Weston to 1910

1830:     James Weston, for whom the town of Weston was eventually named, was a convict transported from Sussex, England to the penal colony of New South Wales to serve a 14-year sentence.  James Weston was 30-years old when he arrived. His wife Lucy followed him to Australia, where they had two children: Jane (1832) and James (1840).

1856:     James Weston and his family eventually settled in the Maitland area and in 1856 purchased 640 acres of land around Chinaman’s Hollow, Weston.  On this substantial holding James Weston established his homestead, complete with vineyard and orchard, near Swamp Creek.

The following text was extracted from THE PIONEERING DAYS OF THE COALFIELDS, No.1, Jul 1999, p.2, p.4,  THE BIRTH OF WESTON, by Brian J. Andrews, Coalfields Heritage Group:

THE BIRTH OF WESTON

See also: Hebburn Collieries

  'The former mining township of Weston owes both its name and location to the Weston family, the original settlers of the area, but it owes its existence to the Australian Agricultural Company (A.A. Co.) and its Hebburn No.1 colliery.

  In 1902, the A.A. Co., one of the wealthiest and oldest institutions in the country, purchased and leased at an enormous cost, a vast area of coal bearing land south of Weston.

  At that time the central township of Kurri Kurri was still only a figment in the minds of a few Pelaw Main miners, but by the end of that year would become a reality,

  The area secured by the A.A. Co. comprised 1320 acres of freehold land, originally owned by the wealthy Hebblewhite family, and 3131 acres of leasehold, the whole forming one block of 4457 acres. The Hebblewhite land was purchased early in 1901.

  Today, all of this land lies within the contentious Hunter Employment Zone of which we are sure to hear a lot more in the coming months.

  Test bores had been undertaken at various parts of this large property, leading the company to believe, without the slightest doubt, that coal of the very best quality and in great thickness of seam, existed beneath the whole of the surface.  

  One of the first indications that coal existed in that neighbourhood was the discovery, in the 1880s, of a coal outcrop on the banks of a creek running through the Weston family’s land.

  The discovery was made, it is believed, by Mr Harper, a government geologist, who took several specimens away with him.

  A later coal specimen taken from the A.A. Company’s shaft was sent to England, where it created an exceedingly favourable impression on mining experts in that country.

  At Hebburn, Mr Robert Scott was appointed manager to superintend operations for the sinking of the main tunnel and the other surface works. A comfortable cottage residence and office for Mr Scott was built at the colliery by Mr Con Shay, making it the first residence built at either Hebburn or Weston, apart from the old Weston homestead.

  At that time, in 1902, Oaks Creek, a small stream flowed through the property. Right from the outset an immense dam was built across this creek for the purpose of water conservation, an essential item for those steam-powered days.  It was estimated that a lake comprising 5,000,000 gallons would be formed by the holding back of the creek...

    ...Throughout 1902 and into 1903, development work proceeded on the Hebburn Colliery, whilst the Aberdare Colliery and Railway Company extended its railway through Weston towards Cessnock.

  Two entirely distinct settlements sprung up around the colliery – the Hebburn Estate and Weston Estate.

  Tents were numerous around Hebburn, where some 250 men and boys were employed about the property. Many of these hands were engaged in carting clay from the railway cutting to strengthen the bank of the reservoir, at a point where the old original road (track) to Cessnock, passed by heading for Abermain.

  Towards the end of 1903 a few substantial buildings had been erected at Weston, the most substantial being the two-storied Criterion Hotel, brick built, with balcony all round, owned by Mr James Jones, formerly of Newcastle.'

1883:     James Weston died in 1883.  His son James Jr. and his daughter Jane, who married John Swanson, inherited his property.

1894:     The Edwards family established a vineyard at Sawyers Gulley. 

See:   EDWARDS FAMILY VINYARD 

09 Jan 1903:   The Maitland Daily Mercury advertised:

'LOCAL & GENERAL ITEMS

THE NEW COALFIELDS - TO SPECULATORS AND BUSINESSMEN

 A map showing the position of the Weston Estate sub-division in the immense new coal field can be seen for a few days at the W.A. Kline's jewellery establishment, High Street. Sale the end of February.'

20 Jan 1903:  Hebburn No. 1 Colliery commenced coal operations:

'The railway being constructed from Aberdare Junction to Cessnock township, under the provisions of the Aberdare Railway Act, dated 27th December 1901, had reached Hebburn Colliery on Tuesday 20th January 1903. The first trainload of Hebburn coal production was despatched on Friday 24th May 1903.'  [A detailed history of Hebburn No. 1 Colliery can be found at the Newcastle Regional Museum website.]

28 February 1903: The development of Weston received a boost when the following advertisement appeared in the Newcastle Morning Herald:

AUCTION SALES

THE WESTON ESTATE

SITUATE IN THE CENTRE

OF THE MAITLAND COALFIELDS

588 Building Blocks

Adjoining A.A.C.’s Hebburn Colliery and the Aberdare Colliery, and close to the Pelaw Main, Stanford Merthyr and Heddon Greta Collieries.

Splendid Business and Residential Sites.

Streets are 66 and 99 feet wide, and the lanes 20 feet wide.

This estate fronts the main Government Road and has been judiciously laid out by Mr Surveyor Hall.

On SATURDAY, April 4th, at the Town Hall, West Maitland.

Commencing at 11.30 a.m.

TITLE PERFECT

Litho Plans are now being prepared, and will be ready in the course of a few days. Call or send for one.

Terms: 1/4 cash Deposit, balance in 5 years.

CREER and BERKELEY have received instructions from the Proprietors to sell by auction, on SATURDAY, April 4th. at the Town Hall, West Maitland, at 11.30a.m.

THE ABOVE ESTATE

Solicitors to the Vendors,

Messrs. R.W. THOMPSON & SON,

West Maitland.

The Maitland Daily Mercury reported the sale results on the 6 April 1903:

151 blocks sold:  Gross £3,758-0-0 ($7516.00)

Average: £ 24-17-9 ($49.80)

The lowest price was £8-0-0 ($16.00)

Two blocks on the corner of Aberdare Street (Cessnock Road)  and Station Street saw brisk bidding:

1st: £200-0-0 ($400.00) to Mr James Jones of Newcastle

2nd:£250-0-0 ($500.00) to Mr James Jones of Newcastle

An adjoining property in Station Street sold to the same buyer for £80-0-0 ($160.00).

~~~~~

 18 April 1903:  Just two weeks after the land auction, the Maitland Daily Mercury ran an advertisement offering the remaining blocks for private sale:

Miners and all classes of Workmen should accept the Opportunity of securing Cheap Freeholds.

Weston Estate: Allotments for Private Sale

Liberal Terms

¼ Cash; Bal. at 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 years with 5 percent

Plans showing Lots for Sale at

Hill’s Angel Inn

High Street

West Maitland

21 Apr 1903:    A call for Tenders appeared in the Maitland Daily Mercury:

TENDERS

'To CARPENTERS and BUILDERS. --TENDERS are invited for the ERECTION and COMPLETION of a 5 ROOMED DWELLING, with SHOP, on the Weston Estate, near Hebburn Colliery. Particulars from W. Walters, West Wallsend, to whom tenders must be sent, or sketch and specification can be seen at Mr. Joe Jones', Pelaw Main. Tenders close May 1st. No tender necessarily accepted.     1713' 

On Saturday, Jan. 16, 1903 the Maitland Daily Mercury advertised under LOCAL AND GENERAL:

A POST OFFICE FOR WESTON TOWNSHIP

   'The following communication has been received by Dr. F. Liddell, Federal representative of the Hunter electorate, from the Post Master General's Department in Sydney regarding the establishment of a Post Office at Weston in the Maitland coalmining district:- "General Post Office, Sydney, Jan. 14, 1903. Sir, - I have the honour to inform you that it has been decided to establish a post office at Weston, near West Maitland, on the 25th instant, under the charge of Mr. William Walters, who will also convey mails to and from the railway station and post office at that place. I am to add that arrangements have been made with the East Greta Coalmining Company, Limited, to carry the mails for the new office to and from West Maitland daily by train. I have etc., G.P.Unwin, Acting Deputy Postmaster General. Dr. F. Liddell, M.P. West Maitland.'

8 Jul 1903:     The Newcastle Morning Herald reported on 8 July 1903 that fifteen substantial houses had already been erected in Weston and another four were under construction. Others buildings were planned including a shop and a six-roomed residence. Two stores and a bakery were under construction for Mr Walters of West Wallsend. They were to commence baking in August 1903.

8 Jul 1903: The same edition of the Newcastle Morning Herald also announced that a railway siding from the existing Aberdare Colliery and Railway Company line to the site of the proposed Weston Station house was also under construction. By September, a site on the eastern side of Station Street adjoining the Aberdare Railway was being prepared for Weston Station. The railway line through to Cessnock was completed in 1904. This line provided for the efficient transport of coal from the collieries to the coal loader in the port of Newcastle.  It also paved the way for a passenger rail service.  By  1 Sep 1903, passenger trains from the Coalfields ran all the way into West Maitland and not just to the East Greta Junction, where previously all passengers had to walk along the line to West Maitland.

 14 July 1903:      The Weston Progress Committee was elected. The executive were:

• (Pres) Morris Williams; (Sec) W Walters; (Treas) Mr Butler;

• (Committee): J Jones; George Payne; George Gillard; William Allen; Steve Hubbock.

• The estate owners granted the Weston township land to build a School of Arts and the Progress Committee were advocating for a Post Office and school since the nearest school was two miles away.

25th July 1903:   The Department of Public Instruction purchased land from James Weston and Jane Swanson for £100 ($200) for construction of a school consisting of a single classroom, a small hat room and an open verandah.

7 Aug 1903: The Maitland Daily Mercury reported on 7 August 1903 that the Australian Agricultural Company had a telephone line under construction from Newcastle, via West Maitland, Kurri Kurri and then connecting to Hebburn Estate.

12 Sep 1903: Police population figures for Sep 1903 showed that the population of Hebburn (not yet called Weston),  was 150. 

12 Sep 1903: Creer and Berkeley were advertising the sale of a further 150 blocks of land and two farms at Weston in the Newcastle Morning Herald. The Sale was to be conducted 31 October 1903 at West Maitland:

Second Sale of 150 Well Situated Allotments

To be offered at West Maitland

Two Farms

   1 x 12 Acres    1 x 20 Acres

In close proximity to Aberdare Railway

Terms: ¼ Cash    Bal: 6, 12, 18, 24 months at five percent

 103 Allotments to be offered with frontages to Swanson Street, Government Road and Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Streets.

Upset Prices

Section 13 fronting Swanson Street: £15-0-0 ($30.00) per block

Section 13 fronting Fourth Street: £13-0-0 (26.00) per block

Sections 14, 15, 16 fronting Fourth Street: £12-0-0 ($24.00) per block

Sections 15 & 16 fronting Fifth Street: £10-0-0 ($20.00) per block

Sections 17 & 18 fronting Fifth & Sixth Streets: £10-0-0 ($20.00) per block

Terms

¼ Cash     Bal: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 years at five percent

Title Perfect

Creer & Berkeley

12 Sep 1903: The Newcastle Morning Herald  informed readers that:

• Mr Hall had cleared four allotments ready to erect four cottages.

• Mr W Morgan had established an agency for the Newcastle Herald in Third Street and delivered papers to subscribers at Weston, Hebburn and Abermain.

• There were no religious services established yet, but Rev. Fletcher Clifton, Circuit Missionary, was to conduct a Methodist service at Mr Walter’s residence where a Sunday School had already been established. As shown in William Walters' letter (following), the need for a public school in Weston had become a matter of urgency.

21 Dec 1903: The Maitland Daily Mercury stated that James Jones had obtained a publican’s licence.  He later constructed the Criterion Hotel on his land in Weston (see above) for the sum of £1000-0-0 ($2000.00). 

The newspaper made the comment that there was usually some reluctance to buy land in ‘Private Townships’, but that the number of buyers on the Saturday and the briskness of the sales, showed that there were many businessmen who looked forward to a big future for the Weston subdivision.

1904:    The Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate reported on Weston's progress in the edition dated 24 May 1904:

WESTON

A YEAR'S PROGRESS.

     'The rapid progress that has been made during the past six months by the A.A. Company in the development of Hebburn Colliery, and by the Seaham Company in the development of its Abermain Colliery, have justified the predictions of those who forecasted that the township of Weston would become the rival of Kurri Kurri in the South Maitland coal-field. Centrally situated in that field, on the Aberdare railway, at a point about ten miles from West Maitland, and lying within a few hundred yards of Hebburn Colliery, and within less than two miles of Abermain and Pelaw Main collieries, it should become a convenient residential centre for miners who have invested in building sites. It lies between Deep Creek, the Aberdare railway, and a Government road, and its southern boundary is within a half mile of Kurri Kurri.

The streets, which are one chain wide, extend north and south and east and west. Those running north and south are Weston, Hall, Station, and Kline streets, the others being named from First to Tenth streets, with two others, Swanson and Aberdare. An esplanade extends along the creek, and has a width of about ten feet. The streets are almost in a primitive condition, but as the population increases they must be cleared and made. Station and Aberdare streets have been partly cleared, but they require forming. The residents are at a disadvantage so far as a Government road is concerned, and are agitating for the construction of a good metal road to connect the township with Kurri Kurri. Opinions are divided as to the route which this road should take. Some residents favour the extension of Aberdare-street to Kurri Kurri, while members of the Progress Committee advocate the extension of Swanson street so that the main road would pass through the heart of the township. The route is, however, a matter of detail; but it should not be decided upon before a conference between the Progress Committee and the Public Works officer in charge of the district roads.

The townshlp is part of an estate, the property of the Weston family, and is subdivided into 558 allotments, about 360 of which have been sold. At the first sale, which was held at West Maitland, on the 4th April,1908 by Messrs Creer and Berkeley of Newcastle, the allotments averaged about £24, per acre, the lowest price being £8, and the highest £250. At the second sale, conducted by the same auctioneers, on the 31st October, 1903, the allotments averaged from £10 to £24. Since then private sales show that the allotments have increased in value from 10 to 50 per cent, while some of the owners have not been tempted by an offer of 100 per cent on the original purchase money.

Within the past few weeks a number of allotments have changed ownership at prices ranging from £32 to £65. Of the unsold allotments, which have all been withdrawn from the market, there are many occupying sites on the ridge which commands a splendid view of the surrounding country. The allotments within easy distance of the railway are sought for by business men, but those who are anxious to commence business in the township should hesitate or they will provide a supply which will far exceed the demand. Newcastle and Maitland business houses have a large connection in the district, but there are local stores to meet the convenience of the people. 

The Business People 

The business places are as follows: -

• General stores:  W. Gillon;  W. Walters, and Hockey 

• Butcher:  T.J. Fogarty

• Baker:  A. Henderson 

• Blacksmith:   H. J. Bickerton 

• Hairdressers:   Donnelly, Hoban, Panton and Blake 

• Auctloneer:  W. Morgan, who is also local agent for the "Newcastle Morning Herald". 

The Criterion Hotel, at the corner of Aberdare and Station streets, is a fine building. It was built by Mr. James Jones, formerly of Newcastle, and contains 27 well-ventilated rooms, the walls being plastered, and the ceiling being of ornamental steel. A spacious balcony extends along both frontages, and the fittings throughout are of the most modern type. Mr. Jones has also erected a cottage and a small shop near the hotel. He has plans prepared for the erection of a commodious store on the corner opposite his hotel. 

There are in all about 100 cottages in the township, and a number are in course of erection. Some are of very neat villa design, and nearly all are commodious and substantial. There is a great demand for three or four-roomed cottages, which would command a rental of from 6s to 8s per week. A three roomed cottage can be built for about £70, and would command a rental of 6s per week. There are many well situated lots lying idle while numbers of families are waiting for houses at a moderate rental. Mr. A. Hall has erected five handsome cottages: Mr.Turnbull is arranging for the erection of three; Mr. Burt for three; Mr. Hughes for two; and the Weston family intend at an early date to build about twenty. Mr. Turnbull has commenced the erection of a commodious buildling, which will serve as a hall.

The Methodists, with true missionary zeal, have decided to build a church on an allotment, in Section 18, near the public school site. Mr, John Champion has erected substantial stables and outhouses at the rear of the site, on the corner of Hall and Aberdare streets, upon which he Intends to build a fine hotel at a cost of about £2500. The foundations of the hotel are being constructed by Mr. E. Bartley, who will supervise the whole work. Mr. Champion intends to build a large hall at a cost of £400. 

The local police station is in First street, and is in charge of Mounted Constable Reen, formerly of Kempsey. 

The railway station is a weatherboard structure, with station master's office, a general waiting room, and a ladies' room. The goods-shed is galvanised iron and timber. The platform is about 150 feet long and 60 feet wide, and is built up of earth with gravel surface to a height of about three feet, the face on the railway being In concrete. Mr. Donald Campbell is stationmaster. The railway business at the station is very extensive, as it includes the passenger and goods traffic and the coal trains from Hebburn and Abermaln. 

Ten allotments in section 18, between Fifth and Sixth streets and the Esplanade have been secured by the Government as a site for a Public School, but although letters have been received from the Department of Public Instruction, stating that the tender of Mr. H. Russell had been accepted, that contractor has received no instructions to proceed with the work. There are over 150 children in the locality, and it is to be deeply regretted that repeated applications have failed to induce the department to have the erection of the school proceeded with.

The post-office and money order office is in charge of Mr. W. Walters, a local store keeper, but the addition to the office of a savings bank would be welcomed by the people. After repeated applications made through Mr. John Gillies, M.P., by the Progress Committee, the Postmaster-General has decided to open a telephone office in the township without asking for a guarantee from the residents. 

The extension of mains of the Hunter District Water Supply and Sewerage Board to Weston would he a great public convenience, but nothing can be done by the Board until a road between Kurri Kurri and Weston is dedicated and opened up. 

The general progress of the township is attended to by a Progress Committee, of which Mr.Maurice Williams is president, and Mr. W. Walters secretary. Other native members are Messrs. E, Butler, G. Payne, W. Allan, and W. Morgan.'

1904:     In Jan 1904, the population of Hebburn Estate was 340, and the Weston Estate, 203.

1904:    'The first co-operative society to be formed in the new Coalfields area began operations at Kurri Kurri in 1904.

At that time, Kurri Kurri was still very much a raw frontier town, with many crude hessian and canvas dwellings, few formed streets, no school nor church, and not even a permanent post office.

By mid-1904 the Kurri Kurri Co-Operative Society was already established, with 61 members and a share capital of £161...'

On 25 Jan 1904, the people of Weston were advised of the impending establishment of a Post Office under the charge of William Walters. Prior to this, residents had to walk to Kurri Kurri or Pelaw Main to access postal services.

Information from Coalfields Heritage Group:   

'The picnic ground was a place where the people of Weston would congregate around the early 1900's. The track to Abermain at that time, before roads were laid, went from very near the position of the hospital today, down around Hebburn No.1 then on to Abermain. The track to the picnic ground started in about the same place and traversed the bushland out to what was known as the picnic ground, adjacent to Bromages farm (no longer there). It was alongside the creek that feeds Hebburn Dam.  Access today has been lost due to development of the  Hunter Economic Zone (HEZ).   The picnic ground would have been close to the southeast corner of the horse paddock.'

28 Jan 1904:

MAITLAND DAILY MERCURY                                                                   

THURSDAY JANUARY 28, 1904

WEST MAITLAND POLICE COURT

SLY GROG SELLING AT WESTON

      George Doughty, 29, a wheeler, was charged with having sold a bottle of whisky, contrary to the provisions of the Liquor Act of 1898, at Weston, on Saturday last.   He pleaded guilty, but said he was ignorant of the law. – Sub-inspector Sykes said defendant had stolen the whisky, and had sold it to a publican for 3s. – Doughty was fined £30, or 3mnths.

    Stealing. – George Doughty was further charged with having, at Weston, on Saturday last, stolen a bottle of whisky, valued at 3s, the property of John Simpson. – William Jones, son of the licensee of the Criterion Hotel, Weston, had sold Simpson a bottle of Gaelic whisky, two bottles of McEwan’s ale, and some drinks, on Saturday last. Simpson was the worse for liquor. Doughty was in the bar at the time. Later, defendant came in, and produced a bottle of whisky. He said he and his mate were dry, and the whisky was no good to them. He offered to sell the bottle for 3s. Jones gave him that sum for the whisky.  Cuthbert Davidson had seen Doughty take a bottle of whisky out of Simpson’s pocket at the two-up school. – James Jones, licensee of the hotel, had seen Doughty with the whisky. Jones said – “that is Simpson’s.”  Accused replied – “Simpson is a pal of mine” – At this stage Doughty said - “I plead guilty.”

    He was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, the 3 sentences to be cumulative-ten months in all. Doughty made several appeals for leniency, and went away fuming and cursing, his Worship saying he could not see his way to make sentences concurrent. Such men as accused said the Police magistrate, were a pest to the community, - Doughty had committed a savage assault upon Constable Dolman, but, in the circumstances, Sub-inspector Sykes said they would not proceed with that charge.

(The Police Magistrate alone adjudicated in the above case.)

~ Coalfields Heritage Group

1905: First Weston School was commenced.   The first Weston school was built by contractor Henry Russell, and opened on 23 January 1905.   

1906-1908: Weston School was extended in 1906 and 1908.        

2 Feb 1905:     The Water Board began the work of laying the reticulation pipes for the town water supplied by the Walka Water Works in Maitland.

28 Mar 1905:    Weston's second hotel, the Aberdare Hotel, opened for business.  Originally built by Englishman John Champion, the licensee at April 17, 1906 was noted as being Alexander George Jewell.  See Daring Weston Safe Robbery 

1905:    The Police population returns for 1905 showed that the Weston Estate population had grown to 750 residents, with another 460 living at Hebburn

1906:  'Early during the month of March, 1906, the town of Weston was thrown into considerable excitement over the disappearance of their local railway station-master, Donald Campbell.  All manner of sensational rumours circulated in connection with this disappearance....'    See  Weston Station Sensation and  Weston Railway Station

17 Apr 1906:

'The Aberdare Hotel was the scene of a daring burglary at about three o'clock in the morning of Tuesday, April 17, 1906. About £2 was taken from the cash register, and the safe containing £75 in notes, gold and silver, in addition to valuable papers, was dragged outside, where it was blown open with explosives...'  See Daring Weston Safe Robbery 

05 Jun 1906:     A five-roomed shop and dwelling in Fourth Street, Weston owned by Mr William McIlvene was destroyed by fire.

1906:     To raise funds for the Weston Volunteer Fire Brigade a social was held in Weston's King's Hall. Captain Wilson and most of the firemen attended.

13 Jul 1906:   The need for a Weston Volunteer Fire brigade was highlighted as almost all homes were built of timber. There were volunteers but no funds.

1907:     Three Weston football clubs were formed in 1907; Weston Advance, Weston United and Weston Albions. The Bears are also credited as being founded in 1907 by coalminers who worked at the Hebburn Colliery.

1907:     In 1907, registrations of births, deaths and marriages for Kurri Kurri, Stanford Merthyr and Pelaw Main could be made at the Kurri Kurri Court House; however those for Weston and Abermain had to be lodged at West Maitland.

1910: Weston Explosives Co., advertised as a New Business in Dun's Gazette for New South Wales, Vol.4 No.26 on 26 Dec., 1910:

Weston Explosives Co., Weston, manufacturrers of "Westonite". 

Further information on Weston's explosives factory from Ean Smith:

This company became known as Federal Explosives and  in some reports, Southern Explosives. They manufactured both 'Westonite' and 'Stanfordite'. The factory was situated between the Weston Bowling Club site and the Weston Railway Station. It operated from the early 1900s and by 1920 it had closed. There are no known photos of the site.

1910:      The Infants Department of the Weston Public School was established.  At this time the school had seven teachers and 377 pupils. The extant Infants School building is dated 1928.

1910:     By 1910, Weston had developed a considerable business centre around two streets, Aberdare Street (Cessnock Road) and Station Street.

The photograph above was taken looking west from near the Aberdare Hotel, Weston NSW, before 1911 

On the left side:  

The small awning in the near foreground is Mrs. Hales’s original shop at 40 Aberdare Street (Cessnock Road). This was where the initial meetings were held in 1908 to form the Soccer clubs.  The street off to the left is Scott Street. Mrs Hales later moved into the building on the corner of Station Street and Cessnock Road formerly known as Mark Murdoch’s Emporium.  See Services & Establishments 

Next going west was an Auctioneers rooms: Perhaps W. Morgan?  He was established as an Auctioneer in Weston by 1904 and was also an agent for the Newcastle Morning Herald. 

Next appears to be a house with a white picket fence, then a hairdressers and the two story structure built by Mena Vartholomaios that opened in 1911. This building became Weston Fruit Palace. In about 1916, this shop was purchased by the Zantiotis brothers: Peter, Jack and Tony, who immigrated to Australia from the Greek island of Kythera.  See Services & Establishments . This building became the Weston Miners' Hall in 1947 and later the Weston Ambulance Station.  See also Weston NSW: 2024.   Directly next to these premises was a billiard room also owned by the Zantiotis family, which later became the Weston RSL.

Further west and barely discernible near the Station Street intersection is the original ‘Log of Knowledge’ or Geordie Log’ with someone sitting on it. 

On the opposite corner still looking west but with the building facing east, is the Weston Police Station which was on that site by 1910. An article in the Newcastle Herald  in 1904 (reproduced above) titled 'Weston - A Years Progress' suggests an earlier Police Station was in First Street by 1904: 'The local police station is in First Street, and is in charge of Mounted Constable Reen, formerly of Kempsey.'  The last Weston Police Station was in First Street, Weston and ceased operations 13 Jul 1975.  See Services & Establishments page.

Further in the distance can be seen the Weston branch of the Kurri Kurri Co.op Society which opened in 1912.  

Right side: 

In the foreground is the Weston Meat Palace established in 1903 by T. J. Fogarty. He was the first Butcher in Weston. See Services & Establishments .  The Weston Co-op Society purchased these premises for their Weston Butchery around 1914. 

Further west at the Station Street intersection another awning is visible, likely Mark Murdoch’s Emporium and across Station Street on the corner is the Criterion Hotel.   See Services & Establishment