History of Miss Raymond's Cottage

Built in around 1840, Miss Raymond's Cottage was opposite the Fisher's Ghost restaurant. Photo: CAHS

Location: 343 Queen Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560

This house was known as Raymond's Cottage or Miss Raymond's Cottage.

Built about 1850, it was a timber house with brick nogged walls and an attic upstairs. It had two doors and three windows at the front, a picket fence and flat verandah columns.

The Raymond family occupied the house for many years.

A ghost was reported to have been seen by a child in the 1960s. When the family heard their child talking to someone upstairs, they went to investigate. When asked who they were speaking to, the child replied that they were talking to "Fred".

It was demolished in 1982 and a Pizza Hut built on the site, now the Al Jannah Restaurant.

You can find the archived photographs of Miss Raymond's Cottage here.

History of Good Intent Hotel

The Good Intent Hotel as it was in 1981 - Fowler collection

Location: 271 Queen Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560

The Good Intent Hotel opened its doors to the public on 24 March 1939.

It was built on the site of an early building known as Alpha House, demolished the previous year. The licence was transferred in the names of Mr and Mrs Kerr from the nearby Commonwealth Hotel to The Good Intent.

Aubrey John Raymond, better known as "Titus" Oates, became the licensee of The Good Intent after winning the lottery. In 1954, Titus sold The Good Intent Hotel, in order to enter television production and film making.

The Good Intent was one of the more popular pubs in Campbelltown during its existence, especially on Sundays. It was a two-storey brick building at the front and had three levels at the rear. A large car park was situated on the southern side of the building. The pub was set on a large block of land and included a brick shed, living quarters and a large garden at the rear, accessed by a steep set of stairs. In 1973 a drive-in bottle shop was added.

The hotel closed its doors for the last time on 17 April 1982.

This was an unpopular decision, and many regulars defied the demolition signs on the hotel doors and arrived for their usual drink on the Sunday morning- the day of the demolition. They were eventually coaxed out of the bar by a security guard.

It was demolished to make way for Campbelltown Mall.

You can find the archived photographs of the Good Intent Hotel here.

History of Wilson's Butcher Shop

Wilson's Butcher Shop was originally a weatherboard building constructed by cooper turned butcher Daniel Fowler. The girl on the crutches is Nell Chinooks. Photo courtesy CAHS.

Location: 249 Queen Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560 

Wilson's Butcher Shop at 249 Queen Street was originally a weatherboard building constructed by cooper turned butcher, Daniel Fowler, prior to 1860.

James Wilson worked for Daniel Fowler for 16 years, purchased the butcher shop from Fowler in the mid-1870s, and in the late 1880s built a new two storey shop on the same site. The business thrived, and was so successful that James Wilson was able to retire thirteen years later.

The building was later owned by various butchers, including Hickey's and Wilson's apprentice, George Chinnocks. It later became D. McDonald's Butchery. A small bootmaker's shop operated out of another downstairs room. The bootmaker was Al Johnson. David Archer later had a watch repair and gift shop. This was taken over by Mr Kendall McSkimming. In 1969, Tye's Teenage Wear operated out of the building.

The building was demolished in 1977, coincidentally a Wilson's Pharmacy stands there today.

You can find the archived photographs of Wilson's Butchery here.

History of Tripp's Garage

Schoolchildren from Minto Public School marching in procession in Queen Street, passing Tripp's Garage. Follan Coll c1950.

Location: Corner of Queen and Dumaresq Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560

The Tripp family operated various businesses on the south eastern corner of Queen and Dumaresq Streets for many years,

beginning in 1880.

Charles Tripp Senior and his brother Thomas established a blacksmith business first. Charles Tripp Senior and Thomas seem to have extended the blacksmith business in Queen Street after 1884 to a coach building and wheelwright operation, in addition to the blacksmith shop. The building continued to operate as a blacksmith and wheelwright until after the First World War.

After Charles Tripp Senior's death in 1912, the younger Charles took over the running of the business. After Charles Junior bought a motorbike, he then went into buying motorbike parts, which eventually expanded to motor repairs and selling petrol.

By 1929, the building was now listed as a motor garage owned by Charles Tripp. The garage was named Tripp's Silver Star Garage. It sold Neptune petrol and in 1932 advertised new car batteries.

In later years the former Waratah Tea Rooms building, run by Vince Tripp and adjoining the garage, was converted into an efficient spare parts section and counter. Leo and Frank continued to operate the Silver Star Garage after their father Charles' death in 1953.

The garage was demolished in 1966. Ralph's Chemist now occupies this site.

Oral history of the Tripp family

Excerpt of: oral histories about early Campbelltown with Rita Philomena Brunero (nee Tripp), the daughter of Charles and Maria Tripp.

You can find archived photographsof Tripp's Garage here.

History of Bursill's Shop

Don Topham and Pat McGoldrick behind the counter of Bursills Shop in 1950 CAHS.

Location: 221 Queen Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560

The Bursill family had a strong retail presence in Campbelltown since convict labourer and pioneer, William Bursill built a general store here in 1842. A two-storey sandstone building fashioned in the Georgian Style, the building still stands at 292 Queen Street and is one of four iconic colonial terraces at the southern end of town. It was sold to William Fowler in 1850, who added space for a Post Office.

The Bursill family would move away to the goldfields shortly after their son Samuel, the tenth of fourteen children, was born in 1850.  They did however keep some property here and investments in the town.

Samuel married Mercy Poulter in 1874 in Gulgong. Mercy was noted for having “a lovely singing voice” and would be heavily involved in the local presbyterian church. They had couple of small businesses in the goldfields and Woollahra. Samuel returned to his hometown in around 1892 and built a store to the left of the Bank of NSW before moving on to build a second shop at 221 Queen Street. This store, completed in 1895, sold produce and incorporated a residence upstairs.

Bursill’s store was famous for a carpet snake that the family used to keep rodent numbers under control. To some people it was a source of excitement but brought terror to those not fond of these legless reptiles!

A civic minded man, Samuel was elected to council in a 1903 by-election. A supporter described him as a “strong personality, unflinching, fearless character [with] a useful knowledge”.  After he became mayor in 1909 his son Samuel junior, took over the running of the store partnering with friends and relations Fred Rider and George King.  Besides produce they sold builder's hardware and were an agent for Chrysler cars and Plymouth trucks.

Later, Samuel junior's son, Samuel William, joined him in the business at the age of eighteen. Known as Bill Bursill he worked hard and took over the business upon his father’s retirement in 1945.

Although much has changed, the high-up façade of Sam Bursill’s building of 1895 can still be seen today.

Oral history of Bursill's Shop

Excerpt of: oral historiesabout early Campbelltown with Susan Chandler and the infamous carpet snake at Bursill's.

Campbelltown Library · Susan Chandler remembers the infamous carpet snake

You can find the archived photographs of Bursill's Shop here.

History of the Bank of New South Wales

The Bank of New South Wales building in 1893 alongside the Bursill's Building. It stood on the site of Fred Fisher's house. Bessie Nash Collection. CAHS.

Location: 209 Queen Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560

This impressive old building was originally the Royal Hotel, built in 1841 by Daniel Cooper, opened in 1842 by Francis Christie, who transferred to enterprising emancipist John Hurley. It was built on the site of Fred Fisher's house.

John Hurley later leased it to James Campbell in 1855 and it became the Family Hotel.

On 1 February 1878, the Board of Directors for the Bank of New South Wales decided that a branch of the bank be opened at Campbelltown. It was the town's second bank.

This large two-storey white building had a large garden and stables out the back. The garden contained an underground air raid shelter full of supplies and was built at the start of the Second World War. The bank remained in operation until 1943, when wartime legislation limited the number of banks in town. The premises were sold in 1954.

The precise date of demolition for the building is unknown.

You can find the archived photographs of the Bank of New South Wales here.

History of Marlow Bros. General Store

Horsedrawn wagon from "Northampton Dale" owned by Edward Norman Percival outside Marlow Bros store carrying hay from "Spring Valley Farm" CAHS.

Location: 202 Queen Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560

Originally Samuel Skerrit's Drapery, before becoming Marlow Bros. Premier Store, the store on the corner of Queen and Lithgow Streets in Campbelltown was owned by Percy Marlow and later became Solomon Bros. Store.

In 1919, Maurie and Joe Solomon opened up their retail store in this building, where they traded as Solomon Bros. Premier Stores. They sold everything from groceries, toys, dress materials, manchester, glassware, crockery and produce.

In 1928 Phil Solomon took the business over and traded as P. Solomon.

In 1932 Bussell Bros. commenced trading in the building.

By 1971 it was a self-serve grocery store and later the site became home to the ANZ Bank.

Percy Marlow was a prominent citizen of the town, including officiating as Mayor of Campbelltown three times – 1925-1929, 1938-1945 and 1950 to 1952. He became an Alderman in 1920 and helped organise Campbelltown's Centenary celebrations. His pet project in his first stint as mayor was the need for a Campbelltown high school. During his second term as mayor, Percy oversaw the war effort and he took a genuine interest in the young men and women who enlisted.

Percy was a prolific photographer. A collection of his photos are held by the Historical Society. He was also an extremely keen carpenter and an enthusiastic member of the local fire brigade.

Percy Marlow passed away at his home at 7 Cordeaux Street in June 1971.

You can find the archived photographs of the Marlow Bros. General Store here.

History of Glenalvon

Glenalvon House - a fine Colonial Georgian townhouse with its heritage gardens, coach house and stables. Image sourced from Kerry & Jones Collection, Campbelltown City Library.

Glenalvon House c.1840

Location: 8 Lithgow Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560

State Heritage Listed: Glenalvon House(PDF, 405KB)

Glenalvon is one of the finest examples of a house using Colonial Georgian design in New South Wales. It was built by Michael Byrne on land that was allocated to him in 1827, however the grant was not issued until 1839 when building commenced.

Until then Michael and his family lived in a single storey cottage, which still remains behind the house, together with a Victorian Gothic coach house and stables. They now contain a museum.

Subsequent owners were John Keighran, who owned a local flour mill, Edwin Fieldhouse and Sam Bursill.

Glenalvon was acquired by the then State Planning Authority in 1963 to ensure its preservation and renovation with sensitivity in 1969. This renovation was successfully achieved, and the building now sits amidst a heritage garden.

The main building is of symmetrical golden stonework. Features include a paved verandah with Doric columns at the front and flat timber posts at the rear. Cedar joinery and a geometric staircase are originals of the interior.

Glenalvon today, is owned by Campbelltown City Council and is under the Custodianship of the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society who regularly hold open days to the public and take Glenalvon House bookings for venue hire and tours.

Exploring Glenalvon

Take a virtual walk through historic Glenalvon House and step back in time in this video series on YouTube Exploring Glenalvon by the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society.

You can find the archived photographs of Glenalvon House here.

History of Reeve's Emporium

The Emporium began its life in 1897, built by Thomas Henry Reeve.

Location: 135 - 141 Queen Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560

Built in 1897, Reeve's Emporium was founded and erected by Thomas Henry Reeve and a local relative named Will Craft helped build it. The Reeve family resided above the shop.

Around 1909 Reeve's son Harold and his wife Millie took over the business.

The emporium was built with rendered brick, of two storeys, and with a corrugated iron roof. It also had a balcony up until 1951 when a motorcycle crashed into it and it had to be demolished.

The store sold drapery, ladies' and gentlemen's wear, boots and shoes, axes and pruning knives, buggy whips, double breech loading guns and gunpowder, and toys. Millinery, drapery and haberdashery were also popular items sold. An addition on the northern side in 1925 became the toy department.

The building was sold out of the Reeve family in the early 1950s but continued to operate with a variety of shops and businesses.

Part of the shop was rented by the Bank of New South Wales from 1957 until 1964 until the Bank had purchased and built new premises next door, on the site of the former Fire Station. Later, the Commercial Bank of Australia was there in the 1970s.

Thomas Henry Reeve served as an alderman for Campbelltown Council. He was a pioneer of Christianity in Campbelltown, the Uniting Church's Reeve Memorial Hall on Moore Oxley Bypass is named after him. Reeve was also a real estate agent in town by 1911. He died in 1938.

You can find the archived photographs of Reeve's Emporium here.

History of Lack's Hotel

Herb Lack's Hotel on the corner of Railway and Queen Street, Campbelltown from the Murgatroyd Collection

Location: 101 Queen Street, Campbelltown NSW 2560

Located on the corner of Railway and Queen Street, this site was first occupied by the Forbes Hotel, erected in 1827 by Daniel Cooper and opened by George Tait. Named after the first Chief Justice of NSW, it contained 18 rooms and the long room set aside for banquets, dancing and public entertainment.

In its early days, the Forbes served as the Court in the hotel's back room.

In 1901, after refurbishment it was renamed the Federal Hotel.

In 1928, Herb Lack purchased from L E Davison the freehold and licence of the Federal Hotel, which became Lack's Hotel around the Second World War. The business was operated for many years by the daughter of Herb Lack, Phyllis, or 'Tib' as she was better known, and her husband Guy Marsden. Mr Marsden took over the licence in late 1950 and kept it until April 1973 when it was sold to Taylor Freeholds Pty Ltd for a shopping centre redevelopment scheme.

Within the bar was an implied social division. The public bar was cheaper than the saloon bar, which attracted more the professional merchant or grazier class.

Lack's was also renowned for its traditional hot Sunday lunches. The menu never changed - it was always a baked dinner.

The hotel served its last beer with little fanfare in June 1984 and was sadly demolished just after.

'Centre Court' a modern commercial building including a modern tavern now take its place.

Oral history of Lack's Hotel

Excerpt of: oral histories about early Campbelltown with local Ted Sedgwick who talks about Lack's Hotel being the centre of town.

You can find the archived photographs of Lack's Hotel here.