February 1902.  It was in September 1911 that F. Bailey announced that he has taken over the blacksmithing business of Mr Ritter who had been in business for several years.  Bailey and Quickenden advertised as blacksmiths and wheelwrights in Hope Street in May 1912.  F. Bailey was a Blacksmith and Wheelwright in Hope Street, Warialda in November 1912 and on 1 December 1919 he sold out to R. G. Gilmour and Co.

By June 1905, Alf Ritter conducted the Central Coach Factory and Shoeing Forge in Warialda and was still there in June 1909.  R. Gilmour and Co., A. Ritter and S. Robison were blacksmiths in Warialda by February 1910. 

A.O. Dunfiled was appointed manager of the RG Gilmour Company in October 1916.  A. Sillett was appointed wheelwright to the company in September 1921 and W.R. Roberts was manager by April 1922.

In June 1920, the blacksmithing firm Clarke Bros. late of Inverell took over W.R. Roberts Company of Delungra.  At one stage the Clarke Bros. was connected with Gilmour of Warialda.

In January 1937 W.G. Smith informed the public that he had moved to his new shop in the river end of Junction Street.