Services & Establishments
Who would argue with the old saying that a picture paints a thousand words ? On this page we share some photographic gems from the Weston of bygone days!
THE EARLIEST YEARS - C.1910
In the past, Weston had two major stretches of service and business establishments: Aberdare Street, which later became Cessnock Road, and Station Street which eventually became the main business hub. The map below indicates those very early developments as they were c.1910. As a result of population growth, several 'corner' or convenience stores also developed throughout Weston over time. We don't have photos of all of them as a great many have now either had shop fronts removed or passed into history, but we can mention some.
Above: The layout of the Weston main streets as they were c.1910
~ Coalfields Local History Association
Above: Aberdare St./Cessnock Rd. looking east towards the Aberdare Hotel.
Most shop fronts have now disappeared, but this photograph indicates the thriving nature of business in the town in the earliest years.
~ Coalfields Heritage Group
See also
Above: This photograph was taken from near the railway station looking north on Station Street Weston NSW.
The Criterion Hotel and Mark, Murdoch & Co.'s Emporium are visible at the intersection of Aberdare St./Cessnock Rd. and Station Street. In the left foreground is the awning of Gould Bros., later to become the Weston Co-op Timber Yards.
~ Coalfields Heritage Group
EMPORIUMS, CO-OP SOCIETIES, GROCERS, GREENGROCERS
Above: Mark, Murdoch & Co's Emporium - No.30 on the map above.
Cnr. Station Street and Aberdare Street (Cessnock Road) Weston
~ Coalfields Heritage Group
Above: The Weston Fruit Palace Aberdare Street/Cessnock Road, Weston built in 1911 and purchased in 1916 by the Zantiotis brothers.
The man far right is Peter Zantiotis.
~ Barbara Zantiotis
We are very grateful to Barbara Zantiotis for the photograph above and also the information about her pioneer family.
Barbara wrote:
'This is the Weston Fruit Palace built in 1911 by Mena Vartholomaios, who immigrated to Australia from the Greek island of Kasos in 1898. Mena changed his surname to Casos when he became an Australian citizen some years later. The shop was bought from Mena in about 1916 by the Zantiotis brothers - my grandfather Peter and his brothers, Jack and Tony who immigrated to Australia from the Greek island of Kythera at different times in the preceding years. Peter bought out his brothers in 1922, and in 1928, my father was born at the back of the shop.
In early 1930, Peter and his family moved to Dapto.
Directly next door to the shop was a billiard saloon also owned by the family and somewhere nearby there was also a gymnasium.
Mena's daughter Mary married Jack Zantiotis in 1917 with the family moving to Sydney in 1922.
In this photo, the man on the extreme right is Peter Zantiotis. '
Above: In 1947 this building was the Miners Hall
~ Coalfields Local History Assoc.
Above: For some years from the 1950s, this same building served as the Weston Ambulance Station
Above: Pass family shop premises in Weston. Jane Pass out the front.
~ Kathy Wright
Location of Shop: Parish of Heddon, Northumberland County. Lot 8, Section 2, town of Weston upon which is erected a weatherboard house of 6 rooms and shop attached.
Believed to be second block after lane near current day second hand shop in Aberdare Street [now Cessnock Road Weston]. Jane also ran tea rooms from the shop and Red Cross meetings were held there during the war years.
Richard Pass, a coal miner from County Durham, England, arrived in Australia in 1886. As was common at the time, Richard came first to find work and accommodation for his young family. A year later, his wife Jane and children, Samuel (1881), Alice (1883), and Isabella (1884) arrived in Sydney. The family lived in Broadmeadow, Newcastle, and three more children were born there: Richard (1888), Jane (1889-1892) and Lily(1891). The move to Weston took place late in 1904. Richard worked in the Hebburn No.1 mine and initially the family lived in Station Street, where Jane and her older daughters were dressmakers. In 1906, Richard was a fruiterer and store keeper in Aberdare Street [Cessnock Road], Weston. Jane worked the store while Richard worked in the mine. The family was involved in the reopening of the Methodist Church in 1906, the establishment of the Hebburn band, the Progress Association and various committees established to support the activities of a growing town.
Above: The Weston Co-op Store opened in 1912
Aberdare Street (now Cessnock Road) Weston. (See WESTON CO-OP STORE )
~ Coalfields Heritage Group
Above: Ferenbach's Store (pronounced 'Furnbar')
Cnr. Station and First Streets Weston
Conways (see below) later occupied this site. They were followed there by the Co-op Store.
~ Coalfields Heritage Group
Above: The same site as Mark, Murdoch & Co.'s Emporium (above) and later operated as a cafe-milk bar by Mrs Hales.
This photograph shows numerous commercial buildings and is looking east from the intersection of Station Street and Cessnock Road. This occasion was possibly May Day celebrations. The photograph was taken from the balcony of the Criterion Hotel opposite.
~ Coalfields Heritage Group - sponsored by Weston Workers Club.
WESTON'S EARLY POST OFFICES
Above: The first Weston Post Office.
The Post Office was the door at the far left in this photograph of
Mr. Walters' Store, Station St., Weston NSW
~ Maitland Library
Above: The Weston Post Office in 1914
On the corner of Third and Station Streets, Weston.
~ Picture Australia
Above: The last dedicated Weston Post Office building
On the corner of Station and First Streets, Weston.
~ Picture Australia
Additional information on Weston Post Office at John McCulloch's Blogspot.
Above: The former Post Master's Residence in First St., Weston
Next to the former Post Office on the corner of Station & First Sts., Weston
~ Google Maps
THE WESTON COMMONWEALTH BANK
For a comprehensive history of the Commonwealth Bank at Weston by Peter Williams, please visit:
![Photograph of The first Commonwealth Bank building in Station Street, Weston (Photographed 11 Jul 1963) ~ From the collection of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Group Archives. Ref: Commonwealth Bank of Australia Group Archives: A0023, S0009, 1BP-2-645-[1-5], Weston, NSW - Property Files & Photographs, 1945-65](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2pV1angAFPH68pBSHeHiHYRI6RAhG5z3pyf35bem2fEcnp4JAfrq3wGwPEWkOpBX-ZcuBpUAEop3IhOsIvhwWR15G7UxSiNsnHhWFGbI8PyUrtDuSS7rbDm2lwePe5X3ug=w1280)
Above: The first Commonwealth Bank building on the corner of Station and First Streets, Weston NSW
(Photographed 11 Jul 1963)
~ From the collection of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Group Archives.
Ref: Commonwealth Bank of Australia Group Archives: A0023, S0009, 1BP-2-645-[1-5], Weston, NSW - Property Files & Photographs, 1945-65
From January 1946, prior to moving to Station Street, Weston in March 1949, the Commonwealth Bank had an Agency in rented premises at 74 Cessnock Road Weston, which was attached to its parent branch, the Commonwealth Bank at Kurri Kurri.
The first Commonwealth Bank building on the corner of Station and First Streets, Weston (pictured above), was established on the site in March 1949 and became a full branch of the Commonwealth Bank. This was a pre-fabricated pale green fibro-clad structure and a residence behind the bank at 51 First Street Weston, was for the bank manager and his family. The Bank Manager of the Weston branch at this time was Clarence Cheeseman Lucas, who was in that position from March 1949 until November 1955.
Full details can be found in the history by Peter Williams:
WESTON'S COMMONWEALTH BANK ON THE MOVE!
Above: The former bank manager's residence on its way down the main street of Weston.
Source citations above and right: Commonwealth Bank of Australia Group Archives: A0050, S0270, 1ST-23-2-53, Bank Notes, July 1964, Series 2, Volume 5, No. 7, Pg. 3
Above: Weston branch building about to set out on its journey to a new site.
~ From the collection of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Group Archives.
On 7 July 1964, the Commonwealth Bank’s internal magazine, Bank Notes, published an article on the rearrangement of the Weston Commonwealth Bank buildings:
'A Branch Goes Places
Weston on the Move
Several residents of Weston, NSW, will never be the same again. Arriving home late one night recently, they found one more house in their street than had been there at lunch time. There it stood, fully furnished if slightly off balance, glowing eerily with red and white lights, in the middle of the roadway.
Far from being the latest in immac. 3 brm, conv-to-tspt flying saucers, the apparition was, in fact, our manager’s residence, on its way to a new site.
Unlike their opposite numbers at Toronto (‘Bank Notes’ May, 1964), the staff of Weston were denied the opportunity to attack their branch as first step in a new building programme.
Instead, the manager’s residence was lifted in one piece, complete with family and belongings, and moved to another position, six streets away. Then the branch building was moved to where the residence had been.
The first part of the operation was not as easy as had been hoped. When the residence was about half way on its journey, one wheel of the low loader fell into a culvert and, by the time things were moving again, it was dark. So the house was left in the street, near the Fire Station, adorned with parking lights and a watchman aboard.
Next day, the move was finished with no further hitches.
Our Weston correspondent reports that the building of new branch premises is now well under way and it is hoped that the next move, into new modern buildings, will come before Christmas.'
[Commonwealth Bank of Australia Group Archives: A0050, S0270, 1ST-23-2-53, Bank Notes, July 1964, Series 2, Volume 5, No. 7, Pg. 3]
![The second Commonwealth Bank building on the corner of Station and First Streets, Weston NSW. (Photographed 26 Aug 1964) ~ From the collection of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Group Archives. Ref: Commonwealth Bank of Australia Group Archives: A0023, S0009, 1BP-2-645-[1-5], Weston, NSW - Property Files & Photographs, 1945-65](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BcAoDXqSpIjUpJqa1Gk6ab5_MeKsqLU62FQov-dwHYXwUpFnzm5ffNKf6nEpJs_ioWfXzKaZw1aI948i4B4A__8q0kRch9fWhlPagJiL3mkOnauxJSLgC9T94a3cEAdyvw=w1280)
Above: The second Commonwealth Bank building on the corner of Station and First Streets, Weston NSW.
(Photographed 26 Aug 1964)
~ From the collection of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Group Archives.
Ref: Commonwealth Bank of Australia Group Archives: A0023, S0009, 1BP-2-645-[1-5], Weston, NSW - Property Files & Photographs, 1945-65
The second Commonwealth Bank building on this site at the corner of Station and First Streets Weston, NSW (see above) was completed in August 1964. The new Bank Manager's residence behind, facing First Street, was completed in December 1964. The former bank and manager's residence were relocated to allow for the construction of the two new buildings.
Following discussion of the Weston Commonwealth Bank in the Facebook group: I Grew Up In Weston & Survived, the names of some managers and former staff were contributed by current and former residents of Weston. They included managers: Mr Lucas; Mr Bob Patch and Mr Ron Cramm. Staff names contributed by fellow staff members and others include (in no particular order) : Ann Day; Peter Mallam; Elizabeth Holt; Allen Watson; Sue Gray; Elizabeth Kirkup; Walter Edgell; Ron Porteus; Allan Taylor; Jeff Richardson; Paul Callaghan and Garth Anderson.
Sadly, in 1983, due to patronage declining with the economic downturn in the region, the status of the Weston Commonwealth Bank branch was downgraded to a Sub-Branch, which reported to Kurri Kurri. This downgrading did not bode well for the future of the Weston Commonwealth Bank.
THE WESTON COMMONWEALTH BANK CLOSED 1994
Above: The Weston NSW residents protest at the closure of the Comonwealth Bank
~ Lisa Williams
The inevitable occured in 1994, with the closure of Weston's Commonwealth Bank. Two days after he was named the inaugural Freeman of the City of Cessnock, Edward John 'Coogan' Frame, who was born in Weston in 1917, the son of Edward John ('Bluey') and Catherine Frame, was taken into custody by the police when he and some of his retired miner mates arranged a protest at the Commonwealth Bank after being unable to persuade the CBA bigwigs to reconsider closing the bank. (He can be seen in the protest photo above with the megaphone.) Coogan Frame decided that if that were to be the end of the town’s financial institution, then he would make sure it got a good funeral! He organised a coffin, six pallbearers and a lone piper for the event. After addressing the hundreds of local residents in the crowd, persuading them to not tear up their bankbooks, he and a few of his loyal following staged a sit-in at the bank. Coogan Frame said in frustration at the time: 'We've got a Railway Station with no trains, a Police Station with no policemen, we almost had a Post Office with no stamps and now we will have a Bank with no money!' Who can ever forget that statement! In a more recent blow for the town, Weston has now lost it's Fire Brigade and the Fire Station was demolished in 2023.
For a comprehensive history of the Commonwealth Bank at Weston by Peter Williams, please visit:
THE FAMILY BUTCHERS
Above and below: T. J. Fogarty's 'Weston Meat Palace'
Aberdare St (Cessnock Road) Weston
T. J. Fogarty was the first Butcher in Weston. Tom Fogarty was a brother of the fighter named "Jawbreaker" Fogarty and was related to the McNabb family. In the photo below, John Alexander McNabb is driving the cart.
The WESTON CO-OP SOCIETY purchased these premises for their Weston Butchery around 1914. The Co-op Butchery later moved into a new building on the corner of Station St. and Cessnock Rd., next to the park (see following).
~ Coalfields Heritage Group & Sandra (McNabb) Hafey
Above: Before they finally closed, the Co-op Store Butchery occupied these premises on the corner of Cessnock Rd. and Station St. in Weston
Above : W. Hector and Sons, Family Butcher Shop in Station Street.
~Coalfields Heritage Group
Above : W. Hector and Sons, Family Butcher Shop in Station Street.
~Coalfields Heritage Group
Above: Hectors later moved their butchery into the same premises in Station Street once occupied by E. Wilkinson (below).
~ Coalfields Heritage Group
Above: Ern Hector, manager of Hector's Family Butchery.
~ Coalfields Heritage Group
Above: E. Wilkinson in Station Street
Note the sign on the awning! When E. Wilkinson occupied these same premises before Hectors, he advertised as the 'Clean Butchers.'
~ Coalfields Heritage Group
Above L-R: Allan Saunders; John Zaichenko; Alan Zaichenko
Working at the same Hector's Butchery building in Station Street.
~ Terry Zaichenko
Above: Bailey's Butcher Shop (right) - c.1981
Bailey's was a multi-generational family butchery in Cessnock Road, Weston
The shop at left (above) was rented by the Commonwealth Bank for a bank agency in 1946. In 1949, the Commonwealth Bank moved to the corner of Station and First Streets, Weston, where they remained until the bank closure in 1994.
WESTON'S THREE PICTURE THEATRES
Weston once had three picture theatres. They were the open-air theatre in Aberdare St. /Cessnock Rd. next to the railway line; the Olympia Picture Palace in Station Street Weston and the Capitol Theatre in Station Street which was severely damaged by fire in 1965. The Capitol building was later repaired and became the Weston Civic Centre.
Above: The tin structure that can be seen on the left of the picture was the local open air theatre in the days beforethe advent of drive-In theatres.
~ Edgeworth David Museum
Above: The Olympia Picture Palace
Station Street Weston
~ Coalfields Heritage Group
Above: Inside the Olympia Picture Palace
Station Street Weston NSW
A function being held inside the Olympia - possibly in the 1940s.
Above: The former Capitol Theatre, Station Street Weston
This photograph was taken after the fire in 1965. The adjoining building was the School of Arts and the small building on the right was once Dr.. Meredith's Surgery. It is said that a Dr. Smith was once in this practice with Dr. Meredith.
~ Photograph by George Steele
WESTON HOTELS
Above: The Criterion Hotel
Cnr. Aberdare Street (Cessnock Rd.) and Station Street
~ Newcastle Regional Library
Above: The Aberdare Hotel
Cnr. Aberdare Street (Cessnock Rd) and Hall Street.
See also: Daring Weston Safe Robbery
~ Coalfields Heritage Group
THE EDWARDS FAMILY
![Weston NSW: G. E. Edwards Vinera Vinyards Wine Depot This photograph [and three of the four below] were taken by Alexander Galloway (1876 - 1945), who had photographic studios in Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, Maitland and Weston NSW. ~ Coalfields Local History Association](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/p1AXc4KZTBs6lOWFqJY3-d9J6-mZHHRQ4BdCKLuN01C99dBL7J2WuIMgLkfDRCYtVLeQdyMPTu0sBPwUGa6cYzoi-eb1Nn3z_Y3LaLsJdTGV-DDC=w1280)
Above: G. E. Edwards Vinera Vinyards Wine Depot
This photograph [and three of the four below] were taken by Alexander Galloway (1876 - 1945), who had photographic studios in Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, Maitland and Weston.
~ Coalfields Local History Association
Above: C.E. Edwards Cafe
Later Edwards' 'Old Wine Saloon' - cnr. of Cessnock Road and Government Road Weston. (See recent photograph below.)
Above: 'The Old Edwards Wine Saloon'
The dates on the two sections appear to be 1923 (left) & 1931
Above and top: These old Galloway photographs show the awning of the Edwards Cafe building on the left of photos, visible both from the overhead bridge and approaching the bridge from Cessnock Road.
~ Coalfields Local History Association
The dates on the two sections appear to be 1923 (left) 1931 (right)
~ Coalfields Local History Association
JOCK & MARY STEWART & THE REED FAMILY
Jock and Mary Stewart were well-known and highly regarded Weston identities. At different times, they operated adjoining buildings in Station Street, Weston. Their first double-fronted premises were built in 1926 on the western side (approx. No.68) of Station St., Weston, opposite Jock Stewart Park. These premises were demolished in 2004. In one half they had their restaurant, and in the other, Jock Stewart had his hardware store. Their second double-fronted premises opposite, on the eastern side, were also run by the Reed family. We are very grateful to Mrs Glennis Gray and her late mother, Mrs H. Wilkinson, for this information and for sharing the photographs as noted below.
Above: Mary and Jock Stewart with their niece Sarah
They are standing at the entry of what appears to be the hardware store side of their premises adjoining the restaurant. This side of the premises later became a bakery run by Russell and Betty Balsdon. See photo of Russell and Betty Balsdon and their staff in the 1960s below.
~ Glennis (Wilkinson) Gray
Above: The interior of Jock and Mary Stewart's restaurant in Station St., Weston NSW.
Standing on the left in the photograph are L-R: Jock Stewart, Mary Stewart and their niece, Sarah. The restaurant was on the left side of the double-fronted premises. It was later a cafe/milk bar run by the Embletons, and later still, by Alan and Judy Lamb who eventually re-located to a supermarket further south on Station Street.
~ Glennis (Wilkinson) Gray
Above: The interior of Jock and Mary Stewart' Hardware 68 Station Street, Weston (western side of Station Street).
L-R: Mary Stewart, niece Sarah and Jock Stewart.
~ Glennis (Wilkinson) Gray
Above: Jock Stewart at back, left, meeting the local policeman.
~ Glennis (Wilkinson) Gray
Above: This building opposite, on the eastern side of Station Street, and on the corner of Second Street, was originally Frazer's house.
These premises later became adjoining shops run at different times by the Reed family and Jock and Mary Stewart.
This site now is Jock Stewart Park
~ Glennis (Wilkinson) Gray
Above: Reeds Drapery in Station St., Weston on the site of Jock Stewart Park.
Jock and Mary Stewart also had these premises with Jock's hardware on the left side and Mary with shoes and gifts on the right.
~ Glennis (Wilkinson) Gray
Above: The interior of Reed's Ladies and Menswear Store in Station Street c.1940s.
L-R: Jack Reed, Sylvia Reed, Jennie Reed and Estelle Reed.
~ Jennifer Drylie nee Beverley
Above: Conway's Store Cnr. Station St. and First St. Weston
~ Norma Crossley
STATION STREET & RAILWAY STATION
Above: Station Street Weston - 1965
~ Lindsay Bridge
In 1965, Weston also had a very busy Railway Station, a boon to the travelling public. Sadly, that service has also been condemned to history.
See also: WESTON RAILWAY STATION
THE GREEN SHOP
Above: The 'Little Green Shop' Mixed business in Station Street Weston.
Famous for the Yoplait TV advert. See following:
OLYMPIA & CASBEN FACTORY
The former Olympia Picture Palace building (below), for many years, was operated as a clothing factory, first by Casben and later by Bonds. The photos show staff out on the front footpath at Casben in 1957 and ? 1958:
Above Top: The former Olympia Picture Palace in Station Street
~ db Photography
This building, for many years, was operated as a clothing factory, first by Casben and later by Bonds. The photos above and middle show staff at Casben in 1957 and ? 1958.
WESTON AMBULANCE SERVICE
Above: Weston Ambulance Station c.1952.
Cessnock Road, Weston NSW
~ Coalfields Local History Association
HEALTH CARE - DOCTORS & PHARMACY
Dr. John Meredith is the first of three much-loved medical practitioners in Weston that immediately spring to mind for many current and former Weston residents. Dr. Meredith's family was mentioned in Anzac Biographies: 'MEREDITH, Brigadier-General John Baldwin Hoystead'. A short extract from this biography relating to Weston's Dr. John Meredith follows. This extract mentions his parents and siblings...See More
'On 20th May 1890, John [Sr.] married Harriet Eveline Waters in Sydney. Harriet had been born on 25th March 1865 in Monasterevin, Kildare, Ireland; a daughter to Thomas and Harriet Waters. She was engaged to John in Ireland but her father prevented her from coming to Australia. She came after he died and was married on the day she arrived there.
They had three children, Marjorie Eveline Meredith born on 26th March 1891 in Raymond Terrace, Muriel Windeyer Meredith born in 1893 in Raymond Terrace and John (Jack) Baldwin Waters Meredith born on 2nd August 1895 in Raymond Terrace.
In a list of Church Officers for St John’s Church in Raymond Terrace in 1893, under the heading of List of Subscribers, was Dr J B Meredith.
Marjorie married Iven Giffard Mackay on 14th September 1914 in Sydney. Iven was born on 7th April 1882 in Grafton NSW. In the 1910 and 1913 street index he was living at 20 Union Street North Sydney. Iven served in WW1. In the 1916 British Army list, he is recorded as a Captain in the 26th Infantry, although by then he was serving with the AIF on the Western Front after being at Gallipoli. His story is told here – http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mackay-sir-iven-giffard-10977 . There is also an entry for him in the University of Sydney – https://heuristplus.sydney.edu.au/heurist/?db=ExpertNation&ll=Beyond1914. He also appears in Who’s Who in Australia in 1938. By the 1930 electoral roll they were living at 46 Raglan Street Mosman NSW and he was a lecturer with Marjorie doing home duties. He was a distinguished Australian Commander in WW2 and was the General Officer Commanding the 6thAustralian Division in North Africa and was called the “Hero of Bardia and Tobruk”. In the 1949 electoral roll they were living at 205A Whitehorse Road Kooyong Victoria with Ivan a director. The 1963 electoral roll has them at 1209 Pacific Highway Bradfield NSW and he was still a director. Iven passed away on 30th September 1966 in Sydney and was cremated. In the 1980 electoral roll, Marjorie is by herself at 18 Hobart Avenue Lindfield. Marjorie died in 1987.
Muriel married William Hooke Mackay in 1913 in Richmond Terrace. William had been born in 1888 in NSW. William served in WW1 as a Lieutenant with the 12th Light Horse. In the 1930 electoral roll they were living at Tinagroo, Scone in NSW and he was a grazier with Muriel doing home duties. They were divorced in 1935. William and his father (of the same name) arrived at Southampton in 1937 from Genoa. He appears in Who’s Who in Australia in 1929. On 19th November 1946 she embarked on the Strathnaverat Southampton, bound for Australia. She was listed as a 57-year old female by herself who had been living at the Park Lane Hotel in London and was a UNRRA Officer. In the 1949 electoral roll she was living at 20 Ocean Avenue Edgecliff in NSW doing home duties by herself. William lived at Tinagroo until his death on 20th October 1956. He had probate in NSW and England. His eulogy is written here – http://sconevetdynasty.com.au/w-h-mackay-of-tinagroo/ . She was still there in the 1954 roll. Muriel passed away on 29th January 1983 in NSW.
Jack [Weston's Dr. John Meredith] enlisted in the AIF on 6th May 1918, recording he was a 22-year old single student. He was given the service number N87608 with the Composite Battalion. He had served 3 years with Senior Cadets and was still serving with the University Regiment when he enlisted in Sydney. On 23rd September 1918 he was made Acting Corporal at the Recruitment Depot. He was demobilised at that rank on 18th November 1918 in consequence of the expiration of his period of enlistment and was discharged. He married Lois Cecil Jack on 23rd April 1924. She was known as Betty. The 1935 electoral roll has them living at Station Street Weston with John listed as a medical practitioner. He enlisted on 25th November 1939 at Rutherford Camp NSW, with his home being in Weston. His next of kin was Lois Meredith. He was discharged on 7th March 1942 as a Captain in the AAMC. A newspaper article tells of his talk at a Rotary Club where he told of his experiences of two years in the Middle East with Australian troops. As a doctor he was involved with a hospital in Gaza and he then requested to be a medical officer with a fighting unit. He took part in the capture of Sollum, Bardia, Tobruk and Benghazi. Problems transporting the wounded was discussed and issues with acoustic mines in Tobruk harbour. He also discussed about the Arabs being thieves and how he witnessed a settlement between two tribes, where the chief guest had to swallow a cooked sheep eye. Fortunately, it was not him. In 1953, Iven Mackay wrote to Base Records asking for information on Jack on his WW1 service, knowing his WW2 service was as a “Captain in the A.A.M.C. with the 1st Australian General Hospital in the Middle East”. His questions were all answered and sent back to him. Iven thought he had embarked in WW1, but he had not. John had passed away on 11th January 1953 in Weston and was cremated, with his ashes at Newcastle Memorial Park at Shrub V 6/1. '
~ Courtesy of Anzac Biographies
Dr. Meredith's Funeral was reported in the Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder on Friday, 16 Jan 1953. It reads thus:
Large Funeral For
Dr. Meredith
The popularity of the late Dr. J. B. W. Meredith and the esteem in which he was held in the district were all evidenced at his funeral on Tuesday, which was the largest ever seen in Weston.
Practically the whole of the townspeople gathered at the Church of England, which was unable to hold the large crowd of mourners.
The cortege was a mile long.
Five special buses took employees of Hebburn No.1 Colliery to the Beresfield Crematorium, where the remains were cremated.
The Rev. A. McKinley, of Weston, and the Rev. L. Richardson, of West Wallsend, officiated.
~ Carol Robinson and Trove
Above: Once Dr John Meredith's Surgery
As far as we are aware, this was Dr. John Meredith's first surgery in Weston.
Above: This building in Second Street Weston eventually became the surgery for Dr Meredith and Dr Wonders, and then later, for Dr. Wonders and Dr. Waugh.
~ Google Maps
Above: Doctor Ivor Wonders (left) and Dr. Ian Waugh c.1954
~CHG and IGUIWAS
Weston's two local doctors photographed about 1954 - possibly at an RSL function. Dr. Wonders joined Dr. Meredith in his practice in Second Street (see above) and after Dr. Meredith passed, Dr. Waugh joined Dr. Wonders in the practice.
Above: Drs. Wonders and Waugh later built a new surgery here in Station Street, Weston next to what became Jock Stewart Park. The Civic Centre is seen in the background. ~ Google Maps
MCINTOSH'S PHARMACY
Above: Mr and Mrs J. M. McIntosh of McIntosh’s Pharmacy, Station St., Weston c.1950s.
The original Pharmacy operated by Mr McIntosh Sr., opened in March 1932, and was in Cessnock Rd. Weston until 1943 when it then moved to Station St., Weston. McIntosh’s Pharmacy was one of the longest surviving family businesses in Weston. Mr. Doug McIntosh, son of the original proprietor, operated the pharmacy from 1965 until his retirement in 2013.
~ McIntosh Family Collection
Above: Janet Richardson and Barbara Farnham at McIntosh's Pharmacy in Station Street Weston.
Photograph taken by Clyde Crawley.
~ Janet Myers Richardson
TAXI SERVICES
Above: One of Weston's earlier Taxi owners, Joe Richardson, pictured with his two daughters, Janet and Brenda c.1946. This was Joe Richardson's second taxi, his first was a Vanguard.
~ Brenda Peel
Above: Joe and Doreen Richardson with their goddson John Crawley at Abermain. This taxi was Joe Richardson's 1949 Dodge.
~ Janet Myers Richardson
Above: Joe Richardson's 1949 Dodge Taxi, his second taxi after his Vanguard.
The young girls pictured in front of the taxi are neighbour Sandra McNabb and Joe's daughter Brenda Richardson.
Above: Joe Richardson's first Holden Taxi purchased from Abe Fren's dealership in Kurri Kurri.
Joe Richardson loved to clean and polish his vehicle ready for weddings. His wife Doreen did the ribbons and dolls. Sometimes the dolls were dressed to match the brides' outfits.
~ Janet Myers Richardson
The earliest recollection many older folk born in Weston have is a taxi rank being on the corner of Station Street and Cessnock Road, Weston opposite the Criterion Hotel. Many of us in our 70s and 80s would still say outside of Mrs Hales's shop but iat the birth of the town, this was the site of Mark Murdoch's Emporium. Before ownership of a family car became common, apart from daily casual fares, our taxi services took families to their annual holiday destinations and provided their cabs for weddings, funerals etc. They were a much-valued service to the townsfolk.
A discussion in the I Grew Up In Weston & Survived Facebook group uncovered many names of our earlier Taxi owners and/or drivers. They include: Clive Snape; Joe Richardson; Samuel Carmac; Eddie Sutcliffe; Bill Minter; Eric Bodycote; Di Bodycote; Russ Norman; Ray Lumsden; Neville Edwards; Coates; Chapmans; Allan and Jack Maxwell; Ross Loder; Haggartys; Daltons; John Bates; Bill Bennett; Charlie Bailey; Mick Bradley and Denis Lord.
Taxi ranks were later established further north in Station Street near the Library and also in Sixth Street, Weston.
Above: Old phone and card from Haggarty's Radio Taxis at Weston
~ Steve Haggarty
NURTURING THE SPIRIT
Above: St. Mary's Anglican Church erected in 1908
First Street Weston
~ Coalfields Local History Assoc.
The former Presbyterian Church building in Cessnock Road Weston later operated for a time as a cake and coffee outlet.
Above: The Uniting Church Station St., Weston NSW
~ Google Maps
WESTON POLICE STATION
Above: The former Weston Police Station
First Street Weston NSW
~ Google Maps
On 24 Apr 1926, the Newcastle Morning Herald reported:
WESTON
'The Police Department has purchased te vacant allotment near the post office, in First Street as a site for a new police station. The present police quarters, on the corner of Aberdare and Station streets, have been placed on the market by the executors of the estate of the late Mr. Joseph Garrett.'
Weston Police Station ceased operations 13 Jul 1975 and the Abermain Police Station became responsible for the Weston locality.
Some of the former officers based at Weston included (among others): Reid, Head, Jenkins, Brown, Lewis, Peterson and Clark.
OTHER WESTON ESTABLISHMENTS
Above: Mr Norm Edwards's mobile Fruit and Vegetables
Ray Little leaning on the truck.
~ Coalfields Local History Assoc. & IGUIWAS
Above: Mr Bill Hilton and his 'fruito' truck
~ Coalfields Local History Assoc. & IGUIWAS
Above and right: Andrew Paterson Frame (1860-1947) with Bonnie
Andrew Frame lived in Fourth Street Weston. He was also a 'mobile greengrocer'. He began his own business by hitching Bonnie to a cart and selling fruit and vegetables around town. His son Alex did likewise.
~ Coalfields Local History Assoc. & IGUIWAS
Above: The Pagans Cafe in Fourth Street Weston.
Later on, Andrew Frame and his wife Eliza (nee Hannan) moved into these premises on the corner of Fourth and Kline Streets Weston, diagonally opposite where they lived when Andrew had Bonnie and the fruit and vegie run. They built a shop front and these premises which became the Pagan's Cafe.
~ Coalfields Local History Assoc.
Above and right: Weston Co-op Timber and Hardware Store
which later became Weston Timber and Hardware (right)
Above: Weston Timber and Hardware
L-R: Dave Wotherspoon, Bob Roberts and customer Jim Logan
Above: This building in Cessnock Road Weston was once operated as a Hairdressers for many years by Mrs Margaret Farnham.
~ Real Estate.com
Above: Weston Newsagency Cnr. Cessnock Rd and Station St.,
Some of the earlier proprietors (in no particular order) have been the families of: Hunter, Woods, Day, Wilson, Thomson, Taylor, Brooks and Slade. This building was once Weston's Police Station.
~ Google Maps
Above L-R: Mrs Kirkwood, Mr George Kirkwood, Mrs Masterman and Norma Crossley
This was Mr and Mrs Kirkwood's last day trading as Kirkwoods Groceries and Produce. The auction was held this day in Dec. 1973 - the end of an era. The dog is believed to have been named Lucy.
~ Norma Crossley
Above and below: Kirkwoods former grocery store, now a Vet Clinic.
Kirkwood's bulk produce shed used to be on the empty block next door. Jack Paterson's Barber Shop used to be in front of the residence on the right in this photo.
Above: The larger light-coloured section of this building in Station Street Weston was operated as a Ladies Wear by Mrs Meadows in later years. The small section painted darker was once the famous Dutch Cake Shop operated by the Ruygrok family. Eli Wilkinson once had a men’s wear shop in these premises and rented the house at the back and the cake shop to the Ruygroks. Wilkinsons lived at the back before the Ruygroks until they built the house nearlby where fruiterer Norm Edwards and his family later lived.
~ IGUIWAS
Above: These two buildings at 67 Cessnock Road, Weston were once owned by the Langley family. Mr Langley did electrical repairs. Both buildings were purchased by the Falk family, with the shop first operated as Weston Oil Heating and Hardware and then later sold gifts and toys. The residence next door was initially still occupied by Mrs Langley and later used by Falks for storage. Later on the shop premises was operated as a cake and coffee shop . In recent times, the occupant was selling old wares.
Above: The small building between the Criterion Hotel and the Olympia building was once the Top Billiard Room
Above: The Civic Centre
This building on the corner of Station & Second Sts. was once the Capitol Theatre.
Above: First Street Weston from the overhead railway bridge. Carroll's Service Station used to be on the left and Heslop's on the right.
~ Shared by David Paul Heffernan, IGUIWAS. Photographer Unknown.